8B Sunday, August 29, 2010 C dallasnews.
com The Dallas Morning News
Community opinions
They’re raising their voices
Today, we introduce our 2010-11 Teacher Voices and Student Voices volunteers.
They will write columns and be featured in Sounding Off on Sundays.
Rachel Siegel
Sophomore, Yavneh Academy of Dallas
Storytelling background: “For my Bat
Mitzvah, I compiled the stories of 36 non-Jews
who rescued Jews during the Holocaust and
wrote a book documenting their heroic acts of
courage.
Getting results: Through speaking engage-
ments and sales of her book, Stories of Moral
Courage in the Face of Evil, she raised over
$15,000 for the Jewish Foundation for the
Righteous, an organization that works to sup-
port these aged “rescuers.” As a result, she was
named one of 10 national winners of the Gloria
Barron Prize for Young Heroes earlier this year.
Other activities: Works for the school paper
and takes tennis and piano lessons. She’s also
the president of a student group raising funds to
build a school in Ethiopia.
Tehjal Suri
Senior, Parish Episcopal School, Dallas
Passion for journalism: “As a staff journal-
ist, I am thrilled to see my school newspaper as I
pull it out of my adviser’s jam-packed Honda
Civic trunk. Every distribution day occurs on a
Wednesday, and those six Wednesdays are the
best Wednesdays of my school year.”
Plans: “Although the time is approaching to
start applying to colleges, I’m really not sure
where I’d like to go. I hope to be a future journal-
ist on CNN, if not a surgeon, or, like my dad says,
the best option would be medical journalism.”
What her journalism sponsor says: “Tehjal
is a creative thinker who tackles interesting,
timely, important topics. She knows how to
address a universal topic through a personal
experience, and she does not mind putting
herself on the line.”
Alexandra Sabater
Bilingual first-grade teacher, Mt. Auburn
Elementary School, East Dallas
How she describes DISD: “A jarring blend
of excellence, exhaustion, poverty and affluence.
To truly represent Dallas, Teacher Voices should
speak for and from campuses like mine, where
95 percent of the students are Latino and 94
percent of the population qualifies for free or
reduced lunch.”
On writing: “I hope I can add to the in-
formed debate by reflecting on how abstract
political and societal shifts are actually lived by
young children, their families andteachers.”
Classroom transformation: “Reserved and
cautious by nature, I come alive in the class-
room. There, I have enthusiasm! I have direc-
tion! I have conviction! I put my passion for
books, my attention to detail, my creativity and
my impatience to work, not where they annoy
my family and friends but where they inspire
excellence.”
Casey Boland
Social studies teacher,
Lake Highlands High School, Dallas
Activities: Volunteers her time with Aca-
demic Decathlon, Richardson ISD Student
Assistance Programs, the Sixth Floor Museum,
Wilshire Baptist Church and Dallas Area In-
terfaith.
Outlook on teaching: “I am daily immersed
in the realities of public education. My 12 years
at LHHS proves that being a classroom teacher
is not to me a stepping stone for anything else —
it is my passion, my calling, the thorn in my side
and my joy. I do not want to go back into the
business world, and I do not want to go into
administration. I am a classroom teacher.”
Outlook on learning: “While I do not be-
lieve all children can learn everything (calculus
robbed me of that fantasy), I do believe that all
children can be taught to learn and to think.”
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A forum for readers in Dallas County
JaCedric Knight
Sophomore, School of Education and Social
Services Magnet Center, Dallas
Strong opinions: “I have strong opinions
about many things. When my father, Osley
Cook, was a Teacher Voice, I always wanted to
add my two cents to his responses.”
Area of interest: “The Dallas ISD school
board has always caught my attention because
students need to be informed about the deci-
sions they are making. Students should know
how these decisions affect them in school.”
What others say: JaCedric says his teachers
and school friends think of him as funny, but
that he has a serious side, too. His supervisor as
a junior usher at Friendship-West Church says,
“Whenever we need a confident student to
represent our group or church, JaCedric Knight
is who we think of first.”
Elizabeth Moore
Junior, Booker T. Washington High School for the
Visual and Performing Arts, Dallas
