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Election day in Afghanistan largely peaceful
Afghan voters lined up at polling stations, defying a nationwide threat of violence by the Taliban to cast ballots in what promises to be the nation's first democratic transfer of power. (April 5) Video provided by AP Newslook
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghans braved the rain, muddy streets and possible attacks by militants to head to the polls Saturday, voting in what turned out to be a mostly peaceful election that marks the first transfer of presidential power since the Taliban fell in 2001.
In defiance of the threats that have loomed over the election since early this year, many voters said going to the polls was their duty.
"If you're not voting, you're not Afghan," said Mohammad Hamid, 27, a recent MBA graduate from Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, who cut short graduation celebrations to fly home from Dubai to vote.
Hamid says he had been proudly carrying his voter registration card for the past three months, showing it to friends and neighbors and telling them how to register at one of the more than 6,000 polling stations across the country.
"The election is the most important thing for the current situation in Afghanistan," he said, adding he was not scared to go to the polls and would go even if that meant risking his life. "I will vote for my future."
The election is set against a backdrop of U.S. troop withdrawal and looming cuts to foreign aid, which have propped up the country. There are eight presidential candidates and three front-runners — Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Zalmai Rassoul, Abdullah Abdullah — and no one is sure who will win.
A few hours after the polls closed on Saturday evening, the Independent Election Commission's chairman, Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, told reporters that election officials are ready to manage a second round of voting. The runoff will most likely be held on May 28.
STORY: Young voters see promise in Afghanistan
STORY: Elections bring hope of turning point for Afghan economy
Meanwhile, sporadic violence marked Election Day. A bomb exploded in a school packed with voters Saturday in the Mohammad Agha district of Logar province, wounding two men, one seriously, said local government spokesman Din Mohammad Darwesh.
Rocket attacks and gun battles forced authorities to close an additional 211 polling centers, raising the total number that weren't opened because of security concerns to 959, Nuristani told the Associated Press. He said in all, 6,212 polling centers were opened on Saturday. Some polling centers beefed up security because of threats received, including a high school in central Kabul, where extra Afghan National Police patrolled the site.
Voter excitement appears to have overcome the threat of violence, as some polling centers ran out of ballots, Nuristani said, adding authorities were addressing the shortfall. Six hundred ballots are provided at each polling station.
At one station inside a post office in central Kabul, 548 women had already cast their ballots by 3:30 p.m. More women were still queuing in line as an IEC worker flipped through the slim pad of remaining ballots, uncertain whether her station would be able to accommodate the women waiting to enter.
Voting was also extended by one hour to accommodate everybody standing in line.
"We have received complaints about it, and we have already sent ballot papers to wherever needed," he said.
Most polling stations closed as planned after nearly 10 hours of voting.
Most believe the vote is a crucial test on how the country — with its fragile security, political and economic situation — will determine its future. Most say that decision is up to the nation's youth, many of them first-time voters under 20.
"We're not afraid," said Homira Hasti, 19, an artist who just finished high school and voted for the first time at the mosque next to her home in western Kabul.
Heading to the polls alone — as other women in her family are not educated and do not see voting as important — Hasti says Afghans are used to the security situation in their country. She waited anxiously in line on Saturday morning in west Kabul with about 45 other women to cast her vote. After exiting the voting booth, she said she was proud of herself.
"After this election, Afghanistan will change," Hasti said from her home, hoping that peace will come to her country.
Despite widespread concerns about corruption and fraud surrounding the election as well as the fear of violence at the polls, Hasti said she believes every vote will have a positive effect.
"We are the young generation who will make our own country," she said.
Hamid and Hasti represent two of the roughly 12 million registered voters who will be casting ballots for their choice of president — the third time in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban.
"The majority of people who will take part in Saturday's election will be the young generation," said Noor Mohammad Noor, spokesperson for the IEC, adding that about 68% of the population is younger than 35.
Meanwhile, some other young, first-time voters say they do not believe their vote will matter.
Freshta Ferozeshgar, 18, still in high school, said she would be casting a blank vote to protest the election, which she thinks is rigged.
Ferozeshgar and some of her fellow young voters believe this is the only way to send their message that they are against corruption. Her family supports her decision, she said.
Another young voter, Nasrullah Mohseni, 28, a law student and strong supporter of Abdullah Abdullah, was eager as he headed to the polls. He said he didn't want anyone to decide on his future.
"I want to fight terrorism with my vote," he said. "I will fight with my pen, my education, my right (to vote)."
Mohammad Sarwar Khalede, 35, a headmaster at a high school in central Kabul where he is also serving as an IEC supervisor for the polling center located there, reflected on his participation in this year's election.
"Everybody's life depends on this election," he said.


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
Part# C2111
1 Review
OPGI Price: $499.99
Part Type: (A) Aftermarket product, usually an enhancement product
Years: 1964-1965
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2018 Chevelle Catalog Page: 136
These convertible tops are made of a high-end quality cloth called StayFast. This material, which is used on all modern luxury cars including Mercedes and Porsche, is the combination of acrylic bonded with butyl rubber to a cotton sateen backing for the ultimate in looks and durability. A StayFast top will add the perfect custom touch to your convertible.
COLORS AVAILABLE: Beige, black, brown, burgundy or dark blue.

subset: commoncrawl


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About David Woodhead
I'm pretty sure Sarah could see Alaska from her house, as that's where her house was sitting. What she couldn't see from there was Russia, but as you say she never claimed she could.
Still glad that she's not your VP though. A scary thought.
I missed half of these, so thank you Rikuo for bringing them to my attention.
It really has been a hell of a week for insane activity and legal decisions. I think the UK is getting pretty dysfunctional in many ways, but the good ol' US of A is a hard act to follow. Perhaps screwed up government ought to be an Olympic event.
Build faraday cage. Break circuit when you need to pay. Easy.
This must be some new usage of the word 'easy' with which I'm not familiar.
To Gwiz: I agree that banning is not the way to go, and that Mike would lose the moral high ground if it could be argued that there was any censorship going on other than the user reporting mechanism (not that I think that Mike's aiming for a moral high ground, but you know what I mean).
To be scrupulously fair, there have been a few times over the past year when OOTB has written something that has been reasonably insightful and not barking mad, and on those occasions his comments have been left unreported - and have even received some favourable responses. However, for several weeks now it's just been getting more and more bizarre (or out of the blue, if you will).
So leave things as they are, and just keep reporting the wilder flights of fancy and continual ad hominem attacks. Who knows: at some point this could be used as a case study in someone's PhD thesis on how to deal with attempted disruption to online discussion groups.
"I promise come voting time there will be a day of reckoning for those I get to vote for over this matter."
No, there really won't - that's the sad thing. The system does not allow you, or anyone else, to cast a vote which will make an actual difference.
No, it's not really a DRM thing. However ...
For those of us in the UK who were early adopters of TiVo, this is nothing new. The Series 1 TiVo programme guide got withdrawn in June 2011, turning our perfectly working boxes into expensive paperweights. Fortunately a group of enthusiasts who so loved their TiVos got together and created an alternative EPG.
So, for those of you in the US where I believe TiVo has a much bigger market: beware. They could do it to you.
Oh, give it a rest why don't you.
Copying has never reduced conventional sales, whether by casette, CD, V1000 / V2000 (remember them?), Betamax, VHS, DVD, digital or any other medium that I've forgotten. I've bought more original vinyl, CD or DVD media than you can imagine, as a result of listening to copies of originals that I wouldn't have been prepared to shell out the cash for: sight / listening unseen.
Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.
ĀĀĀĀWar on alcohol
ĀĀĀĀWar on drugs
ĀĀĀĀWar on piracy
ĀĀĀĀNow war on porn
ĀĀĀĀPeople love to throw money away, don't they?
Don't forget the war on terror. That one's not cheap.
I've always loved the idea of declaring war on an abstract noun ...
A fraud conviction is supposed to be a complete, unequivocal red flag for those involved in banking, and he has one. I think it's not worth a guy losing his job over, but there's no legitimate way to carve out this particular situation from the law without making a mess of things.
Really? Is it really the case that the combined might of the entire judicial system and financial regulatory authorities of the US is unable to distinguish a teenager making a cardboard dime from a financial fraudster?
Because if that's the case then your country is screwed.


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A new US fuel efficiency standard finalised by the Obama administration last month will jolt America's nascent electric car industry to life, but could leave European auto manufacturers racing to catch up, analysts and industry sources say.
From 2025, American cars and light trucks will have to achieve a standard of at least 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) under the new regulation, higher than can be achieved by any existing fuel-powered cars, according to the US Department of Energy.
The only cars on the US market which exceed the 54.5 mpg target (measured as mpg equivalent) are at least partly powered by plug-in electricity, the US Environmental Protection Agency says.
