A running reunion in St. Louis

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
ST. LOUIS, MO - It certainly wasn't a normal "reunion".

Beth Chamblin (PHS class of 1986), Nolan Barrios (PHS class of 1986), Heather King (PHS class of ? and Esther Rodriguez-Thompson (PHS class of 1983) recently had a meeting "on the run" - literally. The four comprised the team of Four 40 something's from Plymouth, Indiana that placed 20 of 171 co-ed teams in the marathon relay event of the Go! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend. The April event attracted over 23,000 participants from 47 states and 12 countries in 2010.

"This is the first time that anyone on the team has participated in a marathon relay which consists of 4 people who each run approximately 6.5 miles to complete a full marathon," said Beth. "I posted information about the relay on Facebook and asked if anyone was interested. I received a great response and was able to form the Plymouth team and a St. Louis team. The course goes through downtown St. Louis and Forest Park. It is a tough course with many hills. It was also a very hot day. At one point they closed the marathon because of the heat."

The heat didn't seem to bother the Plymouth natives who finished with a time of 3:54:35.

All four are experienced runners and athletes. Barrios who now lives in Minneapolis is an ultra-marathoner and triathlete. King who lives in Plymouth is a half-marathoner and marathoner and Rodriguez-Thompson who is also a Plymouth native is also a half-marathoner and marathoner.

"Esther's husband, Bill Thompson, was originally on the team (hence the name, 'Four 40-Somethings from Plymouth, Indiana," said Beth. "When he decided to be our alternate, Esther recruited Heather who is actually 34. Since there are no age divisions in the marathon relay, having her on our team was not unethical, but I jokingly called her our 'ringer.'"

"I ran cross country and track in high school and really didn't get serious about running again until 2008 when I turned 40," said Beth. "I looked in the mirror and said, 'I need to get in shape.' Running is good for my body, mind and soul. Now that I'm back into running, I actually have more energy. While I've participated in one half-marathon, I prefer 5K and 10K races."

The meeting was a true reunion for Beth with Nolan and Esther. Running - and electronics - brought the friends back together.

"I haven't seen Esther or Nolan since I was 14 years old, we reconnected a few years ago on Facebook," said Beth. "I lived in Plymouth from 1975 until 1983. My family moved to Connecticut when I was in 9th grade. While I didn't officially graduate from PHS, I consider myself to be a PHS graduate because those are my fondest high school memories. I currently live in St. Louis with my husband and our 13 year old son."

While this is the first time the group ran together, it doesn't appear that it will be the last.

"We plan to make the Go! St. Louis marathon relay a tradition and hope to put together more Plymouth relay teams next year," said Beth. "Plymouth is a great town with wonderful people. I hope to return for my 25th high school reunion in August."

For more Info about the Go! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend you can visit http://www.gostlouis.org/about/our-mission.html

Greer continues her pursuit of history

By Carol Anders

BLOOMINGTON - As her sophomore year comes to an end at Indiana University in Bloomington, 2009 Plymouth High School graduate Kasey Greer will be heading to New York City and Washington D. C. to explore even more possibilities for a career that is history related.

Those who knew Greer in high school weren’t at all surprised when she became a Herman B. Wells Scholar, one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the university.

Greer is currently majoring in history and additionally working towards a certificate in the Liberal Arts and Management Program (LAMP). LAMP is in interdisciplinary, honors-level certificate program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences in cooperation with the Kelley School of Business.

Greer spent her summer in 2010 in an unpaid internship at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

“My main project was to research and answer a few questions about Lew Wallace to further the Museum’s interpretation for guests," said Greer. "These turned into two 15-page papers.”

Other projects included assisting in a day camp for junior high students and giving tours of the grounds and study to visitors. Greer said the experience was a great opportunity.

“The small size of the Museum allowed me to feel like my contributions were important to the institution," she said. "It also gave me a chance to see the various aspects involved in running a museum and to participate in many of them.  The individuals I worked with went out of their way to guide my learning and make me feel like a true part of the team.”

Beginning June 19, she will be in New York for a week as a Gilder Lehrman One-Week Scholar.

“The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers this opportunity to 30 college sophomores and juniors as part of their History Scholars Program," she said. "They pay room and board as well as travel expenses.  During the week, I will be able to meet with prominent historians and go on paid field trips to various archives and museums.”

