EDUCATION
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
A3
New principal hired at Humbolt Elementary
Questions lead to
comprehension
U
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
A new principal is coming to town in
August.
Janine Attlesperger is bringing years
of experience to Grant County with her
fi rst day as principal set for Aug. 2.
She is moving from Terrebonne,
where she is currently the Title I read-
ing specialist at the Terrebonne Commu-
nity School.
Attlesperger got her teaching degree
from Western Oregon University and
tought middle school and then fi fth
grade near the university. She also got
her master’s degree there and completed
a leading specialist internship where
she redesigned the reading program in a
school that did not have one.
“We were given an opportunity to
move to a small town in central Penn-
sylvania, and I got a job with an interme-
diate unit out there, similar to our (edu-
cation service districts),” Attlesperger
said.
She was able to go into non-pub-
lic schools as well, bringing services to
many Amish and Mennonite schools.
She also got her administrative certifi -
cate in Pennsylvania.
When her two older kids graduated,
she made the move back to Oregon and
has worked as the Title I reading special-
Janine Attlesperger
ist at the Terrebonne Community School
for the past seven years.
Three years ago she started working
on her doctorate degree and expects to
graduate by December.
“It’s something I’m passionate for,
and I am passionate about working with
kids and improving the education sys-
tem for all learners,” Attlesperger said.
“The John Day and Canyon City area
has always been a place my family has
loved so we couldn’t be happier.”
Attlesperger said they have never
lived in Grant County, but they enjoyed
visits to the area and the recreational
opportunities.
Fishing in the John Day River, camp-
ing in the Strawberry Mountains and
her husband bowhunting are some of
the recreational activities they enjoy on
their visits.
“We’re just small town people, so
when I started looking at administrative
positions, I was looking in small towns,”
Attlesperger said. “I grew up in Grants
Pass back when it was a small town, and
my husband grew up in Keizer when it
used to not be a part of Salem.”
She hopes this will be their last move
and where they will hang their hats for
the rest of their lives.
Attlesperger said she looks forward
to meeting the families and staff .
“We have spent time there in Grant
County, but to become a part of that
community is special,” Attlesperger
said.
She is also excited to see Humbolt’s
greatest strengths, while working on
what needs improvement.
The relationships built with families
and the community are her favorite parts
of working in the education system.
Especially with the challenges presented
by COVID-19, she said the support sys-
tems really came into play in meeting
the need of students and parents.
“This has been a hard year, and
we’ve risen above it,” Attlesperger said.
“I think, in a lot of ways, we can’t wait
for things to get back to normal, but I
also think that some good has come out
of this. As educators, we have learned
how to meet the needs of individual stu-
dents and families.”
Dayville’s Sullivan named Regional Teacher of the Year
Sullivan appreciative of
award and support from
community
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
Carrie Sullivan from Dayville School
District was named the Grant County
Education School District Regional
Teacher of the Year.
The announcement May 18 was
based on nominations by students,
colleagues, administrators, friends
or family members. The winner was
selected by a diverse panel of regional
representatives.
“Now a 10-year veteran, (Sullivan)
has polished her skills and kept fresh her
creativity and ingenuity; she has truly
arrived as a master teacher,” Dayville
Superintendent Kathryn Hedrick said in
a press release.
Sullivan won a $500 cash prize for
Contributed photo
Regional Teacher of the Year Carrie Sullivan poses for a picture with students at Day-
ville.
the award and is in the running for Ore-
gon’s 2022 Teacher of the Year, where a
teacher will be awarded $5,000 with a
match of $5,000 going to the school of
the educator.
“The critical role of teachers has
become especially evident as schools
have responded to the global COVID-
19 pandemic,” the announcement states.
“Teachers have stepped up in count-
less, innovative ways to ensure students
are safe, healthy and engaged to reach
their full potential, making this a fi tting
opportunity to recognize the excellence
of Regional Teachers of Year throughout
the state.”