Activities: “My favorite classes are playwrit-
ing and costume construction. I love doing
crafty things like knitting and sewing; I always
need something to keep my hands busy. I also
swim for the Bryan Adams Swim Team. I really
enjoy the challenge and the friends I made, but
waking up at 5:45 every morning isn’t the great-
est thing one can experience.”
On being a Voice: “I have a lot to say, and I’m
not afraid of saying it. I love writing; I have ever
since I was a tiny kid.”
How others might describe her: “My mom
might describe me as ‘messy, difficult at times, a
little too witty.’ My teachers might say, ‘intelli-
gent, opinionated, punctual.’ ”
Dionne Johnson
English literature teacher, Peak Preparatory
Charter School, downtown Dallas
Background: “I am originally from New
Orleans and moved to Dallas after Hurricane
Katrina. I worked in insurance sales and claims
for 13 years. After the hurricane, I began to
evaluate my life and goals. I determined that life
was too short to be in a career that I lacked
passion for.”
Results of the life change: “I can honestly
say for the first time in my life that I truly enjoy
my job at the end of the day.”
Writing approach: She plans to work with
one of her students when writing columns. “It
would give me and my student the opportunity
to freely express our opinions about our chang-
ing world and education system, from both a
teacher and student perspective.”
Bryan Lindsey
English teacher, Sunset High School, Oak Cliff
Where he has taught: “I’ve spent most of the
last decade in two of the 10 buildings that made
The Dallas Morning News listing of chronically
failing schools. That’s not exactly a badge of
honor; however, I’m proud to have spent my
career at these schools.”
On challenges: “I believe that environments
that are the most challenged and challenging
offer opportunities that others can’t. They are
crucibles, where things change rapidly and
dramatically because they must. At best, this
leads to innovation and the willingness to take
risks on the part of the faculty and administra-
tion. I’m excited and inspired by such environ-
ments.”
Column ideas: What if we changed from a
subject-based model to a cross-curricular,
theme-based model? Would eliminating private
schools improve public schools?
Rolando Velasquez
Junior, Judge Barefoot Sanders Magnet Center
for Public Service, Dallas
Activities: Varsity debate team.
Philosophy: “I have a strong sense of social
justice. I believe that everyone deserves an
opportunity, and no one should be margin-
alized.”
What his law instructor says: “He dis-
tinguishes himself as an inquisitive student with
exceptional study skills and a penchant for
creative projects. I remember well his portrayal
of a Greek in the International Fest project. He
immersed himself in the role, working out
costuming, props and regional accent. This is
typical of Rolando. He appreciates the impor-
tance of the experiential component of learning
and is always searching for creative ways to
become immersed in the subject matter.”
Grace Cicardo
Junior, Ursuline Academy, Dallas
Family: Oldest of four girls, including a
4-year-old sister. “While being the oldest is not
easy, I have learned to be a leader and have
become more patient and respectful.”
On her all-girls background: “My female-
based upbringing has a major influence on my
view of the world. I have learned that you can
never underestimate the power of the woman. I
have also come to love writing about the many
amazing women in our world today. I strongly
believe that women are often overlooked in
history.”
On private schools: “I think Catholic
schools, and private schools in general, have a
bad reputation. Private school kids are thought
of as privileged, snotty and rich. These adjectives
are, for the most part, false. Students from any
school often have the same hopes and dreams.”
Korey Mack
Teacher, Williams Preparatory School, Dallas
Background: Grew up in Oak Cliff and
attended St. Mark’s School of Texas. “For many
residents, life in the northern and southern
sectors of Dallas is a world apart, but for me,
crossing the ‘bridge’ twice daily brought out
striking similarities in the midst of the stark
contrast.”
What he teaches: “I teach health, physical
education and road to college, a required course
for all high school students at Williams Prep,
one of Uplift Education’s highest performing
charter schools.”
Family: His grandmother graduated from
Booker T. Washington (1949) and taught in the
Dallas ISD for 35 years. His aunt was one of the