Greer  then heads for Washington D.C. for a six-week internship at the National Museum of American History, a part of the Smithsonian. While she doesn’t know exactly in what area she will be studying, she has learned that she will be working with the political curator, Dr. William Bird. As a part of the internship, she will be given housing at George Washington University and receive a weekly stipend for expenses.

The Mark Jacobs Smithsonian Institution Internship that she will be working under is sponsored by the American Political Items Collectors (APIC).

Greer continues to be appreciative of the community in which she grew up.

“I attribute much of my success to the family, friends, and mentors who have supported me over the years.” She said, “My parents (John and Krista Greer) always encouraged me to explore the subjects that interested me and taught me life skills such as hard work and perseverance.”

“For the APIC internship especially, my political experiences with my grandfather, James Greer, got me interested in political history and the items it leaves behind (like campaign buttons).”

"I also had mentors helping me along the way.” she said.  “At PHS, Mrs. Allison Hargrove made history come alive for me and reignited my passion for something I'd always liked.  Here at college, I have several professors who have encouraged my development as a historian and offered me a variety of opportunities. My circle of friends has always supported me, and their success has inspired me to work harder towards attaining my own.”

Greer still finds time to work with the Indiana Magazine of History as a research assistant; The Undergraduate Scholar; Indiana University History Club; and the Hutton Honors College Mentor Program.

This story appears courtesy of the Pilot News

Kubley's and Passafire on major US Tour

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

SAVANNAH, GA - Music fans will be cheering some of the world's top acts again this year as part of the Van's Warped Tour that will criss cross the country through June, July and August.

Along with some of the hottest acts in music today - Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, Jack's Mannequin, and Simple Plan to name just a few - will be a band from Savannah, Georgia called Passafire, that just happens to feature two names that will be very familiar to Plymouth residents.

Passafire is a reggae band that features brothers Nick and Will Kubley on drums and bass. The band that highlights frontman Ted Browne on guitar and lead vocals with Mike DeGuzman on keyboard has made quite a name for themselves in the new music scene.

It's a huge jump from the groups simple beginnings. When Nick graduated from Plymouth he headed south to pursue his education at the Savannah School of Art and Design. Early on he made a friend.

"Ted and I started playing together and we decided to start a band," said Nick.

Finding another member took a little more time.

"We were on our third bassist and Will had just gotten out of high school," said Nick. "I called him and told him he had to get down here. It seems like Will and I have always been playing music together from junior high all the way through."

"I think they were having some trouble with bassists," laughed Will remembering that eventful phone call. "I always knew I wanted to play music and it really wasn't too hard to pack up and go."

So how did two small town boys from Plymouth get involved with the world sound of reggae music?

"I remember when I was about 13 or 14 my parents bought me a Bob Marley album - his greatest hits," said Nick. "I fell in love with that record and genre. It's just so accessible to anybody. It's a universal sound."

"I remember that record," added Will. "I think everybody loved that record. There was always just a lot of music in our house growing up. I think I probably listened to a lot more acoustic and folk but there was lots of different styles of music in our house."

Browne writes much of Passafire's music, but Will has written some songs of his own and the band admits that song writing tends to be a collaborative effort.

"Ted writes a lot of it (songs). He'll bring in something already prepared, Will sometimes brings in some things of his own," said Nick. "Actually most of the time we just start playing. Everybody adds a little something and we record everything that we do so we put it together from that. It's a very collaborative thing."

Passafire has compiled three albums so far and is preparing to head to Texas in the next several weeks to put together a fourth before hitting the road with the Vans Tour.

"We did our last record at the same studio and it was just a great experience. It was a great place to record," said Will. "We couldn't wait to go back and do the next one."

It's still the live experience that makes someone a Passafire fan.

"I feel like the live show really represents who we are as artists a little more than the studio stuff," said Nick. "We love recording albums - don't get me wrong - but it's all about the live show. It's why you do it. For your fans. Feeding off the energy of the crowd. Of course more people, more adrenaline. Our shows are really high energy."

"When we play a lot of people notice something - they'll say things 'like you and the drummer seem really tight,'" said Will. "Then they find out we're brothers and its like 'Oh, well, yeah. No wonder.' Live is how you get to show your songs to the world. It's totally different. People get to see the real personality in your music."