This could spell trouble for Europe's electric car industry as a 'thought experiment' by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has found that the US target surpasses its EU equivalent by some distance.
A 54.5mpg standard would be roughly equal to a 70 grams of CO2 per km (g/km) measurement, the ICCT believes, with air conditioning credits exemptions potentially taking the figure up to a maximum of 83 g/km.
The EU has only set a fuel savings target of 95 g/km for 2020, with the promise of a communication about consultations on a future 2025 targets later this year.
Matthias Abend, a clean energy executive for the German carmaker BMW, told EurActiv it was "absolutely true" that European auto exports would not be able to compete with the US, if the fuel economy gap remained so wide.
More euractiv.com


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - 2 (3d) cars, please crit Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Gallery/Finished Work View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "2 (3d) cars, please crit" coconutmonkeymemberMember #Joined: 20 Mar 2000Posts: 166Location: NC,USA Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 10:13 pm I'm currently working on a game project. Bot of these cars are in game realtime material. Each took about a day a piece. Back to top samdragonmemberMember #Joined: 05 May 2000Posts: 487Location: Indianapolis Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 10:25 pm those reflections are pretty confusing, they appear to warp the car, you can see this by looking at the blue car. Not too sure if the glass and body would be that reflective. I think you did a good job. How many polys are these cars? Back to top shahar2kmemberMember #Joined: 01 Jun 2000Posts: 867Location: Oak Park CA USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 2:22 am cocoanut, here's another Idea for the cars, heh I know they're done, but still) you could use a reflection map to limit where the reflections occur, so that seams between body parts don't reflect.... ------------------ Maybe I'm paranoid... maybe it's you! Back to top coconutmonkeymemberMember #Joined: 20 Mar 2000Posts: 166Location: NC,USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 4:14 am Thanks for the replies, the convertable is about 3000 polys because it has an interrior and everything and the silver one is about 1-2000. I cant use a reflection map in here shahar2k cause it's game models and the engine just has enviroment maps that it wraps around the cars. The reflections look better in a movie, i might render a quick one when i get home today from school. Back to top faustgfxmemberMember #Joined: 15 Mar 2000Posts: 4833Location: unfortunately, very near you. Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 4:34 am i think it could be easily crammed to 2000 without losing any smoothness. before i say anything further, what 3d software do you use and what file format / what does it let you do with the model itself ? we use 3d studio max -> ascii export -> convert to our own format stuff. basically it supports what max supports, apart from raytracing and such similar stuff, for obvious reasons :> 3d studio max/viz 's smoothing groups are the key. not to preach or anything, at least not much, but 3000 polys for a car is quite sick. :P ------------------ sky high with a heartache of stone you never see me 'cos i'm always alone/ministry the law of lead now reigns!@#!/earth crisis firstname.lastname@example.com icq#35983387 http://faustgfx.0wns.org Back to top BloodnitememberMember #Joined: 19 May 2000Posts: 56Location: VA, USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 4:36 am Hey... was just wondering if you can make a wallpaper-size, 800x600, of the blue car from the front/side angle, they both look awesome, just like the blue more ...blah. ------------------ Life's a bitch and then you die, still tryin' to get a piece of that apple pie... [This message has been edited by Bloodnite (edited January 05, 2001).] Back to top StarseedmemberMember #Joined: 14 Sep 2000Posts: 144Location: Vancouver, Canada Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 5:22 am The top one reminds me of the 2001 Porsche Carrera. The blue one looks very wacky to me, not solid . . . its like a nice car put bent up and wrapped with seran wrap. Maybe youd find places where you don't need a curved surface to drop the poly count. Like on the sides? For styling inspiration, if you want to model a kick-all-mighty-ass-and-then-some automobile, try working from the 2001 Porsche Carrera: http://www.westwave.net/temp/2001_porsche_carrera_gt-1.jpg http://www.westwave.net/temp/2001_porsche_carrera_gt-2.jpg http://www.westwave.net/temp/2001_porsche_carrera_gt-3.jpg http://www.westwave.net/temp/2001_porsche_carrera_gt-4.jpg http://www.westwave.net/temp/2001_porsche_carrera_gt-5.jpg -mt ------------------ everything is relative Back to top natecmemberMember #Joined: 08 Aug 2000Posts: 121Location: encinitas, ca, USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 6:47 pm They look like a good start, at 3000polys though...thats pretty high for the level of smnoothness you have. They should be much smoother. You need to concentrate your polys at the edges that make the silhouette you see. Its easier to see this than explain it. Its all about the edges and smoothing... On the top car...it looks like the blinkers are actually 3d...I think I'd have chosen to use those elsewhere...the lights maybe... The blue cars wheels look funky... as does the scoop on the side door To really make any type of assesment I'd need to see a wireframe version. Please post something shaded with edges shown...flat shaded. -nate Back to top coconutmonkeymemberMember #Joined: 20 Mar 2000Posts: 166Location: NC,USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 11:39 pm Hey, thanks for the replies, i probably am going to optimize these but it's not really needed since the engine is using realtime infinate levels of LOD. The top car is 1-2000 which isnt that bad imo, and the only reason the bottom one is just over 3 is cause it has an interrior and everything shifter sterring wheel etc, this is because it's going to be the main car in the mission mode in singleplayer and you'll be able to see the player steering shifting etc. The side intake on the bottom car does look messed up i know i'm trying to figure out a way to shade that better since its solid on the inside. The tires....yea i fixed those just now, i tried makin em look 3d but....no it looks gay as you can see. faust I use 3d studio max 3.1, our engine has our own plugins that we use for max to export our models for the game. Again thanks for the replies Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Gallery/Finished Work All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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You werent there, so you dont understand exactly what they did. And they dont necessarily want to share all those details, or remember them its been 67 years, after all.
But you know this: Flying low-altitude night missions over Germany to photograph enemy movements during World War II couldnt have been anything but hairy. These guys, who saw plenty of comrades die in Europe, have trouble convincing themselves that they are heroes.
But we know.
We know because just the thought of doing that sends a little shiver through our souls.
Three veterans of the 155th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, their families and relatives of other squadron members gathered in Durango last weekend to reconnect. Gene Budzichowski, 87, a gunner/observer, came from near Tucson, Ariz. Bob Anderson, 88, a pilot, came from Berkeley, Calif. Bob Sadler, 89, a photo lab technician, came from Kingwood, Texas. All brought their wives.
For Sadler, a former Durangoan for 17 years, it was also a family reunion. His son, Terry Sadler, a local real estate agent, and Terrys wife Diane hosted the event. Grandkids Becky Gadberry and Larla Brown came all the way from North Carolina and Connecticut, respectively.
And Sadler was in rare form, spinning jokes, sharing gags and blowing a toy train whistle when he wanted to get everyones attention during a get-together Thursday evening at the Best Western Rio Grande. But he also got serious when talking about his service in Europe.
Im no hero. Im no coward, Sadler said, as he always does when asked. Im just damn lucky. Anybody that was in the 155th (who survived) was lucky.
A few statistics, courtesy of retired Air Force Maj. Scott Moore, who acts as the 155ths historian:
The squadron flew 650 missions, 600 at night. In less than a year, 22 aircraft were destroyed and 27 crew members were killed in action. Moore served in the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, a descendant of the 155th.
Moore served far longer than the World War II vets in the room, but its not hard to see that hes in awe of what they did. Hes written a short history in which he describes the missions, the twin-engine Douglas A-20, and the jobs of the three-man flying crew and the technicians on the ground.
The air crew flew two types of missions, switching as technology changed. The planes had a camera mounted in the tail and a flash unit that would light up the ground. Planes had to fly between 500 and 3,000 feet altitude, making them extremely vulnerable to enemy weapons even a soldiers rifle.
The other method involved the use of 10 flash bombs dropped in succession from about 8,000 feet. Theyd explode 18½ seconds later, at around 3,500 feet. To do the job right they had to fly straight and level.
When the plane landed, the photo techs took the film and went to work, developing pictures that would show German troop and arsenal movements, bridges, roads, trains and more. At dawn, the U.S. bombers took off to do their job.
You can see enormous detail, Moore said, pointing to an old black-and-white aerial picture. It was very, very helpful.
And very, very dangerous.
Sadler prompted Budzichowski, a Chicago native, to talk about one of his harrowing tales.
During a daytime mission, Budzichowski watched as enemy flak burst a hole right through the star on the wing. The pilot managed to return the smoke-filled plane to the base at St.-Dizier in northeast France, but it skidded off the end of the runway and smashed into the River Marne.
Budzichowski flew about 20 missions and the most nerve-wracking were when he went out with a pilot he didnt know or didnt totally trust.
Anderson took that pilots responsibility seriously.
