Page 4 • May 10 - May 16, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.

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EDUCATION
Earth Day celebration introduces Girl Scouts to engineer profession
Swapping out light bulbs, testing development programming in Girl interested and keep them
heating and cooling systems, and Scouts. Laura Jeffrey Academy in interested.”
discussing ways to update older St. Paul is a STEM school for GSUSA’s Jackson agreed.
buildings for energy savings is a girls. “Only eight percent of skilled
tough job for any team of “Recruiting women engineers engineers are women, and what
engineers. But when the team’s is a challenge,” said Mary Sueker, we want to do is use the Girl
average age is 10, and they are human resources representative Scouts as a pipeline to this career
proposing safety goals to for ThermoKing. “If we can spark field,” he said. “We need to
administrators at their own middle interest at this age, we can help expand opportunities for our girls
school, the challenge is even these girls grow into our engineers beyond historical boundaries.”
tougher. Unless, of course, it’s of the future.” According to the US
Earth Day and the budding Laura Jeffrey Academy fifth- Department of Labor, 75 percent
engineers are Girl Scouts who grade science teacher Arden of tomorrow’s jobs will require
come together to make our world Ashley-Wurtmann said the energy technology skills and that number
a better place. audit may be presented to the is expected to grow over these
“We are looking at things like school at its end-of-the-year girls’ lifetime. “It’s unfortunate
which light bulb is better to use,” celebration so students and that we weren’t talking about
said Naya Tadavarthy, 10. “Maybe administrators can see how these issues 10 years ago, but I’m
one is more money, but if it is Photo courtesy Girl Scouts improvements in technology can excited to see what these girls will
better in the long run, then it’s More than 80 Girl Scouts and students at Laura Jeffrey Academy in St. Paul celebrated Earth Day directly affect their school be getting done 10 years from
worth it. We are learning to notice with volunteers from Trane and ThermoKing as they conducted an energy audit on the school community. But more now,” said Sueker. “These are the
the things around us more so we building. The science, technology, engineering, and math focused school had instituted Girl Scouts importantly, Ashley-Wurtmann girls who will lead us.”
can keep learning about science programming into its curriculum. The school then hosted a culmination event on April 22 where the said getting the girls involved in In partnership with 18,000
and technology.” this project is a great way to show adult volunteers, the Girl Scouts
Tadavarthy, a fourth grader at
girls applied what they had learned about energy consumption and conservation. The girls also them the growth and career of Minnesota and Wisconsin
St. Paul Academy and Summit participated in fun new experiments like testing the heat created by incandescent and CFL light opportunities that are connected to River Valleys helps nearly 45,000
School, joined more than 80 girls bulbs. Cooler light bulbs like the CFLs, the girls found, reduce wasted energy because they don’t engineering. girls each year-in all or portions of
on Earth Day as they took part in create heat when they are meant to create light. “It is so important to get girls 49 counties in southern Minnesota
“Get Moving,” a project geared interested in math and science, and western Wisconsin-to
toward Girl Scouts in fourth and learn when we see what they are and mathematics can make a energy audit with the help of especially at a young age,” said discover new abilities, connect
fifth grades investigating how doing and seeing.” positive difference in their lives engineers from Trane and Valerie MacAlpine, Trane account with new friends, and take action
energy can spark interest in their One of 36 councils nationwide and their communities. ThermoKing. manager who volunteered for the to improve their communities.
own lives. awarded a grant to promote Girls who attend Laura Jeffrey Trane and ThermoKing are project. “It can be a good career Girl Scouts is the world’s
“Whenever we have a chance energy awareness and Academy worked on an brands of Ingersoll Rand, which and a good life for women. It has preeminent leadership
to listen to children, we learn conservation, Girl Scouts of environmentally focused funded the grant for the six Girl been for me, and I started back development organization for
something,” said Gregory Minnesota and Wisconsin River curriculum for several months as Scout councils. The partnership when we didn’t have the tools and girls, building girls of courage,
Jackson, multicultural initiatives Valleys partnered with volunteers part of the grant program. The was an excellent fit because the innovation that we have now. confidence, and character, who
manager, Girl Scouts of the USA. from Trane and ThermoKing to culmination of their work was the science, technology, engineering, And we didn’t have the Internet to make the world a better place. For
“They have an awe and curiosity teach girls that understanding April 22 event hosted at their and math, or STEM, is one of five push out our message and reach more information, call 800-845-
that we tend to lose when we science, technology, engineering, school where they conducting an major areas of leadership the girls. We have to use the 0787 or visit
become adults. We can always technology to get these girls www.girlscoutsrv.org.