Even with the love of playing, the Van's Tour will be a grueling one for the band.

"It's touring to extreme," said Will. "On the road, play a show and back on the road that day headed for the next show."

"It's definitely grueling. It's really pretty brutal," said Nick. "I think it's 44 shows total. You get used to traveling. You find ways to occupy your time. You read books. Exercise."

Along with growing up in a very musical home - sister Maggie Kubley fronts an indie/pop band called the Embraceables based in Chicago - the brothers admit that another influence had a huge impact.

"I wouldn't be doing any of this if I hadn't had the opportunity to be involved with band in high school," said Nick. "I really don't know what I'd be doing right now if I hadn't had music to be involved with in school. It made a huge difference to have that available to me."

He certainly wouldn't have one of the world's hottest bands like Paramore opening for him.

"I really don't think it's going to work that way," said Nick with a chuckle. "But I certainly wouldn't mind opening for them."

Follow the band on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/passafire. Videos from Passafire are on YouTube. To see the video from the bands song Here in Front of Me go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3IbRq4dDUM

Attention Class of 1977

Your classmates want to know...would you attend a 35th reunion next year?

If there is enough interest planning will begin so if you want to see old friends again next year please contact Judy Reed at jreed1959@comcast.net or 574-540-2321.

Inquiring minds will seek to know at Plymouth Schools

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth HIgh School students will soon be using the latest technology, the latest methods, and cutting edge ideas to learn that the world is flat.

Plymouth Assistant Principal Ken Olson used the premise of New York TImes columnist Thomas Friedman's bestselling book to introduce Marshall County business and community leaders and educators to Plymouth High School's new School of Inquiry. Friedman's term that the world is flat refers to the globalization that the explosion of technology has produced in today's economies.

Plymouth's 21st Century approach to learning will be based on the New Tech model already incorporated by Oregon-Davis and Rochester schools and will create a school within a school at PHS. In conjunction with the Plymouth School of Inquiry, Plymouth University will offer a slightly more traditional approach to learning for other students.

Both will offer students tools to face the ever changing demands of the global job market and even more. Students at Plymouth will actually be able to graduate from high school with enough college credits to also gain an associates level college degree at the time of being handed their high school diploma.

Olson pointed out that over 80 percent of jobs today required an associates level degree in order to be considered. The programs are the schools effort to meet that need and give Plymouth students the tools they need to compete in the global job market.

"When I started here 25 years ago my goal was I wanted students to do better than they thought they could," said Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree in introducing the school's new programs. "I have a broader view now of what kids need to succeed and the passion is still there to ensure that every child has everything they need to succeed in life."

Partnerships will play a big role in the new programs at Plymouth. PHS Principal Jim Condon stressed the desire for local business leaders to present real life problems to students and expect workable solutions to those problems.

"You have the opportunity to 'grow' your workforce here in the community," said Condon. "The goal is that we will be preparing them for the types of things that you need them to do in the future."

The need for cutting edge approaches to learning was stressed by Olson who will be in charge of the School of Inquiry at PHS. Olson pointed out that the top 10 "in demand" jobs of today did not even exist before 2002.

"We will be cultivating a culture of responsibility and respect," said Olson. "You notice in schools of this type that there are lockers, but they don't have locks. It's a result of being given more responsibility and higher expectations."

The schools will continue to develop relationships with Ancilla College, IVY Tech, IUSB and Purdue University in order to pool resources for the program.

The school will begin an application process for the School of Inquiry as the program will be limited to 100 students per grade level. Condon said the students chosen would represent a cross section of the demographics of Plymouth schools.

The Plymouth School of Inquiry is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2012.

You can help the Plymouth High School FFA Chapter

You can help the Plymouth FFA Chapter to collect $1,500.

Simply go to: http://www.ffachapterchallenge.com/ Click on "Register & Vote as a Farmer"

You do not have to be a farmer. This is a challenge for all chapters across Indiana to win $1,500 and PHS needs your vote to help.

Thank you to those who have already registered and voted. For those that have not, be sure to do so before May 1, 2011.

On behalf of the PHS FFA, thank you for your support.

The $1,500 would be used to help the chapter pay for competition fees, travel expenses, banquet supplies and more.

-Kelli Hoffman
Plymouth High School Agriculture Department

Mills named new Principal at Jefferson

PLYMOUTH — Angela (Angie) Mills was officially named principal for Jefferson Elementary for the 2011-12 school year, replacing retiring Bob Remenih.