S246275-1
nderstanding the
than what you think is best.
world around us is
Many times they will, but
the goal we
this is where learn-
want all our chil-
ing takes place. So
dren to achieve. We
if they have a choice
want them to under-
of pop or ice cream
stand and explain
and they choose pop,
what they see, hear
but others have ice
and read. It should
cream, they may
be really simple.
change their mind
You see it, you talk
Dr. Scott
after everyone gets
Smith
about it and you can
their treat. You just
write about it when
have to remind them
you’re older. For some rea-
that it was their choice for
son, it just doesn’t work that the pop, and next time they
way for everyone. Prob-
might be able to choose ice
lem-solving is a natural abil- cream. I can almost guaran-
ity humans can accomplish.
tee there may be a tantrum,
Yet, many people need a lit- but remember, don’t solve
tle nurturing to become a
it for them. Don’t off er to
master at the skill of under- trade. Now, if they ask you
standing (comprehending)
to trade, they are starting to
and problem-solving (vocal, use their own problem-solv-
written or demonstration).
ing, and it becomes your
One method for devel-
choice whether to trade or
oping problem-solving
not. This method works no
skills in children is through matter the child’s age.
using questioning. Ques-
Asking questions like,
tioning activates the part
“Do you think that’s the
of the brain used for prob-
best choice?” “Which do
lem-solving. It doesn’t mat- you think would go faster?”
ter what age, whether the
or “What would you do
child is 2 or 22, using ques- with all that money?”
tioning strategies aids in
forces them to trigger the
fostering everyone’s abil-
thinking process and go
ity to problem-solve when
into problem-solving. The
having to face a situation
struggle comes in guid-
they need to resolve on
ing them with questions
their own. Example: Which in order to draw their con-
do you eat faster with, a
clusions. The world all of
fork or spoon? This type of a sudden moves into slow
questioning asks the brain
motion, and the child is
to use existing informa-
faced with questions. The
tion to respond to a new
number one thing the child is
problem.
fearing is making the incor-
Sounds simple, but it’s
rect decision. Thus, we move
harder than you think! Liv-
into the child’s world of deci-
ing in a fast-moving world, sion-making using questions
it sometimes feels like we
helping them make their deci-
have to get things done
sion or draw their own con-
quickly. Therefore, we
clusions. When given more
often tell or give the child
and more opportunities to
resolutions to issues so we
allow them to nurture the skill
are able to move on. We do of problem-solving, they will
the problem-solving for the get quicker.
child, so they quickly learn
If you have a child you
that, in order to get the
notice is struggling with
information they need, they problem-solving, choose
simply ask. Frustration hits a time to work with them.
when a child has not had
Trying to have a teaching
practice, is asked a ques-
moment when the whole fam-
tion and expected to respond ily is waiting might be diffi -
orally or written and is at a
cult for everyone. Seek out
loss for what to do. Hurried
a time you are able to spend
adults become frustrated and time with them and guide
often give a response some- them in developing their
thing like, “Just fi gure it
problem-solving skills. You
out!”
might consider starting with
Have you provided
one situation each day, allow-
the opportunities for your
ing them to make their own
child to know how to fi g-
decision.
ure things out, or have
Start asking questions, and
you assumed they should
you’ll see your child’s ability
know? The child is show-
to problem-solve, discuss and
ing they have not developed even write about situations
their problem-solving abil-
make remarkable growth.
ity, and without prior prac-
Dr. Scott Smith is a Uma-
tice, everyone becomes
tilla County educator with
frustrated. The teaching
40-plus years of experience.
moment is now. Use ques-
He taught at McNary Heights
tions to help them draw
Elementary School and then
their own conclusions, right
for Eastern Oregon Univer-
or wrong, and learn from the
sity in their teacher educa-
experience.
tion program at Blue Moun-
Starting with giving the
tain Community College. He
child a simple choice is best.
serves on the Decoding Dys-
Remember it is OK if they
lexia — OR board as their
choose something diff erent
parent-teacher liaison.
Attlesperger coming
to town from Terrebonne
S245324-1
EDUCATION CORNER
541-523-6377
541-963-6577
541-573-6377
541-576-2160
Homer L. Harrison
A celebration of Homer’s life will be
held on Saturday, June 5, 2021,
1: 30 p.m. at the Holliday State Park.
Please bring your own chair. If incli-
mate weather the celebration will be
moved to the Mt. Vernon Grange Hall.
Online condolences may be shared at:
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com
S247109-1
P ioneer F eed & F arm S upply 541-575-0023
60561 H wy 26, J oHn D ay
S247277-1