As a pilot, you have two people whose lives are in your hands, Anderson said. And if you felt really scared then you shouldnt (fly).
Trying to get them to admit fear is next to impossible. Getting in that plane would scare a normal person to death, right?
No it wouldnt, Anderson insisted. If you were trained to do the stuff youre supposed to do, you did it. Thats your job.
They understood that the enemy on the ground could target them like a flying duck. They mourned their fellow soldiers who went on missions and didnt return. They attribute their bravado simply to youth.
In reflecting on it you think, Gosh, did I do all that stuff? said Anderson, who made his living as a lawyer. It was a challenge best handled by those young enough not to really appreciate the risks that were involved. Most everyone thought: Its going to happen to somebody else, not to me.
Thats another thing most of us dont quite understand: Whats it like to go through life with this thought: If not for some good fortune, that would have been my body interred at Normandy or Lorraine.
World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1,000 or so per day, according to various sources. Unlike when they were 21, these guys understand theyre not invincible. With typical flair, Sadler handles the issue with a sense of humor.
If He calls me, Sadler said, the only thing I would like Him to do is give me a half-hour head start before the devil knows Im missing. Because, you see, hes got a pinch of me too.
firstname.lastname@example.com John Peel writes a weekly human-interest column.


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4:00 pm
Wild Kratts "Kickin' It with the Roos" When Chris and Martin meet up with a mob of Red kangaroos, they get their car keys stolen by a joey and have to figure out how to get them back from the tricky little guy. As they jump into the life of the roos to search for the missing keys, the brothers realize that animals live in different kinds of social groups and they have important behaviors that keep the group together and safe. But everybody wonders just how safe this search has become, when Chris and Martin get tangled up in a kickboxing match with the dominant male and caught in the middle of a dingo attack. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "A Whale of a Tale" With special guest star Al Roker. A trip to R-Fair City nearly turns into a monster mash when Hacker abducts Glowla, a beautiful cyberlady who generates pure energy. Hacker is able to snatch Glowla by reprogramming her trick whale, Snout. D
5:00 pm
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman "Do-Se-Dos and Do-Se-Don'ts" Sammy and DJ learn how to square dance while Harsha and Jay learn about gorillas and their habitat at the zoo. D
5:30 pm
Nightly Business Report American factories were going all out in September.a hopeful sign that the U.S. economy may be picking up. D
5:56 pm
NewsHour Promo NULL
6:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
7:00 pm
Antiques Roadshow "Salt Lake City, UT - Part 3" Precious objects include a set of clubs once owned by Utah golf legend George "Gix" Von Elm, who also designed courses in eastern Idaho. Two Utah documents that date to 1857 are valued up to $15,000. Part 3 of 3G
8:00 pm
Market Warriors "Antiquing In Cumming, GA" The show's experts encounter some Southern hospitality at the Lakewood 400 Antiques Market just outside Atlanta, Georgia. This week's challenge is to find vintage advertising, and in Coca-Cola country, there's plenty to find. Off-screen host Fred Willard points out some notable picks, including a rare Red Rock Cola piece, a Sterling Card case and an antique hobbyhorse.G
9:00 pm
Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide This special presented by INDEPENDENT LENS is based on the book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Introduced by George Clooney, the episode follows reporter Kristof and celebrity advocate Eva Mendes into Sierra Leone to investigate gender-based violence. In Cambodia with Meg Ryan, Kristof visits a globally known leader in the anti-trafficking struggle. Gabrielle Union joins Kristof in Vietnam to visit former Microsoft executive John Wood, who started Room to Read . Part 1 of 2G
11:00 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


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This is a Misfits MASSIVE Picture and Updates Post
Antonia at the London Film Festival premiere of her new film, Spike Island:
Antonia promo for her series Homefront:
Antonia for Hunger Magazine:
Antonia drew this, so not only is she beautiful, sings and acts, she paints too:
Antonia on Halloween:
Antonia on the set of her new movie musical based on The Proclaimers music, Sunshine on Leith :
Antonia has four movies coming out in 2013: Rearview, Spike Island, Northern Soul, and Sunshine on Leith. Her series "Homefront" also just finished airing.
At an event a few days ago:
Nathan in the stage play The Pitchfork Disney earlier this year:
Nathan is about to start filming the movie "The Curse of The Buxom Strumpet."
DJing recently:
On the set of Misfits:
In addition to being aridiculously talented actor, Mr. Gilgun is preparing to film "This is England '90" and will appear in the tv series "Ripper Street," about Jack the Ripper.
Rob will of course be in the new film The Mortal Instruments next year. He is also in "Untitled Ari Gold Project" with Rory Culkin.
New promo pic for his new EP "Bang Bang:"
Paparazzi photo:
Iwan at the London Film Festival Premiere of Wasteland:
Iwan in France to promote Wasteland with Misfits director Tom Green:
Iwan has three movies out in 2013: Wasteland, Libertador, and Driven. He will also be on the third season of Game of
1, 2, 3, Antonia's Instagram (althomas1), tumblr
This took FOREVER. *dies*


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Today our guest is Michael Farmer CEO Glory Apparel and Pres.& Founder Discipleship Int'l Inc. Michael will Cohost our new weekly show, Tuesdays with Michael, our Spiriual Personal Coach!
Discipleship International, Inc.is a teaching and resource ministry with an emphasis on fulfilling Christ's commission to "make disciples of all nations" and perfecting saints in the Body of Christ. The Glory Corporation, LLC is a full-service apparel and advertising company that provides uniforms, tee shirts, and advertising specialty items. Michael is member of the Breath of Life Christian Center, where he facilitates the new members orientation class. He holds tenure as a teacher and facilitator in several institutes and worked as Dean of the Ministry for the Developmental Institute for three years. Originally from Oxford, MS, Michael studied computer systems and accounting at The University of Memphis (Memphis State University) and Southwest TN Community College.
Accepting a call to ministry in 1995, Michael began his ministerial training at Breath of Life Ministry Developmental Institute and Pastor-Teacher Training Institute. He graduated both programs as valedictorian, and licensed in 2006. Michael Farmer lives in Memphis, TN with his wife Priscilla. He has five daughters (Lakesha, Chondra, Utica, Brittanie, and Amber) and 2 grandchildren Allyse and MacKenzie.
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Hartsville, S.C. – The Lady Cobra tennis team dropped their first Conference Carolinas match of the season with a 6-3 loss to Lees-McRae on Saturday afternoon. Lees-McRae improves to 3-1 overall on the season, while Coker falls to 2-2 overall.
Coker got off to a strong start in doubles play as Rachel Lemar (London England) and Alyssa Blanchard (Columbia, SC) won 8-5 at No. 1 doubles, while Cassidy Spencer (Wilkesboro, NC) and Lindsay Crighton (Florence, SC) won at No. 3 doubles, 9-8.
In singles play, Ashley Pace (Clinton, SC) was the only Lady Cobra to pick up a win, defeating Cameron Joyce in straight sets.
The Lady Cobras return to the court on March 13, when they travel to Erskine, after having their match on Sunday, against Anderson had to be postponed to a later date.


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UPDATE: The District Teachers of the Year Have Been Announced!
Congratulations to Hamblen County's school-level Teachers of the Year for 2017-2018.
From this impressive list of educators, three will be chosen to represent the school district in their respective categories. A team of educators from Moore County will be deciding the winners this year.
AL-Mark Wolfenbarger VIDEO
JH-Misty Hance VIDEO
LE-Amanda Maynard VIDEO
MN-Jackie Queener VIDEO
RV-Natasha Henson VIDEO
WE-Justin Whaley VIDEO
WB-Mandy Smith VIDEO
ER-Vicki Brady VIDEO
FV-Sarah Cooper VIDEO
HC-DanNell Cameron VIDEO
LM-Kendall Bryant VIDEO
MV-Sandy Pittman VIDEO
UH-Jenny Russell VIDEO
WT-Heather Martin VIDEO
WV-Jenny Robinson VIDEO
MB- Emily Gwinn VIDEO
WH-Hannah Lane VIDEO
EH- Carol Rouse VIDEO
Misty Hance
John Hay
Fourth grade ELA and social studies teacher Misty Hance is John Hay's Teacher of the Year. A 21-year teacher, Hance is currently working toward an Ed.D in administrative leadership from CNU. She has an EdS in school leadership from ETSU, a master's degree from UT, a bachelor's degree from CNU, and is a graduate of WSCC.
"Teaching is my passion, and student achievement is my goal," Hance says of her career.
Hance, selected as Hamblen County DOE Learning Leader, is charged with the responsibility of creating Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) within her school. "The goal of each PLC is to focus on student work in an effort to improve student achievement," she said. "It is transferring the focus from teaching to learning within each classroom."