Currently Mills is the Dean of Students at Lincoln Junior High.

Jefferson is the one elementary school that Mills has not worked extensively at during her eight years with the school system. She served as a substitute as a JESSE aide, student taught at both Washington and Webster, and was the Title I Reading teacher at Menominee for four yeas before moving to LJH.

Menominee Elementary Principal Michael Dunn said, “We saw the early makings of Angie’s future leadership while she was moving our reading program forward at Menominee.”

Plymouth Community Schools Superintendent Dan Tyree said Mills was one of 62 applicants for the Jefferson position. The applications were narrowed down to 11 following telephone interviews. Of the 11, six were chosen to meet with parents, staff, and corporation administrators and then was named one of the final two candidates.

“Mills shows the quality characteristics that Plymouth Schools look for,” Tyree said.
From 1999-2004, Mills worked with AutoCad design.

She was raised in the Teagarden community where she said she knew everyone by name. Her mother Tanya was a bus driver for the Plymouth Schools for many years before retiring and her father Virgil works for the N & S Railroad.

Mills said, “I was the first one in my family to attend college.”

She credits her parents with providing the support that she needed to pursue her education, and has passed on her love of education to her sister Lindsey who is now a pharmacist at Walgreen’s.

“I came from a family that values hard work, honesty, and a quality education,” she said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to Plymouth Schools. As principal at Jefferson Elementary, I will work to support students, teachers and families through team work and high expectations.”

She and husband Bill are the parents of two sons, Will and Aden.

She is also very involved in the community. Currently she is the President of Marshall County Reading Council, Migrant Summer Reading Program Teacher, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Treasurer, International Reading Association member, and an assistant coach for kindergarten soccer and T-ball.

Wrestlers giving more than just another camp for the summer

PLYMOUTH - Several Plymouth wrestlers may be able to write about changing people's lives when they write their "What I Did Last Summer" essays come fall.

Bob Read, Plymouth Schools wrestling coach, is combining three of his life’s passions - sharing his faith, helping build the characters of young people and wrestling. Fourteen Plymouth students along with their coach will spend a week of their summer vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Read, working with Score International, and their volunteers will be holding a multi-sport camp for students in the Dominican Republic the week of July 16-23.

“My prayer is that they will come back home changed for life,” said Read of his goal for the trip.

Read explained that the trip is not part of the wrestling program of the schools, but rather an opportunity for some of the Plymouth wrestlers to have a new experience. After meeting with interested junior high and high school aged students and their parents, the fourteen began the needed fundraising to make the trip possible.

Read said they will be using wrestling as vehicle to allow the young people to interact and get to know each other.

“We will also be interacting in pickup games of baseball, volleyball, and soccer,” Read said.

Wrestling and sports are only one component of the trip. Read said they will use a portion of the money they are raising to purchase groceries for those who are in need, visit the sugar cane village, and an orphanage while they are in country.

“They will be able to see people who don’t have,” Read said.

The group is actively seeking local sponsorships to help with the expenses. Read said, “We are pooling any money that we receive so that everyone who wants to make the trip is able to go.”

WTCA-AM 1050 Radio, located at 112 W. Washington Street in Plymouth will be accepting donations on behalf of the group.

Honors keep rolling in for PHS band

DUNLAP - Congratulations are in order for the PHS Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble members.

The bands competed in the ISSMA Concert Band Competition at Concord H.S. on Friday and received the top honor of a Gold Award rating and earned gold ratings from every judge.  Three of the four judges gave the group a near perfect score. The band additionally earned a rating in the sight-reading division.

This marks a perfect ISSMA record for the band for this school year earning Gold Award honors at every ISSMA event and qualifying the band for their 8th consecutive "All-Music Award" from the ISSMA office.   This award is earned only by schools that compete in Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Solo and Ensemble State FInals and you must earn a Gold Award at every event to qualify.

For those of you in Plymouth this weekend...Visit the Lincoln Junior High Craft Show

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, come on over the Lincoln Junior High this Saturday, April 16th from 11 AM - 2 PM to enjoy crafts from local vendors, food and live music from the junior high choir.  This is a big fundraiser for the junior high choir/band, high school Art club and Heart club along with many other organizations.  They will be selling Nelson's chicken, Heart club will have walking tacos and a donation booth to help raise money for the 3 day walk for breast cancer and Art club will have many hand-made items as well as baked goods and raffles for a hand-painted basketball, art supplies baskets, movie night basket and much more.

