‘j /
2006
Features
Rookie Spanish teacher hopes to open doors for students to excel
u
CH ñiSTO P H Eñ ERBiN____________
Staff Reporter
First year Spanish
teacher Curt Collingwood
returned from the heat of
Spain and arrived in the
damp Pacific Northwest
with high expectations.
He had already picked
up on the rumors around
the staff room: West Linn
High Students excelled
in the World Language
Department.
Although the students'
high test scores were an
added perk, Collingwood
was most intrigued with
the job offer because of the
students' willingness to
learn.
Teaches: Spanish II/III
Degrees received:
Undergrad and Masters
in Spanish from Bowling
Green State University
Year(s) of experience:
Taught several courses at
various Ohio high schools
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Interests: Loves the
outdoors and is picking up
the game of tennis
Childhood obsession:
Big Ghost Busters fan
First exposed to
Spanish: "My hometown is
predominately Caucasian, so
there were very few people
I could practice speaking
Spanish with. However,
my parents were not fluent
in multiple languages, but
they definitely promoted
speaking Spanish around
the house. They had many
dictionaries that converted
English to Spanish and that
is where I got most of my
practice."
First day expectations: "It
was probably more hectic
preparing and getting ready
for the students. You know,
from what I had heard, I
was expecting hard working
and dedicated students;
not really your typical
high school student. In all
seriousness though, they are
very bright kids."
First day problems?: "I
learned kids like to talk, no
matter how old they are. I
respect them as long as they
respect me, and if they insist
on talking, they can hang
out in the hall and make
up the work on their own
time. But when I say this,
I am talking about a very
select group of individuals.
The majority of my students
have been awesome so far."
Outside of school he is
most likely: "Recently I've
tried picking up tennis, I
am in the beginner stage for
sure. I also enjoy Indian food
a lot. However I haven't
found a favorite (Indian)
restaurant in Portland.
Then again, maybe I just
haven't looked in the right
place. Also, because I love
nature and the outdoors,
the first thing I did when I
moved to Oregon was go to
Multnomah Falls. It is well
known everywhere in the
country and it is really an
exhilarating thrill to see in
person."
Over the summer: "Well,
I spent a lot of time, two
months I think, in Madrid,
Spain, I loved the people,
After returning from Spain and
moving from Ohio, new teacher
Curt Collingwood received his
first teaching job. His practice in
learning Spanish came from his
parents who always gave him the
proper materials to pursue his
love in the language.
Photo by Cole Fiala
the city, the food; I loved
all of it. The weather is
awesome as well, there
was never a cloud in the
sky and the temperature
was constantly pushing
the hundreds. I actually
had the most embarrassing
moment of my life while I
was in Spain. I was a pretty
fluent speaker, but I didn't
know how to pronounce the
Spanish accents. Anyway,
I was going to see a movie
and on my way in I asked
a young lady working
at the theater, "Did you
like the movie you saw?"
Apparently my accent was
not accurate and I really
asked her, "Do you like
what you see?" She must of
thought I was some kind of
insane pervert, but whatever
she thought, it was really
embarrassing.
His students say: "He is
a really interesting person
and gets along well with his
students. When he showed
us he had two different
colored eyes, one blue and
one brown, I thought to
myself; "Spanish will be a lot
more interesting now.," Avi
Levy, Spanish III Student,
sophomore, said.
Freshman/AIM counselor brings experience from around world
u S ydney M ac N aughton
and
C hris G arfield rel
Staff Reporter
Megan Runyan, freshman
counselor, is here to help
and guide the freshmen.
Hired after her experience
as an intern at this school,
she enjoys relating to high
school aged students while
guiding and serving them.
With many hobbies, travels
and interests, she has some
experience that could not be
found anywhere else.
u w ith
teens."
Counseling history:
a loving family. After high
school I attended
Oregon State University as
an undergrad but then went
to grad school at Lewis &
Clark College." She has a
younger brother, Nathan,
and an older sister, Elissa, but
no pets.
Interests: "I enjoy to do
many things like running
and snowboarding. I also
like to watch movies and
my favorite television show
is 'Rockstar Supernova.' I
especially love to travel and
have flown to places such
as Australia, Hawaii and
b y flying into Sydney, then
backpacked for three months
up the coast to Cairns. I went
snorkeling and stopped in
different coastal towns."
Beeson: will he make history?
u H illary K rippaehne _________
Staff Reporter
Stephen Beeson brings
his love of history to his
work as a student teacher
in the Educational Resource
Center. According to
Beeson, academics have
always been his drive, but
not always his passion.
Position: Freshman
counselor
College Attended: Oregon
State University
Interests: traveling,
snowboarding and running
Applied to be a counselor
because: "I applied for this
position because I have
always wanted to work with
kids. I had always thought
that I would become a
teacher, but I like being a
counselor better because I
interact with the kids more
and get to know them better
on a one on one basis."
Looking forward to: "I am
looking forward to getting
to know familiar faces and
the incoming freshman.
It will be nice to help out
the new students in their
first year of high school.
I'll be able to guide them
in academics, colleges and
social problems."
Different from other
counselors because: "Each
and every person is an
individual, and in the same
way, each counselor has their
own style of counseling. I
Mexico. I loved traveling
to Australia from October
to December 2002.1 began
*
New freshman counselor Megan
Runyan interned at West Linn last
year and was hired because of her
skill and expertise. Runyan loves
her new job and getting to know
the freshman.
Photo by Cole Fiala
licensed counselor, though
I was an intern for two
years. I worked in Boise
Elliot Elementary in north
Portland, Sellwood Middle
School, and West Linn High
School, which was my
favorite."
Advice to one wishing to
be a counselor: "Be flexible
and patient. Always be ready
and willing to take on the
challenges of each day. Work
hard to relate with the kids."
History: "I was bom and
grew up in Yakima, Wash, to
Cooperating teacher:
Judy Nowlin, ERC
College attending:
Portland State University
Interests: Guitar, music,
outdoors, traveling to the
beach and the mountains
Family: wife, Kathryn
Reason for teaching: "It's
complicated, but I feel like
a kid, and I love kids. I'd
like to go into history or
French teaching later. I
majored in history and
minored in French. This
program is great though;
I’m really excited to start."
Favorite part of
teaching: "I love it when
students take their own
initiative to leam. I love
it when students discover
themselves."
Stephen Beeson, student teacher
fin the Educational Resource
Center isn't nervous about his
new job teaching students. His
main concerns will be staying
organized during his first year at
the high school.
Photo by Nicole Hutchinson
In high school: "I liked
watching sports, but I
didn't play them. I was
very academic. My senior
year I was in the Model
United Nations. I was also
in the French Club."
Family: "I'm a newlywed
and my wife's name is
Kathryn. We married last
June. We don't have any
pets yet, but Kathryn
would love to get a Yorkie.
We babysat my wife's
parents yorkie and the dog
is very attached to people.
He'd always sleep in their
bed and follow them
around, so we had him
everywhere."
Previous jobs: "I worked
at Target after high school.
Then I worked with my
church youth group and
played in their band."
Passions: "I enjoy music.
I have been playing guitar
for the past 12 years. I
also have fun outdoors.
Biking is another one of
my hobbies. I minored in
French, but have never
been to France. For our
honeymoon I would have
loved to go, but we went to
Cannon Beach instead."
Challenges of teaching:
"I am not too nervous
because I student taught
for a little bit. My main
problem will be staying
organized. I want to be
a fun teacher, but have a
serious class. I don't want
to be the mean teacher
everyone hates."