Maxfield Magnet teacher named Minnesota Teacher of the Year

INSIGHT Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) was made public Sunday, May 2, candidates. change in our students’ lives.” Maxfield Magnet Principal

NEWS sixth grade teacher Ryan Vernosh

is 2010 Minnesota Teacher of the
Year. The appointment, which
is the culmination of a search
process that began with more
than 400 nominations and 107
“ R y a n
represents the
teacher of the
Vernosh, who teaches sixth
graders at Maxfield Magnet as
part of the school’s gender
Nancy Stachel said Vernosh is the
consummate educator.
“He’s an excellent teacher
www.insightnews.com future that our specific programming, is the who truly sees the potential in
nation’s second ever SPPS teacher to be each of the young men with
students need named Teacher of the Year. He whom he works,” Stachel said.
Insight News is published right now,” has been with the District since The Teacher of the Year
Education Minnesota said Saint Paul 2004 and has taught at Maxfield program is underwritten by
weekly, every Monday by
McFarlane Media Interests.
Ryan Vernosh P u b l i c since 2006. Education Minnesota, the
S c h o o l s “This isn’t a testament to statewide educators union. This
Editor-In-Chief Superintendent Valeria Silva. anything I’ve done,” Vernosh marks the 46th anniversary of
Al McFarlane “He truly embodies the passion, said. “It’s a testament to the hard the program. As Minnesota’s
dedication and determination of work that the young men in my Teacher of the Year, Vernosh will
CFO our District’s quality educators class do. They come to us with be the state’s nominee for
Adrianne Hamilton-Butler that work tirelessly in our incredible brilliance and they National Teacher of the Year
classrooms to effect positive shine everyday.” 2011.
Publisher

Now closing, Folwell celebrates history

Batala-Ra McFarlane

Associate Editor & Associate

Publisher After 78 years, students, staff yearbooks for a Multicultural buffet from 5:30
B.P. Ford and families will honor the commemorative booklet which - 6:30 pm, welcome and
history and traditions of will be published by current ceremony at 6:30 pm and a
Vice President of Folwell Middle School with a Folwell students. community social 7:15-8 pm.
Sales & Marketing closing celebration scheduled Food and entertainment All events are at Folwell
Selene White for May 20. The school is will be provided. There is no Middle School, 3611 20th
seeking old school cost to attend. The event is Avenue South, Minneapolis,
Director of Content & photographs, artifacts and Thursday, May 20 with a MN 55407.
Production
Patricia Weaver