At John Hay, there are grade-level Learning Teams that meet weekly to share results of common assessments and make goals for students. "We also have cross-grade level, student-driven Learning Teams…to share similar data, create common assessments, and learn about current best practices in that particular subject," she explained.
John Hay is transforming the vision of the stakeholders. "Our student achievement is growing, as we focus on the four essential questions that Richard DuFour, an expert in the PLC field, suggests," she said. "This guides us to focus on our students' individual goals, assessments, interventions, and enrichments. The PLC process also has a focus on professional development. As each teacher attends, information is shared in the Learning Team, creating life-long learners in all our members."
As a Learning Leader, Hance meets monthly with the county team to learn new strategies for strengthening the PLC culture and shares with John Hay's team. "Through this initiative, I believe we are growing stronger. The culture of our school is focused on sharing and building success," she said.
John Hay has turned the "my classroom" attitude into "our school, our students" attitude. "The culture of the school system also is growing stronger, as we lean on one another for support, admit our needs, and share our strengths," she said. "As the focus has shifted from teaching to learning, we are all looking at how each individual learns, and are focused on each child to make gains."
Hance, who believes everyone learns better through collaboration, provides her students the chance to work together and strengthen their knowledge of technology, such as ThingLink and Office 365.
"If we involve students in the teaching process, the amount they learn is magnified," she said.
"Students love to create PowerPoint presentations and share what they have learned. Once they use ThingLink, they beg to use it in every lesson possible. I use this format throughout the year, and the success is evident by the knowledge they gain and retain."
At John Hay, Hance, who serves as principal designee, has served as Blue Ribbon School Application Committee chair, Thoughtful Classroom instructional leader, and on the Curriculum and Standards committee.
Natasha Henson
Russellville Elementary
First grade teacher Natasha Henson is Russellville Elementary's Teacher of the Year. A 10-year teacher, Henson has two degrees from WSCC and a bachelor's of arts from Tusculum College.
A Hamblen County Department of Education Learning Leader, Henson has been responsible for implementing the Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at Russellville.
"The PLC process has shifted my focus from teaching to student learning, not only in my classroom, but also in our entire grade level," she said. "We meet as a grade level and collaboratively set standards-based goals for our first grade students and then monitor student learning and progress."
She explained that four questions drive every student learning goal:
· What do we want each student to learn?
· How will we know when each student achieves mastery?
· What will we do when a student does not master the goal?
· What will we do if the student already has met the goal.
"My belief is that all students can demonstrate significant progress toward mastery of a standard and/or concept," she said. "Throughout the PLC process, although at different rates, 100 percent of my students demonstrated growth."
A Level Five teacher and a former grade level chair, Henson created a chart with each student goal. "Each student knew his or her individual goal and expectations for mastery," she said. "My students have begun to take ownership of their learning and are eager to demonstrate progress and eventually mastery."
A creative educator, an example of Henson's teaching enthusiasm is demonstrated when she initiated a schoolwide igloo project. Staff and students brought recycled, white milk jugs. The project, constructed in the school lobby, created opportunities for many conversations and lessons including estimating the amount of jugs needed, the circumference, the study of Eskimos and their culture, polar bears and habitats, and so much more.
After the igloo was construction, it was used as a reading room into which the student had to crawl.
After the students tore down the igloo the jugs were picked up by the recycling center, which enhanced the lesson on recycling. "The recycling workers told the students that this was the largest recycling pickup they had received," Henson said. "This made our students swell with pride."
Amanda Maynard
Lincoln Elementary
Amanda Maynard, second grade math teacher, is Teacher of the Year at Lincoln Elementary. An eight-year educator, she holds a master's degree from LMU, and a bachelor's degree from UT.
As a math teacher, Maynard believes it is important that students have time for exploration when learning new math skills. "It is in using hands-on manipulatives and lots of collaboration among students that higher achievement is obtained," she said.
Once she gave her students a tough math task in which they completed in small groups. "Students were discussing strategies for solving the problem, using their math tools, and explaining their thinking using accountable talk," she explained. "It was everything a teacher could hope for. When it was time to take a break and go to gym, one student responded, 'Oh, Man! We were having so much fun!' Another student said, 'Yeah, we were just getting to the good part.'"
Maynard said those are the moments she lives for as a teacher. "My students were engaged, working together to solve a problem, persevering through the difficult task, all while having fun. I believe that learning should be fun, and I try to do this by giving my students time for discussion and discovery."
For the past six months, Maynard has been working on the Item Review Committee for the Grade 2 Assessment and Grade 2 Alternative Assessment. "This has given me valuable insight on what second graders will be tested on and how the test will be presented," she said. "As an item reviewer, I had the opportunity to view questions on the math assessment, and give recommendations…I feel that I was able to be an advocate for the students, as well as the teachers of Hamblen County."
While she may not be able to tell teachers specifically what is on the assessment, she is able to share some of the formatting, time limits, and how items are aligned to the standards. "I will be facilitating a meeting with fellow second grade teachers to discuss what I have learned…the role I played in this assessment will no doubt benefit every second grade student and teacher in our county."
At Lincoln, Maynard serves as math leader, has facilitated countywide professional development, and has been involved in the summer reading program.
Mandy Smith
Third grade teacher Mandy Smith is Whitesburg Teacher of the Year. She has a Master of Arts in education/curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis in special education, from Tusculum College.
Cooperative learning defines her teaching strategy. "Cooperative learning engages all students in the learning process because all students are required to work together to achieve the ultimate goal of learning," she said. "Cooperative learning has to be explicitly taught for it to be effective.
"Students have to be taught how to talk to one another and be held accountable in cooperative learning groups," she continued, explaining that "modeling" is the best way to teach students to work together.
She said research shows that cooperative learning improves student achievement. "I am dedicated to instilling a love of learning into the heart of every student I teach, and preparing him/her for college or the workforce," she said.
Her teaching has resulted in high levels of growth and learning for all students. "I believe I have achieved these results because I take sincere interest in the needs of each and every student. I take time to get to know every one of my students and learn their strengths and weaknesses," she said. "This enables me to develop a close relationship with my students. I am able to show them that my job is to ensure their success in school. When I forge this connection, my students are able to see what I see in them and they are willing to do what they need to achieve success."
At Whitesburg, Smith has been involved in the Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings, which she sees as creating an improvement to school culture, positive attitudes and collaboration.
A member of the School Improvement Committee, Smith also serves on the art committee and is a resource provider.
Jacqueline Queener
Manley Elementary
Kindergarten teacher Jaqueline Queener is Manley's Teacher of the Year. A 37-year educator, Queener holds an EdS from LMU, a master's in education from Tusculum, and a bachelor's degree from UT.
Before joining the Manley faculty, Queener taught second and third grade at Fairview-Marguerite. At Manley she has been the kindergarten team leader for 17 years. She also has served as Relay for Life coordinator, Jump Start Summer School Coordinator, and as a member of the School Improvement Committee.
Queener believes that every student can learn, and each day her goal is to give them 100 percent of her abilities. "My lessons are presented in a manner that involves the specific and unique needs of all students," she said.
"As a teacher we use a vast number of research-based strategies and tools to reach all students," Queener said, giving as an example, the Scarbrough's reading rope where they explore comprehensive skills, fluency, vocabulary, language and decoding skills.
"All of these skills are intertwined together just like the fibers of a rope to create a successful, fluent reader," she said. "In this setting we are divided into the homogenous groups, with each group learning the same TN state standard and objectives. The students all work on the same sight words as a class, but are in different activity levels, and learning at different rates."
She also utilizes reading across the curriculum, which gives students the opportunity to enage in information text, as well as fiction.
"These strategies clearly engage all students, from reading aloud in groups, explaining the text, writing independently, listening, comprehending a story, illustrating the story, and punctuating the sentences about the story," Queener said.
"My teaching and classroom mirrors an environment that encompasses focusing on the whole child, "Queener said. "I differentiate my instruction based on each student's academic needs. It is my philosophy of teaching that children must know you care before they care what you know."
Mark Wolfenbarger
Alpha Elementary
Mark Wolfenbarger, physical education teacher, is Alpha's Teacher of the year. A teacher for 25 years, he holds a bachelor's degree from CNU.
Team leader for special area teachers, Wolfenbarger also is a member of the Crisis Team, is Healthy School Team leader, and is the Head Basketball Coach for the Bulldogs
After attending a professional development session addressing Marzano's use of academic language across all curriculums to enhance comprehension in all subject areas, Wolfenbarger initiated a program in his class at incorporates grade level terms in math, English language arts, science, and social studies into his classes.
"I collaborated with K-5 teachers asking for particular vocabulary they believed would be instrumental to a student's understanding of grade-level curriculum," he said. "I teach six grade levels daily and as grade levels change, I change the specific vocabulary as appropriate."