first black students to attend and graduate from
the Hockaday School in 1977 and also became a
teacher. “Without them, the power of education
would still be foreign to me.”
Michael Haring
Fourth-grade math teacher, L.L. Hotchkiss
Elementary, East Dallas
Background: “I had a sales job that did
nothing for me emotionally. I wanted to make a
difference, and I felt like teaching was one way
that I could do that.”
Pathway to the classroom: “I enrolled in the
DISD alternative certification program. About
four years later, my faculty voted me in as cam-
pus teacher of the year.”
On connecting with kids: “I feel like, for the
most part, I have a very good rapport with chil-
dren. They seem to get my quirkiness. They
seem to find me amusing. I could never act the
same way in front of a group of adults. I can
dance in front of kids, sing, rap, make jokes, and
they think I should be on TV because of it. What
better way to find your inner child than be
around children all day?”
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Rebecca Bielamowicz
Junior, Hillcrest High School, Dallas
Activities: Staff writer on the Hillcrest
Hurricane, first lieutenant on the Panader drill
team, Mu Alpha Theta, a member of Green
Club and Book Club.
On living in Oak Cliff: “Unfortunately,
because I’m white but happen to attend public
school in North Dallas (for better academic
opportunities), most find it hard to believe that
people like me live in Oak Cliff. For too long,
Oak Cliff has had a negative image. A tight-knit
community of middle-class artists, bakers,
chefs, hair stylists, baristas and more have
come together to create a new Oak Cliff.”
What her journalism adviser says: “She
tackles all issues head-on and knows how to
cover all sides of a topic. Becca’s passion and
love for writing are ones that I wish all of my
journalism students had.”
Nathan Schulman
Junior, Lake Highlands High School
Activities: Varsity wrestler, member — First
Unitarian Church of Dallas, member, Boy Scout
Troop 577. “I am a Life Scout and expect to earn
my Eagle Scout rank soon. People know that if I
make a commitment to be somewhere or do
something specific, I can be counted on to keep
my word.”
Newspaper interest: “When I was little, my
mother shared newspaper articles with me. This
is probably where my interest in politics devel-
oped — I closely followed the Gore/ Bush elec-
tion contest as a second-grader, with my mother
reading me daily news reports.”
Column idea: High school athletics focus on
success, which necessarily features the most
talented athletes, but leaves most students out of
the team experience. Should schools create team
opportunities for all students who want to par-
ticipate in team sports?
Robert Irby
Math teacher, Woodrow Wilson High School,
East Dallas
Background: “I spent seven years teaching
secondary and elementary vocal music in both
the Waco and Dallas school districts. My under-
graduate degree is in music education from
Baylor University, but since graduating, I have
done the course work and taken the certifying
exams to earn secondary mathematics and com-
puter science teaching certifications. In all, I
have 31 years of teaching students at all levels.”
Why he teaches: “I firmly believe that, in
order to be productive citizens, we need to be
informed consumers of mathematics. For this
reason, I am particularly partial to my AP Statis-
tics course. I relish the notion of informing stu-
dents on how math is utilized in virtually every
facet of our lives, from the development of mira-
cle drugs to public opinion.”
Experience: Has taught every high school
math course offered in Dallas ISD.
Gloria Pelcher
Teacher, Inspired Vision Academy, Pleasant Grove
Hobbies: Writing, photography and web
publishing.
Why she teaches: “I teach because it is
where my heart is. I want to change a child’s
world by helping expanding their knowledge of
the world around them. Some of my students’
worlds are so small, and every day that I walk
into the classroom, I feel a great responsibility to
give it my all, to do my part in changing their
world and future.”
When she’ll quit: “If for some reason I am
no longer passionate about teaching, I will find
something else to do. Students deserve teachers
who want to be in the classroom. It’s a high-
stakes profession and sometimes it is difficult,
but I am blessed that I get to call myself a teach-
er.”
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6B Sunday, August 29, 2010 W dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties

