Model Airplanes

I am live blogging from today’s Tupelo School Board meeting. Four of the five Board members are present and the meeting has begun. Board member Ken Wheeler is not here.

The meeting began with a presentation of the district’s Teachers of the Year for each individual school. Tupelo High English teacher April Friar was named the district’s Teacher of the Year. Milam Elementary Principal Paul Moton was named Administrator of the Year.

Assistant Superintendent Kim Britton is making a presentation about accountability and curriculum. Because I was interviewing Friar, I did not catch her entire presentation. She has talked about training the district has done and its emphasis on writing. She also spoke about the fact that as they move forward, the state accountability model is still being developed. It is like flying an airplane while it is still being built, Britton said. The model likely will still have a large emphasis on graduation, she said. She notes that a large percentage (I didn’t catch the number) of the district’s dropouts are students who did not spend their entire career in the district. She talks about student mobility, saying the district needs to be aware of that and the impact it has on student achievement. A large number of students come from rental properties, she said.

Superintendent Gearl Loden said that with Mississippi pulling out of PARCC, they are waiting to see what test will be used next year. Also, there is the possibility that the state and federal accountability models will be

Article source: http://educationmatters.djournal.com/2015/01/20/tupelo-school-board-01-20-15/

“Kids seem to hear no so much,” said Al White, a member of the nonprofit Duluth/Superior EAA Chapter 272. “We want to give them the idea that if you dream about something, you can do it.”

While the multi-generational crew focuses on airworthy work, the project’s success isn’t based on how soon the Aeronca takes wing.

“The measure of success is the number of youth who get involved in this and experience aircraft construction,” said chapter vice-president Jim Nelson. “The more the better.”

Since the plane was handed to the chapter in 2013, it’s already given wings to one young man’s career goals. The high school student worked on the aircraft with Boy Scout Troop 16, based out of Asbury Methodist Church in West Duluth.

“He wanted to be a mechanic, now he wants to be a pilot more than anything,” said troop leader Scott Tollefson. The teen now plans to join the Air Force.

“You just never know when an opportunity that pops up will lead to something else,” Tollefson said.

Local EAA members inspected the craft and cleared it of debris. The wings held an archeological treasure trove, including birds’ nests and a mouse skull. Step by step, they set up project sessions for the youngsters. The partnership has been a win-win situation.

“It’s just as cute as can be, the kids are so excited,” Nelson said. “It’s a joy to work with them. Their faces light up, almost

Article source: http://www.superiortelegram.com/news/douglas-county/3659127-rebuilding-plane-inspires-teen-dreams