Note for the Class of 1981

The Plymouth High School class of 1981 is having its 30th reunion June 18 and is still looking for the following people to contact Sherrie Maxwell McMichael at 574-936-5215: Robert Archterberg, Lisa Balmer, Brenda Clark, Dorothy Dinsmore, Susana Flores, Randy Graham, Suzette Hechanova, Rocio Lievano, Jeff Mora, Carl Price, Tim Pitts, William Vance, and Steve White.

A four star celebration for Webster

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

PLYMOUTH - It was a day of celebration for Webster Elementary School in Plymouth as local dignitaries and school staff and administrators gathered at the school for a "pat on the back."

Kids at the school were congratulated for their accomplishment of being a "Four Star School" - one of only 100 in the state and the first such designation for a Plymouth school since 2004. The only other school in the area receiving a four star designation was John Glenn in Walkerton. Several Plymouth elementary schools came close to the honor given to schools in the top 25 percent state wide.

"This is not the end of the journey," said Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree speaking to the assembled students, parents and guests for the ceremony. "This is a road sign that says celebrate, pat yourself on the back and get back to work."

Tyree praised the students and staff of Webster for their dedication to the core values of the Plymouth School Corporation - a commitment to students education as well as caring about them as human beings, high expectations, teamwork and integrity.

"You have a commitment to doing whatever it takes to make sure your students do their best, act their best and learn their best," said Tyree. "This is just the beginning for all Plymouth Schools to continue to get better and do whatever it takes for our students to be their best."

"I don't think that it's really something you can point to," said Webster Principal Carrie McGuire. "It's something that you can feel when you come in the door. We have great parental support, dedicated teachers, the Plymouth Schools have instituted an outstanding reading program that we started a couple of years ago and it's helped us to get where we are."

In addition to current school board President Melissa Caine and past President Frank Brubaker, Tyree was joined by Principals Donna Burroughs of Riverside Intermediate School, Bob Remnih of Jefferson Elementary, Mike Dunn of Menominee, Michele Riise of Washington and Jim Condon of Plymouth HIgh School in wishing the school well. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and candidate for Mayor Jim Vinall were also in attendance to give their congratulations - Senter proclaiming next week as Webster Warrior Week in the city of Plymouth.

School Board members Todd Samuelson, Larry Pinkerton and Larry Holloway sent letters of congratulation that were read to students as well as letters from State Senator Ed Charbonneau, former Webster Principal Mike Pettibone and former Webster student Katie Tyree.

New project, new tour brings Bierman home for United Way celebration

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

NASHVILLE, TN - Time in the studio has stretched the creative talents of Plymouth's Denver Bierman and the Mile High Orchestra.

Appearing in Plymouth as part of the Marshall County United Way 50th Anniversary Celebration, Bierman and the band have had a whirlwind couple of weeks, finishing tracks for a brand new children's album due out this summer and playing  weekend dates on Saturday night in Fort Wayne and Sunday morning in Marion, In.

"It's been really good to get back into the studio. We've done a couple projects this year with the Somerset Christmas album and working on a big band project, but there's just something different about it when you're recording your own music," said Denver on a break from the studio. "I don't know whether you feel like you have more ownership or what it is when the songs are yours. You ask yourself how can I translate all the energy of the band and the musicianship into three and a half minutes, because that's really all the time you have. It's a challenge and an adventure."

The new album will be a new direction for the band as DMHO has formed a partnership with the family vocal group Go Fish and will be performing children's shows in the coming year along with their normal tour dates.

"I've been writing some kids songs over the years and my manager suggested that we work with the guys from Go Fish on a project," said Denver. "I went on Youtube to check out their stuff and they had a video that had like 16 million views. It's been a great partnership with these guys. I wrote a couple of songs with Jamie Statema (lead singer of Go FIsh) and it's been very exciting. There's a lot of good energy and momentum right now for us to get into another market and we're looking forward to our kids shows coming up later this year."

It's part of what appears to be a big year ahead for the band.