Students are asked to consider the role vocabulary worlds like "consecutive," "angle," "slant," "prediction," and "data" have in connection with the physical education activity they are being asked to perform.
"For example, when teaching basic racket use, students are asked to hold the racket at a slant, and at a 90-degree angle," he said. "They are asked to keep data tracking their consecutive hits. I ten challenge them to use the daily term correctly…This initiative has been instrumental in getting students not normally inclined to enjoy studying vocabulary…."
"As an educator, this challenge keeps me fresh and interested in the curriculum I teach," Wolfenbarger said. "It gives me both greater interaction with the students I teach, and a chance to have meaningful exchanges with my colleagues. Using this initiative, borrowing from Blue Ribbon Schools best practices, and having a chance for collaboration with other educators about the success my students has served to bring a greater sense of joy in my heart and for the subject I teach."
Wolfenbarger said he has "found time and again that students react and respond to this joy for teaching with a joy for learning from within themselves. It is a true win-win situation, and what coach doesn't love that""
Justin Whaley
West Elementary
Justin Whaley, third grade math, science, and reading teacher, is West Elementary's Teacher of the Year. He earned his bachelor's degree from CNU.
Whaley believes learning should be applicable to everyday life. "Student should apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to everyday situations, most importantly, outside the classroom," he said. "I heavily emphasize the critical thinking process throughout all my math and science lessons, as it encourages students to see an otherwise simple observation as a potentially deep and meaningful exploration.
"When scientists come across a new element, there is a scientific process they use to identify it. Whether it be studying rocks, math equations, or scientific inquiry, students should be encouraged to use analytical and synthesizing thinking strategies. The depth of learning flows from these processes," he said.
On the playground, his students frequently bring him rocks or other unusual objects and love describing their physical properties and purporting their own questions and observations, such as where the objects could have originated or how they were made.
Whaley attributes growth in his classroom to collaboration with his third grade team. "Everyday we meet before and after school to common plan, review data, create assessments, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our lessons."
They also have been known to interrupt one an another in the middle of a lesson to share a "eureka" moment, such as a question, demonstration, observation, or explanation provided by a teacher or student that led to strong student understanding of the learning.
At West Elementary, Whaley leads the Ties and Bowties (young men's club). Every Tuesday, boys in grades K-5 meet before school and discuss matters of self-improvement – strategies of being a gentleman. "A few of our topics include building a positive self-image, how to dress professionally, how to present yourself in a respectful manner (shaking hands, making eye contact, being respectful, building a good reputation.)," he explained. "Students are given challenges to apply to their daily lives in and outside of school."
He also leads the Green Team, and is a member of the Reading Committee.
Vicki Brady
East Ridge
East Ridge Social Health (Teen Living) teacher Vicki Brady, who has taught 38 years, is her school's Teacher of the Year. A graduate of WSCC, she also holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees from the University of Tennessee.
"I am very enthusiastic about that I do and enjoy teaching as much as I did the day I started," Brady said of her 38-year tenure. Her new focus is Career Readiness skills which includes the soft skills of teamwork, professionalism, communication, enthusiasm and attitude, critical thinking and networking.
She explained that the Teen Living curriculum is not specifically tested on the TNReady test. "However I help increase students' test scores by requiring them to use their reading and writing skills in my class as they accomplish the Teen Living State Standards," she said. "I require students to read for meaning and use critical thinking skills as they complete individual and group projects."
She makes sure her students gain valuable information about things such as money management, child care, nutrition, personal development, and career choices that will prepare them for living independently in the future. "The true test of how effective I have been as a teacher is measured by my students' readiness for life as adults," she added.
Her professional development includes Career Exploration and Family Life curriculum. "I have worked hard to develop lessons that encourage my students to use good judgment and decision-making skills related to personal relationships, reducing teen pregnancy, and personal safety," she said. "I believe that as a result of completing this curriculum, my students are able to make important decisions that can have a direct bearing on their ability to reach their personal and career goals in life."
Kendall Bryant
Lincoln Middle School
Kendall Bryant, seventh and eighth grade science teacher, is Lincoln Middle School's Teacher of the Year. Bryant, who has taught for 28 years, received his bachelor's degree from CNU.
"My favorite lessons are those that allow students to work collaboratively in lab groups to identify, solve, and interpret information related to the topic," Bryant said, citing as an example a lab that requires students to identify tools needed to conduct science experiments.
"I believe that if students are engaged in hands-on, real-life experiences they are better prepared to be successful during testing," he said. "Testing scores in the classroom provide evidence that students score higher on the assessments that are related to these hands-on activities."
Bryant's teaching style has proven that by raising student expectations, we are able to close gaps in student performance. "I am able to teach students who may have different learning abilities and help every group improve and grow," he said. "By using test scores and student portfolios, I am able to challenge students to be better critical thinkers and problem solvers."
Bryant explained that at LHMS, "We believe that culturally enriching field trips matter. We believe these trips produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that will ultimately affect them far beyond their time in middle school," he said.
"These trips are an effective way to supplement and enrich academic content, increase students' tolerance by providing exposure to a broader world, and improve the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling."
Bryant, noting that not all learning occurs most effectively within the walls of the school building, applied for and received a grant from the TN Arts Commission to take the entire seventh grade on a trip to see a play at the Clarence Brown Theatre. This included transportation and the performance for each student.
"Having a population of students who may not have had the opportunity to attend live theatre makes us grateful for the chance to make it possible for our students," Bryant said.
Currently serving as seventh grade team leader, Bryant has served as a credit recovery teacher, a member of the School Improvement Plan, and on the Science textbook selection committee. He is also the freshmen boys basketball coach at Morristown West.
Before joining the LHMS faculty, Bryant taught and coached at East High and West High.
DanNell Cameron
Hillcrest Elementary's Teacher of the Year is a fifth grade math and science teacher. With four years in her present position, Cameron has taught for 23 years and holds a bachelor's degree from ESTU.
At Hillcrest, Cameron has taught third, fourth, and fifth grades. Prior to coming to Hamblen County she was a teacher in Union County.
Cameron, who has maintained a "5" level since the implementation of the TEAM evaluation model, said student motivation is the key to teaching any lesson. "Students must feel connected to the lesson and have an interest in what is being taught in order to relate to the subject matter," she said. "It is my responsibility to incorporate a certain degree of rigor and high energy into my teaching," she said, adding that humor also is a needed ingredient.
A believer in differentiated instruction, Cameron said, "Giving students multiple ways of learning and understanding content provide each one with experiences that improve learning." These include the use of technology, using diverse types of strategies when working math problems, whole-group instruction, guided practice, group work, peer tutoring, task cards, and other interactive games for math and science, interactive notebooks, etc. "I make an effort to create the best learning experience possible in order to meet individual needs," she said.
Cameron is a champion of ongoing use of assessments, both formative and summative, which can lead to high levels of growth in the classroom.
"I make great efforts to integrate a sense of community within my classes," Cameron said. "From day one, I work to cultivate relationships. Likewise, students should feel free to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. Students should have a sense of belonging and feel valued in order to want to come to school each day and be eager to learn and participate."
Cameron, who serves on the school's Data Team and has presented to district officials, currently serves as a contributor to the school improvement plan, is a new teacher mentor, new teacher practicum supervisor, is Beta Club sponsor and has served as yearbook advisor and editor for the past three years.
She has served as Team Leader, Title I committee member, and Math Vertical-Team facilitator.
Cameron has an extensive resume of high quality instructional professional development as an educator, including the transition to the state math standards. "These sessions were the most thorough and in-depth trainings I have ever received and pushed me out of my comfort zone," she said.
After her rigorous trainings, Cameron was able to go back and collaborate with other math teachers to meet in Vertical Teams. "Equipped to facilitate these meetings after I received additional leadership training I was able to lead my team as we shared what we found to be successful and areas where we needed more guidance and direction."
Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper, fifth grade English language arts and social studies teacher, is Fairview-Marguerite's Teacher of the Year. A graduate of WSCC, Cooper earned her master's degree from CNU and a bachelor's degree from ETSU.
"As an educator, I am charged with the important task of helping students become successful readers, historically conscious learners, strong thinkers, fluent writers, and savvy conversationalists," Cooper said. "Since our school's serviced English Language Learner population is more than 45 percent, and our free and reduced lunch percentage reaches over 93 percent, we have a lot of obstacles to overcome."
Cooper added, "Reading, communicating what we think and feel, and understanding the world around us has been an area of weakness for our learners for many reasons."
Last year, Cooper's students joined tens of thousands of other classrooms across the globe read a book together in a project called the Global Read Aloud. "The goal is to connect reading with authentic learning experiences through classroom lessons, author connections, writing engagement and technology integration."