Sr. Content & Production Q&A talk about my story. But I hope that
listeners will find some value in what
sharecropping system in Mississippi.
I understand from stories. But you
Coordinator I have to say this morning. were there. You were there.
Elliot Stewart-Franzen From 1 Clearly, it is a road less traveled RJ: I was there. Eighteen years.
for an African American born in the
Web Design & Content affairs, pre-k-12 and other youth and Deep South to arrive some thirty years AM: My mother always told me that
Associate family programs, urban initiatives, and to forty years later, depending on when crop planting and harvesting
Ben Williams University of Minnesota Extension. where you start calculating, to be a seasons came, school let out. No
He’s a strong leader for diversity leader of one of the largest, most school because everybody had to go to
Distribution/Facilities initiatives locally, nationally and comprehensive research universities the fields. There wasn’t a choice in
Manager internationally. He’s spearheaded in the country. most cases.
Jamal Mohamed efforts to provide better access for It is a road less traveled and it’s not RJ: We had a comparable system
international students and he’s something that I necessarily set out to in Terrell County, GA, where the
Receptionist developed support systems to help do at a very early age. I probably am Black schools, or colored schools,
Lue B. Lampley retain students of color. He’s initiated among the last of a generation that can started about thirty days later than the
programs to recruit and retain faculty say we are children of sharecroppers. white school in order for the
Contributing Writers of color as well. He has recently We just don’t have people coming out sharecroppers to get most of the crops
Brenda Colston created an initiative to position the of that kind of environment anymore. out of the field. By the time school did
Julie Desmond University as a World-Class Urban I take great pride in the fact that my start about thirty days later, it was still
Marcia Humphrey University, one that responds more father was a sharecropper and found very common for the Black
Alaina L. Lewis intentionally and strategically to create some way, even in that very difficult sharecroppers to keep their kids out of
Rashida McKenzie authentic partnerships to address situation, to eke out a decent living school to finish bringing in the rest of
Ryan T. Scott complex problems the urban for his wife, his three kids and his the crop.
Lydia Schwartz communities. He is a man committed mother, who was part of our You had to get all the peanuts and
Stacey Taylor to science and education, but he is also household as well. cotton out of the field by a certain date.
an artist. He’s a member of the world- I grew up in a small town called My father insisted on us going to
Photography renowned Grammy award-winning Dawson in southwestern Georgia. I school. But that didn’t mean we didn’t
Suluki Fardan Sounds of Blackness. grew up on a peanut and cotton farm get into the fields as soon as that bus
Tobechi Tobechukwu Jones talked with community where my dad was a sharecropper. I rolled through the plantation at 3
elders and me at a breakfast meeting at spent most of my formative years in o’clock. We got off that bus and we
Contact Us: Sunnyside Deli & Café last year and that kind of environment. But not picked cotton ‘til six or seven.
Insight News, Inc. in a studio interview at KFAI-FM 90.3 withstanding the difficulties in But he was absolutely committed that
Marcus Garvey House in Twin Cities. growing up in the Deep South during we didn’t miss any time out of school.
1815 Bryant Ave. N. the heart of the civil rights movement One of the questions the listeners and
MinneAPOlis., MN 55411 AL MCFARLANE: I invited you and in the midst of the racism and the people have is how did you get from a
Ph.: (612) 588-1313 because I wanted to take a time to talk segregation, I was able; my parents sharecropping situation in the cotton
Fax: (612) 588-2031 to you about your history and your were able to instill in me the value and and peanut fields of southwestern
Member: Minnesota background. You and I have talked importance of education. Georgia, to where you are today?
Multicultural Media before on this program. Our One of the things I really As a child I was always very, very
Consortium (MMMC) Midwest conversations generally focus on one appreciate about my father, who curious and always got myself into a
Black Publishers Coalition, problem or another. It’s been conflict passed away two years ago at the age lot of trouble by taking things apart
Inc. (MBPCI) National that’s brought us together. It’s not that of 84, is that he worked extremely and attempting to put them back
Newspaper Publishers we have been boxing, but we’ve been hard to give us a sense of value and a together again. I didn’t always succeed
Association (NNPA) dealing with stuff that was weighty. I sense of worth that would withstand and that’s why I got into trouble. I
haven’t taken the time to step back the fact that we were poor. would go into my mom’s kitchen and
Postmaster: Send address and give myself and my listeners a So we didn’t realize we were poor. take vinegar and baking powder and
changes to McFarlane Media chance to know you and know the We knew we were better off than a lot mix stuff together just to see what
Interests, Marcus Garvey breadth of your engagement and of folks in that community. He would happen. So I guess I’ve been a
House 1815 Bryant Avenue your interests. I hope that today’s emphasized education and I scientist at heart probably since the
North, Minneapolis, program will begin that. remember vividly, we were probably day I emerged from my mom’s
Minnesota, 55411. I want to start by asking you to the only family that was in a womb. That scientific curiosity never
talk about your background, where sharecropping situation where my dad left me.
you’re from, and how is it that as a son had that courage and the vision to say I’ve probably known since about
of the South you have attained to the landowner, “My children will eight or nine years of age that I wanted
awesome accomplishment and not miss a day out of school to pick to be a scientist. Along the way I had
responsibility as a leader at the your cotton.” that inspiration and that desire to be a
University of Minnesota. scientist further supported by having a
ROBERT JONES: I appreciate AM: That is so important. I’m also couple of key mentors in my life.
the opportunity to be here and like the son of a sharecropper. My mother
most people, I’m a little reluctant to and her parents were part of the Q&A TURN TO 7