Brooke teachers receive boost from Follansbee Chamber

FOLLANSBEE -- Efforts to introduce local students to new technology and strengthen their reading skills, among other projects, have received a boost from the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce.

On Wednesday, the chamber carried on its annual tradition of awarding grants for special projects pursued by teachers at schools in the Follansbee area.

Chamber President Eric Fithyan said money for this year's grants was raised by proceeds from its annual dinner, drawings held at its free summer concerts and other fundraisers.

Suzanne Davidson, chairman of the chamber's education committee, presented $300 each to the following:

• Tom Bane, Brooke High School engineering instructor; and his students, Jerri Wilson and Maddie DeGarmo, for materials needed to produce 1,000 keychains using a laser engraver.

Bane said Wilson and DeGarmo were trained to use the engraver, which was purchased through a grant from the West Virginia Department of Education, and will train other students to use it as well.

Wilson and DeGarmo said they have engraved keychains for many people, including veterans attending an assembly at their school; as well as many other items.

• Angela Durig, a teacher at Brooke Primary North, who applied on behalf of its faculty for funds to reward students for demonstrating qualities promoted by the school's Positive Behavior Support Program with a Glow in the Dark Party. Slated for the school's gym in the spring, the event is expected to include glow sticks, glow in the dark posters and other features.

• Kate Johnson, a special education instructor at Brooke Intermediate North, for a computer tablet and stylus pen to be used to reinforce reading skills, particularly for those who are having difficulty in that area.

Johnson said the equipment can be used to identify, match and trace letters, creating a hands-on experience that is helpful to many students.

• Ashleigh Gurskey, a third-grade teacher at Brooke Intermediate North, to fill a bin with teaching aids designed to instill creativity and critical thinking skills linked to the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Gurskey said as individual or in teams, her pupils may use items in the bin to create small robots and other structures, among other hands-on activities.

In addition to Davidson, the education committee includes Kelly Hunter, Sandy Kemp, Carolyn Matteson and Carmel Esposito.

Chamber members also heard from Jamie Caridi, president of Bethany College, who noted the school has formed a partnership through which Brooke High School students may earn up to 60 college credits.

"We're very proud of the partnership we have with Brooke County Schools," he said, adding, "These kids are in our classrooms, on our campus, and it's very cool."

Caridi also applauded the educators in attendance for their efforts.

He lamented that there are fewer people entering the field of education while acknowledging many are dissuaded by the many roles played by teachers today, the long hours and relatively low pay.

But he said teaching also is a very rewarding profession in which a person can have a significant impact on many people.

"Whatever our profession, everyone wants to have the level of success of a winning quarterback,' said Caridi.

"But in life, sometimes we're called to be more like the linemen. Teachers often are the linemen, the unsung heroes."

Caridi said he's heard countless stories from alumni about something a former grade school or high school teacher or college professor said that was a major influence on them.

In opening the meeting, Fithyan announced upcoming events.

They included the chamber's Trunk or Treat, to be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 outside the Follansbee Community House. Co-chaired by Jennifer McFadden and Aimee Livingstone, the event will include goodie bags for the first 1,000 children and decorated stations manned by local businesses and organizations.

The Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network will offer creative activities for children inside the Community House.

Fithyan added the chamber's annual dinner will be held Nov. 15 at St. Francis Centre. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at James Funeral Home, by calling (304) 527-1717 or by e-mailing follansbeechamber@gmail.com.

He noted it will include recognition of the chamber's Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, New Business of the Year, Business of the Year, Non-Profit Organization of the Year and Young Professional of the Year.

Fithyan said an independent committee will choose from five nominees for Business of the Year, Non-Profit Organization of the Year and Young Professional of the Year using information submitted by the nominees, while the other awardees will be determined by chamber members.

The following have been nominated for business of the year: Lombardi Development, Main Street Bank, Summer Enterprises, Trinity Health System and Apollo Professional Cleaning and Restoration.

Nominated for non-profit organization of the year were: The Brooke County Committee on Aging/Senior Center, Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Centers and the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle.

Nominated for young professional of the year were: Addison Albert of WTOV-TV, Joey Ewusiak of Empire Diversified Energy, Jess Milowicki of the Follansbee Pharmacy, Alex Schneider of Brooke County Public Libraries and Lauren McKinsie Sproul of Texas Roadhouse.