The first book, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, allowed students to learn about a character with severe learning disabilities, who hated school, was misunderstood by her classmates, struggled getting along with her teacher, and faced issues at home. "Immediately learners who had been reluctant to participate before were able to connect with the characters in the novel," Cooper said. "The story meant something to them. As the story progressed, our conversations and learning connections grew deeper."
Cooper, who believes all students can learn, said, "We have to provide them with learning experiences that meet the needs of every learner. The language we speak, the home lives we are surrounded by, the socio-economic statuses we are categorized into, and the learning struggles that we face do not define us. Through the use of technology, we are able to open doors to the world to which they might otherwise not have access."
A District Learning Leader, Cooper said, "We create our classroom lessons and learning experiences around the belief that all students can learn and accomplish great things."
Cooper, who has been a speaker and presenter both locally, statewide, and nationally, is an educational blogger, through which she shares classroom lessons and strategies to help other educators. She manages professional Twitter and Instagram accounts used as Professional Learning Networks to collaborate with teachers, administrators, communities, and organizations locally and globally.
Heather Martin
Witt Elementary
Fifth grade math, science, spelling and English teacher Heather Martin is Witt Elementary's Teacher of the Year. A 10-year teacher, seven years spent in fifth grade, Martin holds a master's in educational administration and supervision from LMU and a bachelor's degree from Tusculum in elementary education.
Active learning describes Martin's teaching strategy. "Students tend to obtain and comprehend things better when they are actively talking, reading, listening, writing, or reflecting," Martin said. "This enables students to be key part of the learning process."
She cites as example when her science students made their own roller coasters to illustrate potential and kinetic energy. "This helped students understand the difference between the two kinds of energy and be able to tell me which type was illustrated," she said. "They were actively involved in the learning process."
They had to work with their peers to create and develop the coaster and agree on the correct type of energy. "Active learning helps stimulate critical thinking," she said. "Students learn better by doing."
Throughout her tenure, Martin has seen student growth in different areas of the state assessment, as well as local and school testing.
At Witt, Martin coaches the girls' basketball team, serves as Beta Club sponsor, works with fundraisers, is the school's webmaster, newsletter editor, yearbook editor, and oversees the school's social media. Previously she coached softball at both East and West high schools.
She co-chaired the American Cancer Society drive at Witt for the past three years. A Witt student had a cancer-like illness. Martin worked with the school to raise money for cancer research. "This brought our faculty and our school together for a great cause," she said.
Sandra Pittman
Meadowview Middle
Seventh grade language arts teacher Sandra Pittman, Meadowview's Teacher of the Year, received her bachelor's degree from State University of New York, and her master's degree from Pennsylvania State University. A 21-year educator, she has spent the last 13 at Meadowview.
Pittman demonstrates her love for reading to her students. "Many middle school students have begun to see reading as a less than desirable pastime," she said. "It is my ardent hope that my students will read for pleasure, as well as for acquired information."
Pittman's goal is to engage her students in meaningful lessons that will further their knowledge and enthusiasm about language arts in particular and academics in general. "The teaching strategy that I attempt to consistently use in my lessons is treating students like they are the center of my world," Pittman said.
After watching an interview with Robin Pingeton, the head coach of the Missouri's basketball coach, Pittman quoted her saying, "They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
That statement resonated with Pittman. "It reflects my overall belief in education," she said. "I believe that I have a great deal to offer my students, but until they know that I care about them as individuals not only in my classroom, but also outside of my room, they will not truly engage in the lessons that I prepare each day.
"Middle school is a difficult time for many young people, and most look to their teachers to demonstrate caring and sincere concern for their overall being," she said. "Once rapport has been established, it is easy to motivate them to do well and to assist them in believing in their own success."
After a literacy conference at Walters State where she was motivated by children's author Lester Laminack, Pittman began to use picture books to scaffold information for students before they were presented more difficult historical information.
This led to Pittman, along with fellow teacher Kerry Stacy, developing cross-curricular summer programs for students. The first program centered around the Holocaust and the second around slavery and the Underground Railroad. The third year concentrated on Coming to America – Immigration to the United States.
They look forward to another summer program. "I believe we are having great success with these programs because we are making learning fun. It is enjoyable for our students as well as our adults."
Pittman was the VFW Teacher of the Year, was a Hootie Award recipient, and has coached six district-level winners of the Modern Woodmen Oration Contest, and three Beta Club state winners of the Writing Contest.
Jenny Robinson
West View
Seventh grade social studies teacher Jenny Robinson is West View's Teacher of the Year. A seven-year teacher, she holds a BS degree in history with a minor in secondary education from ESTU and is a graduate of WSCC.
At West View, Robinson is the senior Social Studies teacher and yearbook editor. She has served as Builder's Club sponsor.
Robinson, who views history the story of humanity, feels she is more than a teacher dispensing facts and dates, but a storyteller. "History is full of characters, good and bad, plots and twists, and oh the drama," said particularly of English history.
She said she may, on first look, seem "old school," but she engages students by making the stories feel real. I give the historical figures emotions that the students relate to. She illustrates her stories with vivid paintings, sculptures, and pictures, giving the people a face, the battle a scene.
That, combined with videos, help Robinson engage all students – from the advanced students who probably already knew the material to the below basic student, who may not understand the deeper historical significance of the topic.
Noting that social studies has been in flux for the past three years and that new standards were introduced for the 14-15 school year, Robinson has an achievement and individual score of 5.
Robinson's class environment makes students feel welcome with a positive atmosphere. "Providing such an environment is very important for the lower level students because it gives them a safe space where they can feel free to express themselves," she said. "I also stress that my students are respectful and kind to me, as well as one another."
Her strong points are motivating students, presenting instructional content, questioning, and teacher knowledge of students. "If students are not motivated and do not see a reason to learn the material, they will not get involved and will not learn," she explained. "If I do not present the content in a sensible way that personally connects to the students, they will not learn. If my questioning does not require the students to think and struggle and dig deeper into the subject, they will not learn.
"And most importantly, if I do not personally know my students and what they are capable of and challenge them to meet that capability every single day, they will not learn," she said.
Jenny Russell
Union Heights Elementary
Fifth grade math and science teacher Jenny Russell is Union Heights Teacher of the Year. An East High alum, she earned her bachelor's degree at ETSU and her master's from CNU. During her four years as a teacher, Russell's students have earned the rank of highest math achievement and growth in Hamblen County.
Russell, who uses a variety of instructional strategies in her classroom, encourages positive social interaction, which leads to active engagement. "My class is composed of mixed-ability students for which I have created instructional opportunities adapted to diverse learners," she said. "I collaborate with a variety of professionals to establish an environment that is beneficial to all students."
Explaining that shared standards are fundamental to education, Russell said every student be provided the core concepts and have access to individualize their growth potential…I believe that truly great educators identify each individual's educational needs and seize the opportunity to meet all students' needs."
Describing herself as a "servant leader," which she calls an educator's "most powerful too," Russell said, "This is not accomplished by seeking high political stature, but rather by answering the call to serve individual's educational needs to the best of our abilities."
She said great educators are "called," adding, "Servant leaders focus on our influence through quality relations with others…."
Aspiring to relationship building, Russell uses communication skills to develop a community within her classroom. "As a small community, we intentionally develop therapeutic interrelationships that support educational goals that I established at the onset," she said.
She said effective leaders lead by inspiring students to become healthy, wise, free-thinking autonomous and servant leaders themselves.
Russell believes high quality instruction. "As an educator, I provide an educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual growth," she said. "I use a variety of math and science instructional strategies and math practices to problem solve and analysis data and equations. I encourage positive social interaction, which I feel leads to active engagement in learning.
At Union Heights, she is a member of the Leadership Team, the School Improvement Committee and serves on the committee of state math assessment.
Emily Gwinn
Miller Boyd
English teacher Emily Gwinn, a 12-year educator, is Teacher of the Year at Miller Boyd Alternative School. Before joining the faculty at MB, she was a teacher at East High. She holds a Masters of Education from Milligan College and a BA from Emory and Henry College in English Literature.
As a teacher Gwinn daily uses real-world connection to the curriculum. For example, she created a cross-curricular unit of English, history, and psychology titled, "The Evil with Humanity," in which students examined various information texts and TEDTalks concerning the Milgram Experiment, the Stanford Prison Experiment, and the Abu Ghraib Prisoner Abuse report while studying the novel Night.
"The real-world connection strategy and content of the unit quickly engaged my alternative school students because they were able to utilize the information from various texts for personal reflection," she said. "My students easily connected to the accusers and victims and discussed their reactions to authority and obedience.
"Because they personally connected to the content within the experiments, studies, and Night, it allowed the students to have a greater understanding of self-awareness," she added.
