Darral Paradis, CPPB, C.P.M., Director of Procurement and Materials Management, and Gwendolyn Matthews (pictured at right), CPPB, Construction Buyer, will be honored with “Builder Awards” on April 16 by the Arkansas Minority and Women Contractor’s Association. Builder Awards are presented in recognition of Arkansas agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals who have assisted in the economic development and expansion of minority- and women-owned construction and construction-related contractors in Arkansas. A donation will be given in the name of each of the six honorees; Paradis has chosen Alzheimer Arkansas, and Matthews has selected the Little Rock Watershed Project.
Ms. Matthews also was named “Buyer of the Year” by the Arkansas Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. The award is given annually to a procurement professional as recognition for dedication, integrity and growth in the procurement buyer classification.
Entries Tagged as 'Employees'
Chuck Wepfer, Operations Manager for Cameron Valve, recently presented McClellan High School principal Marvin Burton with a check for $35,000 at a luncheon in the school's Media Center.
Cameron Valve, one of McClellan's Partners in Education, donated the money to purchase classroom libraries for the school's 13 English teachers. These libraries include display cases and books as well as dictionaries to support students' reading vocabularies. As a part of the state-mandated America's Choice initiative, it is highly recommended that each English teacher has a classroom library of various types of high-interest fiction and nonfiction books for students to read.
The Cameron Valve funds also will be used to purchase a Texas Instruments Navigator System, which is a wireless communication system that links students' calculators to the teacher's computer and LCD projector. The Navigator System will allow McClellan to complete one full technology classroom used by 150 students daily. The Navigator System will increase student interest and competence in math through technology, using the concepts of collaboration and engagement. The teacher also can see in real time what each student understands and tailor his/her teaching accordingly.
Dodd students and staff see the many needs counselor Mary Harden is constantly meeting.
A third grade classroom teacher referred a student to the counselor after receiving nine behavior documents for bully and lack of self control. After having meeting with the student on numerous occasions to identify the underlying issues that were causing the student’s behavior, the counselor was able to listen to the problems that were plaguing the student and then review some practical suggestions to help the student get a hold of the situation. The student was able to return to class with a positive attitude and display self control and use strategies discussed with the counselor to control his anger management issues. The student was also able to except responsibly for unwise decisions made in the past. This student continues to do well in the classroom and realizes that if he ever needs to talk, the counselor has an open door policy. The impact the counselor had on this students’ life has completely change the interior environment in my classroom and student learning is flourishing on a daily basis.
A fifth grade teacher expresses that the counselor has always been there for her students and has helped many of them work through adolescent related matters, but the teacher really appreciated our counselor for the Love and Thoughtless she showed during the death of her mother. She related that the counselor explained the grieving process and how thing would not be easy after the death of parent, but if she needed anything she would be available to assist her. This really impacted the teacher’s life and has helped her to cope with the loss of her mother.
A fourth grade teacher related the impacted that the counselor had on her female students. The teacher had a group of five girls who could not get along with one another. So the teacher referred them to our counselor. The counselor initially identified what the main problem was. Which was a complete misunderstanding on his female’s part? Each student felt that the other student did not like her for whatever reason and this continued on for months without any of the students trying to find out why there was dislike among them. So our counselor brought them all into her office and start off with "tell me about yourself” session. This gave all the girls an opportunity to learn about the other in a positive light. Next she had another session “Why don’t you care for this other student?” The responses were all “because she doesn’t like me”. That was the reply of all the girls. None of the students had valid reasons for not caring for the other. No one had personally done anything against the other. After coming to the conclusion that each girl didn’t have a problem with the other, they were all friends and supporting each other in their endeavors, instead of what it had been in the pass of tearing down each other. All it took was someone who had the time and willingness to find out what the underlying issue was. That person was our counselor. By the counselor taking interest and sit down and talk with these young ladies this made a huge impact in their lives and those around them.
Carver’s counselors, Julia Cartwright and Tracye Thomason, are a tremendous team! They do so much for the school, students and staff. They keep the human service element constant with calls to parents. When a student is referred with a need or home visit, they are there right away to show we do care in many ways and will help as best we can. Carver students often seek them out wanting to just visit them and talk.
Principal Diane Barksale says about her counselors, "I find they are usually ahead of me when I go to talk about a concern. They find community resources to help entire families. I think of one family in particular that we discussed before the holidays because of the very sad faces of the multiple children. We had planned to do what we could and then they told me they had found a church to sponsor the entire family. They serve on our School Based Intervention Team that meets each Friday. "
Ms. Cartwright and and Ms. Thomason listen, they learn and they love deeply and set the example for remembering we teach with our hearts as well as our heads.
On behalf of Carver’s staff, LRSD salutes these two fine ladies and thank them for the undercover work they perform daily.
Mann Pride Showcase
Mann Middle School Counselors, Ruby Washington, Christiann Daniel and Robin Zimmer, have focused for four long months on recruiting students to attend their arts and science magnet school.
Beginning in early November with “Check Us Out” and ended in February during the last week of Open Enrollment with tours and shadowing, Mann counselors developed and gathered the informational materials, coordinated and scheduled special events, and worked with campus groups to showcase our school and all of the wonderful opportunities it has to offer.
In early November the counselors began working in cooperation with our EAST students and facilitator, the Mann Ambassadors Club, and the Mann PTA in order to organize tours and information sessions that highlighted the exceptional arts, science, and academic programs that Mann offers as well as our wonderful students and teachers. There was also an evening Open House during the “Check Us Out” week that showcased the talents of many of our performing arts students. Visitors were able to tour the facilities and talk to Mann parents, students, teachers, counselors, and administrators.
The Mann Pride Showcase continued as the counseling department partnered with the school's Ambassador’s Club to host weekly tours for prospective parents and students that started in late November and continued through the Open Enrollment period until the first week of February. Tours began with a parent orientation/information session where parents were provided a packet of information on the school and its programs. Tours ended with a Q and A session hosted by Mann counselors. Student ambassadors conducted the 45 – 60 minute tours that showcased our state of the art science labs, technology, and classrooms. The tours also included seeing classrooms in action, the gym, cafeteria, EAST lab, piano lab, art classes, and dance classes.
In January the Mann Pride Showcase added weekly shadowing opportunities for rising 5th graders for students from the Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County school districts. The Mann counseling department spoke to prospective parents, answered questions, and set up shadowing appointments each week. They also worked with sixth grade Mann students to train and orient them to the shadowing process. On shadowing days visitors were greeted by Mann counselors and shadowers were matched with eager hosts. Shadowers attended three morning classes and ate lunch with our students. Parents picked up students after lunch in the main office where Mann counselors met with the student shadowers and parents once more.
Also in January Mann Magnet participated in the District sponsored Magnet Fair. Mann representatives also attended elementary school programs that highlighted district middle schools. The Mann counseling department prepared informational materials for these events and assisted with preparing and organizing displays. Members of the department also served on focus groups for promoting LRSD middle schools, attended recruitment events, and assisted the recruitment effort in any way possible.
Mann is very proud of the time and effort that these counselors put into the Mann Pride Showcase program. This long and involved recruitment process is very important to the continued success of the school. It is a wonderful opportunity for counselors, school groups, parents, students, administrators, and staff to work cooperatively in order to support our school. The Mann Pride Showcase program is a great teaching and learning experience and is a beneficial opportunity for students to learn and apply personal/social skills, to connect with others in Central Arkansas, and to provide service to our school and our community.