"I know it's only April but it really looks like its going to be an incredible year for us," said Denver. "We've got a lot of shows booked already and a couple of projects we're looking forward to doing in the studio, so we're going to be busy."

Denver will be in concert in Plymouth as part of the United Way of Marshall County 50th Anniversary Celebration in conjunction with Encore Performing Arts on Tuesday April 12 at Plymouth High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and available by calling Encore at 574-935-4987 or the United Way office at 574-936-3366. For more info visit www.encoreperformingarts.org or www.marshallcountyuw.org.

Plymouth schools using special tools to help special students

By Carol Anders
PLYMOUTH - It’s not surprising to hear that many 12-year-olds love using their hand-held electronic devises for playing games and chatting with friends, but the one that Travis Louckes uses is far from just a way to pass the time.

Travis, who has been diagnosed with autism complicated with a communication disorder, is non-verbal. Up until about a year ago when he received to his first iPod, his family and teachers would have to guess at what he needed or wanted. Now, he simply shows those around him what he needs by tapping on an icon or typing out a word.

Travis’s mother Connie said, “Before he had an iPod, he would take us by the hand and lead us to the refrigerator if he was hungry or thirsty, now he shows us with an icon.”

Travis is one of several students in the Plymouth Schools using iPods with special programs built in for communication.

Speech pathologist Rita Large introduced iPods into the schools as a part of a pilot project in the fall of 2009. Large said she has been amazed at how successful the program has been.

“I have been extremely pleased and surprised with what I have seen regarding the use of this tool for communication,” she said. “It has opened the doors for these students to be more independent.”

Currently, there are four students at the elementary level using iPods directly on a daily basis, according to Large.

She said there also have an additional two iPods that have been programmed with the Prologue2Go for kindergarteners who may need to bridge the communication gap from Spanish to English.

“These have just been set up and will be distributed the second week in March,” Large said.

Travis is one of two using iPods at Riverside Inter-mediate as their only means of communication.

Large said, “Travis, for instance, accesses the typing screen to type the word in order to help the listener understand what he is saying. He is remarkable and otherwise nonverbal.”

Connie Louckes, who herself is a school therapist for six different school districts, is well aware of how difficult it can be for some students to cope in a school setting.

“Travis used to get so frustrated in his classes,” she said, “but now is calm and doesn’t shut down. This year he has really progressed in math and his writing skills.”

She praised the efforts of teacher Lisa Rizek and aides Wendy Milligan and Nikki Sniadecki who help Travis and other students reach their full potential.

In addition, two students at Plymouth High School are using iPods for building vocabulary and also some educational instruction.

“After seeing the progress made by students using them, several parents have purchased iPods for their children to use at home or at school,” Louckes said. “I have provided the programs and any support that has been needed for those bought by parents.”

Large described how the iPods are used saying, “A typical lesson starts with becoming familiar with the icons that are available and setting up a folder on the iPod with their name or a picture if the iPod has a camera. Within the folder are many icons they would need on a daily basis. For example ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I need to go to the bathroom.’ s they progress with the use of it, we have put their vocabulary/spelling words on it, prepositions, comments, etc. It takes time for them to become truly independent, but our goal is for them to use it totally independently by third or fourth grade if needed. e have seen speech emerge and then they rely on the iPod less and less.”

Large has shared her experiences with other corporations within JESSE, Joint Education Services in Special Education, a co-operative among several school corporations providing services to students with special needs.

She said, “Several of the schools within JESSE have purchased iPods/iPads with stimulus money.  have helped the speech pathologists in those corporations set up the program and shown them how it works.” 

Large has seen much during her 36 years in teaching with JESSE. She started the first deaf education program in JESSE and then taught in that area for approximately 20 years.

“Since I have a degree in both speech pathology and deaf education, I had the opportunity to do a career change when the position became available,” she said. Currently, she is the supervisor for the speech pathologists in Plymouth. 

She describes her life’s work as rewarding. Although it is difficult to get Large to give credit to herself, she does have some success stories that have brought her great happiness such as having taught a student to talk when everyone else said she would never speak.

Large understands the economic restrictions being placed on schools now, but is still looking towards the future.

She said, “We are under such a budget crisis so I believe it will be harder to obtain additional items, but my hope is to be able to obtain some iPads for those students who are restricted physically and unable to use the iPod successfully.”

Reprinted with the permission of the Pilot News

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