Students will remain engaged if they can personally connect to the curriculum and use the information to be successful citizens of their communities. "Using the real-world connections strategy is successful because of the daily participation, discussion, and reflections from each student," she said. "In addition, students were better prepared and successfully complete the TNCore ELA test.
A four-year Level 5 teacher, Gwinn's teaching has resulted in high levels of growth and learning for all students in her class. All administrators have commented positive feedback on student engagement and high quality curriculum within her classroom.
Her expansive leadership resume includes coordinating TNCore curriculum for English 9-12 and ninth grade state test prep strategies, implementing and leading a schoolwide professional development Effective Strategies for Struggling Students, and mentors apprentice English teachers in curriculum, planning, and classroom management. She has led professional development workshops on Thoughtful Classroom for teachers and for students an afterschool ACT preparation and credit recovery.
In October 2016, Gwinn initiated a $5,000 technology grant to purchase 15 additional laptops for 9-12 high school English classroom students.
"With updated technology, students will be able to utilize 21st century tools to enhance collaborative communication while mastering English 9-12 standards through differentiated learning techniques, such as problem-based research projects. Most importantly, the laptops will allow students to maintain a successful learning environment while completing their mandatory placement time and return to their zoned schools on track for successful completion of English 9-12 classes."
As of this writing, laptops are expected to arrive in mid-February. Students, staff, and administration are excitedly anticipating their arrival.
Hannah Lane
West High
Hannah Lane is the teacher of the year at West High School. A 10-year teacher, she holds master's and bachelor's degrees from CNU and teaches English III Honors, Regular, and Inclusion clases along with AP Psychology classes.
One of Hamblen County Schools' Learning Leaders, Lane is working to move the faculty in a positive direction by creating a culture of collaboration centered on student learning. After participating in a highly focused professional development, which concentrated on motivating peers and addressing setbacks, she continues to collaborate with Learning Leaders across the district on the implementation of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process, successes, and strategies for improvement.
At West High, as with the district, PLCs have created a much-needed change in the language to discuss students. "All students are 'our' students, and all teachers must be held accountable for 'our' students," Lane said. "This shift in language is helping to facilitate a culture of continued learning at West High School."
As a Learning Leader, PLC Leader for junior English, and grade level school leader, Lane has had "the unique opportunity to engage in a practice that I believe will change the culture of our school and directly impact our students."
She noted the positive impact on her own classroom. "I have had the opportunity to see this affecting my classroom in a positive way," she said. "As I focus not only on my teaching or myself but always on student learning, students will increase their skills in reading, writing, and communicating as a result."
As an educator focused on student learning, Lane knows using multiple strategies is the most effective way to reach all students and student engagement is crucial to learning. "Accountable talk requires students to actively engage with the text through Close Reading strategies in order to be prepared for class discussions," she said. "Through multiple readings and analyses, students are prepared to apply the text to a variety of situations and to participate in quality class discussions."
She added, "Accountable Talk emphasizes student thinking and the organization of those thoughts and allows students to further develop their own ideas. While listening actively to the contributions of others, they also learn to respectfully challenge the viewpoints of classmates.
"Clearly, a classroom environment of respect, student accountability or learning, and rigorous thinking must be established," Lane said. "When an environment such as this has been created in the classroom, students will engage with each other, the teacher, and in the learning process."
During the time Mrs. Lane has been English Department Chairperson, West English Department has received awards for Most Growth and Highest Achievement in English and has received multiple Golden Pen Awards for TCAP Writing. Additionally, her teacher leadership has contributed to the growth of approximately 80 West High students who received the GRIT Award for ACT improvement in 201.
Carol Rouse
East High
Carol Rouse, who teaches Visual Art I and Art III at East High, is her school's Teacher of the Year. All but three years of her 24-year teaching tenure has been spent at East High. She holds a BA from ETSU and a master's of Curriculum and Instruction from UT.
Rouse believes art can open minds and plant seeds for bigger dreams for every student. "(Art) will give them a unique voice via their artwork, providing them with greater self-esteem, which is essential to promote grown in academics," she said.
"I wish to be the teacher who awakens joy in creative expression and knowledge, recognizing the unique talents and skills of students by responding to their different learning styles, by acknowledging their cultural and economic differences, and by adapting instruction to their individual needs," Rouse said of her profession.
"However, the visual-thinking strategy allows me to build relationships, inspire creativity, and promote critical thinking with students."
She uses Van Gogh's "Starry Night" as a lesson to demonstrate how the visual thinking strategy promotes student engagement throughout the learning process.
"I want each of my students to understand that art connects to other disciplines," Rouse said.
Outside her classroom, Rouse founded the Young Artist Workshop, an after-school art program where six-12-year-olds can express their imagination through art. She partners with such groups as the Tennessee Arts Commission's "Art Building Communities," Morristown Task Force on Diversity, Girls Inc., and the GFWC Ladies Reading Circle to fund this project, which includes paying for supplies, transportation, and fees for visiting professional artists.
Rouse's extensive leadership resume includes Team Builder for Fine Arts and World Languages, Recycle Program coordinator, Student Council Food Pantry coordinator, Canes Care Closet advisor, Visual Art inservice leader, ELL Summer Program leader, educational development for Holocaust lessons, Thoughtful Classroom team leader, mentor teacher, cafeteria nutritional advisor.
Chosen for Rose Center Prater Hall Art Exhibit, she also received the MTFD Martin Luther King Innovation award, and the State Representative People's Choice Award. She also is a first place winner in the Great Smoky Mountain de Vinci Arts and Science Competition. Rouse serves on the Rose Center Advisory Board.
Lincoln Heights Elementary School215 Lincoln Avenue Morristown, TN 37813Phone: (423)586-2062 Fax: (423)585-3757The Hamblen County Department of Education is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. This website endeavors to comply with best practices and standards defined by Title II, Section 504 and Section 508 of the U. S. Rehabilitation Act. If you have accessibility concerns, contact our Central Office at (423) 586-7700 ext. 32063 or complete the online grievance form.Disclaimer Regarding PDF Documents, Videos and External Links
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Results 11 to 15 of 6350
Thread: Themed Families..
April 6th, 2014 10:02 PM #11
junebabie you need to do the next theme
April 6th, 2014 10:10 PM #13Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Posts
- 1,267
DD1- Alexandra Hope O'Reilly "Alex"
DS1- Bertram Valor O'Reilly
DD2/DD3- Adelaide Trust O'Reilly "Adele" / Addison Truth O'Reilly "Addi"
DS2- Bryson Brave O'Reilly
DS3- Bronson Honor O'Reilly
DD4- Abigail Grace O'Reilly "Abi"
The O'Reilly Family
Ben & Ana
Alex, Bertram, Adele & Addi, Bryson, Bronson, Abi
April 6th, 2014 10:27 PM #15
Ooh, it looks like this one got skipped so I'll use it
Robin Amanda and Wolfe Andrew have animal first names and "A" starting middle names and so do their four daughters and five sons. They have one set of boy/girl twins that share their parents initials (the girl must be RA and the boy must be WA). Two of their daughters have double barrel first names and one of their sons has a double barrel middle name (only the first part must start with A). Two of their son's first names must be typically used for dogs. Middle names do not have to be animal related, just start with A.
DS: Toby Aster-Knox
DD: Wren Amelie
DS/DD: Weaver Alexander and River-Jay Audrey
DD: Cygnet Avalon
DS: Leo Alaric
DS: Rocky Arthur
DS: Culver Abraham
DD: Kitty-Lark Alice
Camille Juliet and Orlando Allard Fairfax have seven children- five girls and two boys. The girls' names are all French sounding/French in origin, but are heard in English-speaking countries too. Their middle names are all taken from Shakespeare's plays. The two boys have Italian first names, but they go well with their sisters' names. Their middle names begin with the same letter as each other (and their father's middle name) and have a similar meaning. None of the children share first initials with each other or their parents.
April 6th, 2014 11:11 PM #17Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Posts
- 3,343
LN: Fairfax
DW: Camille Juliet
DH: Orlando Allard
DD: Lea Eleanor
DD: Adela Imogen
DS: Matteo Azriel
DD: Nicolette Bianca
DD: Gisele Celia
DD: Desiree Emilia
DS: Raphaele Alexander
Tristan Isaac & David Nathaniel Scott have adopted 6 children. 4 boys and 2 girls. Each child has 2 middle names. 1 middle name is from their country of origin. For the boys, the other must be the last name of a famous author/poet. For the girls, they must both be after an animal or bird. 2 of the boys are twins from the same country and their first names must both begin with the same letter. One of the other boy's name must end in an -n. And the 4th boy's name can't start with the same letter as any of his siblings nor can it end in the same letter. The girl's first names both end in an a and have at least 5 letters.