They’re raising their voices

Today, we introduce our 2010-11 Teacher Voices and Student Voices volunteers.
They will write columns and be featured in Sounding Off on Sundays.

Kara Adkins Matt Watson Caren Stuebe Katelyn Burks

Sophomore, Coppell High School Senior, Flower Mound High School Sophomore, Northwest High School, Justin Senior, Hebron High School, Carrollton

Activities: National Honor Society, church,
school newspaper. “I love volunteering and
helping out at the homeless shelter whenever I
can. Also, this is my first year to be a staff writer
on Coppell’s school newspaper, the Sidekick.”
On writing: “Writing is my biggest passion
in life; there is nothing more liberating than
holding that pen in your hand knowing that you
have complete control of the words you’re about
to write. In my life, writing has always been an
escape and a way to express myself with no
limits. More than anything, I would love to be a
journalist when I’m older.”
Some column ideas: “Abusive teenage
dating, teenage obesity and the entitlement
teens feel from growing up in affluent suburbs
like Coppell and Southlake.”
Introduction: “First and foremost, I am a
musician. I’ve been playing piano for 10 years.
I’ve also been a member of the Flower Mound
High School drumline for three years, going on
four. I wouldn’t trade my time in the music
program for anything. The camaraderie, the
dedication and that spine-tingling feeling of
being a part of something much larger than
yourself have all been major factors in the per-
son I am today and the person I’ll grow up to be.”
On travel: “I’ve been to Europe twice — once
on an expenses-paid trip for a national essay
contest — and have been bitten hard by the
travel bug. I welcome every opportunity travel
brings to get out of my comfort zone.”
On his friends: “We make the absolute most
of a community where other kids complain
about having nothing to do.”
On sports: “A highly competitive student
athlete, I appreciate the silence running brings.
When I run, the world fades away. My instincts
take over, and everything else seems inconse-
quential. As a varsity athlete in cross-country,
soccer and track, I have learned that sports can
do more than cut calories. The rush of adrena-
line, intensity of competition and thrill of suc-
cess draw my mind away from the daily compli-
cations of life.”
What her global studies teacher says:
“Caren is a perceptive young woman with a keen
awareness of the need for cultural awareness
and tolerance, and the ability to write about
these issues succinctly and thoughtfully.”
Educational outlook: “I crave the informa-
tion the textbook cannot bring, the people I have
yet to encounter, and the foreign ideas I yearn to
comprehend.”
On writing: “I am an editor on my school
newspaper, the Hawk Eye. I love to write, and I
am constantly narrating in my mind how I
would describe an experience or my viewpoint
on something. I enjoy doing all types of jour-
nalistic writing for my school paper, but I get
especially excited when I get a chance to voice
my own opinions.”
Handy skill: “I could always see the other
side of an argument, so I could rationally ex-
press my position in a column.”
What her newspaper adviser says: “Kate-
lyn is never satisfied with her performance,
which ensures exemplary work. This shows me
that she takes pride in her performance — an
attribute that is missing from many of today’s
students.”

Lily Ngaruiya Ricardo Morales Daniel Kasten Elizabeth Suggs

Senior, Summit International Preparatory,
Arlington
Background: “Being the child of two Kenyan
immigrants, I have always been influenced with
a culture other than American. I love and em-
brace my Kenyan ethnicity, as well as all others.”
Activities: “I serve as a member of Student
Council, vice president of Key Club, and secre-
tary of our speech and debate club. The city of
Arlington appointed me as a student represen-
tative on the Arlington Public Library board. At
my church, I am in charge of teen church, and
every month I organize a teen day for all the
youth in our church while also serving on the
overall youth council. My activities have taught
me great management and people skills.”
Lessons learned: “How to surround myself
with capable and innovative people.”
Senior, Summit International Preparatory,
Arlington
Activities: Vice president of the debate team,
he enjoys competing in dramatic interpretation,
duet acting and student congress. “At these
tournaments, I witnessed firsthand the ‘achieve-
ment gap’ between students from wealthier
backgrounds and students from lower socioeco-
nomic backgrounds. The wealthier students at
these tournaments are generally able to perform
at a level higher than the poorer students, be-
cause they have a stronger educational back-
ground.”
Achievements: Ricardo is the only member
of Summit’s team to have advanced to the final
round of three events at one tournament.
On teens: “Teenagers are constantly de-
nounced as being immature and behaving
inappropriately, but in reality, teenagers can be
articulate and can present a diverse perspective
a community needs.”
English, world religions, and meditation teacher,
Greenhill School, Addison
Background: “I am a 60-year-old white
man. I grew up on a family farm in Minnesota,
attended a tiny village school with 27 students in
my graduating class, then worked my way
through the local community college and a
nearby state university. I have been teaching
since 1971.”
Overseas experience: “I did a year as a
Fulbright exchange teacher in London. My wife
and I also taught English at a Japanese women’s
college for six years, and before that I spent
three years at a Turkish boys’ boarding school.”
A dose of idealism: “I teach because I can’t
imagine a more satisfying job. I spend every day
helping bright, engaged adolescents grow. In the
process, I grow with them. I know that sounds
hopelessly idealistic, but it’s true. I believe that a
good teacher is one who loves kids and loves his
subject. That’s enough.”
Humanities teacher, North Hills Preparatory, Irving
Background: Completed her first year of
teaching last year at North Hills Prep. Spending
this coming year as a student once again at
NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Pro-
gram. “After spending time as a reporter, a
Hollywood intern and a journalism graduate
student at Baylor University, I decided that a
year spent teaching would be the perfect way to
transition from graduation to the real world. I
found that I was not wrong.”
Why she teaches: “Teaching has been, in
every way, a beautiful completion to my formal
education. It’s especially satisfying because I’ve
returned to teach at the very school I graduated
from in 2003. To me, my paycheck is like a
scholarship to keep learning.”
Why she’s raising her voice now: “I think
young people still straddling the transition from
student to teacher are in a unique, once-in-a-
lifetime position. And I hope to share some
ideas with the community on this panel while
I’m still one of those people.”