April 6th, 2014 11:32 PM #19Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
- Location
- Texas
- Posts
- 700
DH: Orlando Allard Fairfax
DW: Camille Juliet Fairfax
DD: Amie Isabella Fairfax
DD: Mallorie Elizabeth Fairfax
DS: Dante Brogan Fairfax
DD: Natalie Beatrice Fairfax
DD: Lucie Katherine Fairfax
DS: Rocco Burkhart Fairfax
DD: Elodie Margaret Fairfax
Nathan Todd and Kellie Dawn Westbrook have 8 children; 5 boys and 3 girls. Nathan and Kellie think they have boring names and hated sharing their name with lots of other kids in school. To prevent this problem, they have given all their children unique, but not unheard of names. They seem to have found that balance between unique, yet classy. All of the kids middle names come from their love of the mountains and outdoors.


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Originally Posted by downtrodden
Wesan: It is a genetic defect that deteriorates my vision. It is as of yet, untreatable. As a result, my vision is 20/125. I started losing my eyesight around 18, so i could drive, but now i cannot drive here in Ohio. All my post secondary education was geared toward becoming a Police Officer, so i cannot do that now. Kinda in limbo right now as to what i'm going to do with my life. But thankfully my girlfdriend is very understanding and supportive and we're working through it. She kinda likes the opportunity to take care of me.. y'know.. read the menu to me at restraunts, read me cooking directions on packages and the such.
Ironic i'd get into photography haha.
So there's the short of it!
Sorry to hear that, downtrodden. Let's at least hope it is a slow process, so you will keep your vision for as long as possible and can stay with photography as long as possible too.
"Analogue"/film cameras
Agfamatic 2000
Canon EOS 600 (SLR)
Fujifilm Fotonex 310ix (APS)
Digital cameras
Samsung Digimax 101
Canon Powershot S3IS
Originally Posted by Wesan
Nice to meet you, FLiPMaRC! Like to tell us which one of the guys in the pciture is you?
I'm the guy in the back
Originally Posted by Wesan
who is Ito Ako in the picture??
LOL ... it means, "This is me" in tagalog
Originally Posted by FLiPMaRC
I'm the guy in the back
LOL ... it means, "This is me" in tagalog
You're the guy who we only see one ear of, huh! How convenient for you!
Ito Ako means "this is me"? Hmmmm...so the guy in the yellow marking should be leyo04? Not quite sure I buy that...
Originally Posted by Wesan
Hello, leyo04. Nice to meet you. Thank you for introducing yourself here also (I think you did it in the S3 pics thread too).
You made me curious and I hope you don't mind my asking, but...who is Ito Ako in the picture??
BTW - seems like several of us here share, or have shared, the same interests and professions or occupations - there are Martial Arts people here and I used to be an IT professional too!
Couldn't find a good pix. I posted this and it's supposed to be a joke. hehehe.. as FlipMarc have said, "Ito Ako" means "This is me". I find the idea funny anyways....
flickr : http://www.flickr.com/photos/leyo04
Originally Posted by Wesan
Hello, idledown! Nice to meet you. It's OK that you're a Nikon user, as I wrote in the initial post of this thread.
And the fact that you actually visited this Canon forum, shows that there is still hope for you!
Hehehe... Just teasing you a little!
I do have a Canon, a 3000V SLR, my ex left it and has never claimed it back! Her loss in more ways than one
"burn down babylon."
Originally Posted by leyo04
Couldn't find a good pix. I posted this and it's supposed to be a joke. hehehe.. as FlipMarc have said, "Ito Ako" means "This is me". I find the idea funny anyways....
Hehehehe...it was funny, once I got it explained! It's just my Tagalog that's not...let's say..."as good as it could have been"...lol Sometimes, I might be a bit slow, too. Some people say blondes are slow...
Originally Posted by idledown
I do have a Canon, a 3000V SLR, my ex left it and has never claimed it back! Her loss in more ways than one
I'm very happy and relieved to know, that you have a Canon too! I think we all are...
Aren't we, stevele? Hehehe...
well here is mine..
my name is Dani, i'm from Israel, got a month ago or so my first digic cam
Canon A710 IS, love it..
so i'm 17 years old study in military school .
so here mine snapshot's of myself, hope you'll like it:
and here is another one :
Hello X-SOFT. Nice meeting you and welcome to these forums.
Hey, this is a great idea!
My name is Adam. I'm 44 and I live in San Francisco with my wife and two daughters (21 & 18) and too many cats.
I teach at a high school in Pacifica (about 7 miles south of SF on the coast.) Go here to see a cool picture and amazing site. I'm a librarian and also teach US History and digital design.
I've been into digital photography for a few years, starting with a Canon A40. I'm still waiting for Canon to design my perfect camera....
Here're two pictures of me in my library from Halloween 2006 and Halloween 2004.
Canon 60D & lenses & flashes & stuff
A bunch of cheap vintage film cameras
My Etsy store
Forum Rules


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William Shakespeare: Richard IIDirected by Gregory DoranRichard is King. A monarch ordained by God to lead his people. But he is also a man of very human weakness. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic and bloody civil war.RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs David Tennant in the title role of this new production, transferring to the Barbican from Stratford-upon-Avon. Joining Tennant is Oliver Ford Davies as the Duke of York - both actors appeared in the RSC's acclaimed Hamlet (2008) - with Nigel Lindsay as Henry Bolingbroke and Michael Pennington as John of Gaunt.
Directed by Gregory DoranDesign by Stephen Brimson LewisLighting by Tim MitchellMusic by Paul Englishby
7:00 pm; 2:00 pm


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Having an office space for your business might seem like a trivial issue in the grand scheme of things; you just need chairs and tables for employees to sit and do work, right? Wrong. Choosing the right office location and layout is very crucial to the success of your business.
You have to find out exactly what your business needs in terms of space, accessibility, number of employees, workplace culture, and many other factors necessary to create a motivating and conducive work environment. Below are six tips on how you can create the best workspace for your business.
Get the Right Location
Your office building location is very important for all stakeholders in your business. You should make sure it's close to public amenities like bus stops and public parking, so people in your organization can easily reach it.
An office that is too far from the city or public transportation can alienate potential employees, and your current staff would likely leave within 6-12 months because of the distance. Before settling in, don't forget to check if the location is safe and there is security around in case employees need to leave the office late.
Get the Right Office Space
After you are certain of your office location, check out several office buildings in the area before leasing or buying space. Firstly, it should allow you to sign a long-term lease contract, as moving offices can be tedious and time-consuming. The office should also be spacious enough to allow for expansion in the future.
Before closing a deal for your office space, consider the price. Whether your business is doing well or going through a rough patch, the rental fees and utility bills stay constant, so make sure they will not be difficult to cover during the times you have low sales and revenue.
Your office space must have easily accessible bathrooms and a storage room for all your extra furniture and office supplies. Moreover, look for offices that have a space you can turn into a break room where employees can relax after a tension-filled day. You could include magazines and add a mini library as well.
Studies show that a conducive work environment can actually help reduce absenteeism, increase your staff's productivity by 16 percent, and improves job satisfaction by 24 percent. Set up the best workspace for your company to have productive and happy employees.
Furnish Smart
Your office setup can greatly influence your company culture. When choosing a layout, keep in mind the type of business you do; for example, an advertising agency will have a more casual and creative feel while a finance management agency may have a more modern and minimalistic design.
Decide on a design concept you want to follow, but generally keep it between a traditional office and a modern-casual one. Open layout offices have gained popularity because they give a relaxed vibe, but you may still want to keep a few closed areas for confidential meetings or work that needs silence.
Purchase quality, affordable furniture that will be comfortable for your staff and would last long. It does not necessarily have to be new, as you can find great quality furniture in secondhand shops for a fraction of what a new furniture would cost.
Figure out Office Equipment and Supplies
Document all the office equipment necessary for your business. Depending on how mobile your employees are, you might buy either laptops or desktops for daily use. You will also need a centralized printing system which all computers will be connected to it.
Next, you will need office supplies like pens, sticky notes and notebooks. It is always best to buy this in bulk, which will help save money. You could also combine orders with other small business owners in your area to get even more discounts for bigger orders.
Get Excellent Internet Connection
Today, it's almost impossible to run a business without the internet, and slow internet connection has no room in a business that wants to prosper. When choosing a location for your office, visit your prospective place and ask about the best internet connection in the area. Another option is to check your preferred service provider and find out if they have coverage in the location that you like.
Create a Customer Reception Area
If you are likely to have customers come into your office, create a reception area where they will be received before they go to your meeting room. A reception area makes your business look more organized and professional, and that is the impression you want to give to your clients.
Setting up an office space for your business is a crucial decision that you should carefully think about. Aim to create an encouraging and conducive office environment that inspires a positive atmosphere among employees. Opt for an office that is safe, accessible and would represent your company well.