Gerry Hudman Blaine Mountain Ashley Cooley Luanne Hays

German teacher, Hebron High School, Carrollton English teacher, MacArthur High School, Irving Second grade teacher, Hilltop Elementary, Argyle Fine arts director, Ovilla Christian School, Red Oak

Background: “I am a member of the State
Bar of Texas, with a JD from the University of
Texas at Austin earned in 1982. I am also the
parent of three children, ages 16 to 24, so I look
at educational issues from a dual perspective.”
Why she teaches: “I teach because, as a
parent volunteer, I discovered somewhat to my
surprise that I like working with children and
teens. As a teacher, I get to work with these
fascinating, frustrating and funny creatures
every day. And every day I learn something new.
Teaching is challenging and rewarding work,
and there is always the hope and possibility of
doing some good in the world.”
Column idea: “The American vs. European
system of high schools: How should we be pre-
paring our students for adult life?”
How he became a teacher: “Teaching was
not on my vocational radar. I was beyond broke
in college, and my roommate had recently start-
ed substitute teaching. In the bowels of Lub-
bock’s penny-scraping Red Raider land, $55 a
day was the equivalent of hitting the Texas
Lottery. My roommate told me that subbing was
an ‘easy’ gig, so I soon followed his lead and
enlisted in the trenches of public education.”
Why he stayed a teacher: “I teach out of a
craving — a craving to explore new material and
take what I’ve learned in books about how we
learn and apply them.”
Column idea: “Coffee and the classics: how
both are an acquired taste.”
Why she teaches: “Teachers fall in love with
the kids in their class every year and think of
each student as their own child (if only for a
short time). Teachers give so much of their time,
heart, and self to their students and their com-
munity. The happiest people are those who do
things for others. Teachers are very lucky, and we
know that! We work very hard and are rewarded
in ways that are indescribable and endless.”
Other roles: “I am a wife, mother of two
young children, certified Pilates instructor,
dancer, blogger, Julia Child devotee and Ala-
bama alumna.”
Column idea: “The arts and foreign lan-
guage should be available for children of all ages
in every school; every child has the right to be
exposed regardless of the price.”
Why she teaches: “I long to make an impact.
I long to make kids understand me. I long to
travel with kids. I long to have them remember
the important things in life. I long to make them
see beyond their ‘box’ and draw outside the lines.
I long to inspire them to have excellence. I long
for them to see others around them. I long for
them to take a stand. ”
Other duties: “I am also the academic/
speech coach, and I led our team to second place
in state in 2009 for TAPPS 3A academic/speech
competition and direct a yearly musical held in
the spring.” She was the TAPPS 3A fine arts
teacher of the year last year.
Column idea: “Parents — why do they think
an ‘A’ means success?”

WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor
Thanks in Carrollton
There are a few things that I would
like to thank the Carrollton City Coun-
cil for.
I would like to thank Matthew Mar-
chant for bringing the K2 ordinance
forward. When I talked to him about
this, he was already on it. He has al-
ways been concerned for the safety of
our youth.
I would like to thank the City Coun-
cil for not raising taxes this year. I know
they did a lot of hard work looking at
things the city could cut or do differ-
ently.
I would like to thank Jeff Andonian,
Matthew Marchant, Lisa Sutter and
Kevin Falconer for not raising taxes
LETTERS
last year. When the mayor and other
council members were adamant about
raising taxes, they stuck to their guns.
If they had not done so, our taxes
would have needlessly been raised.
These council members are true con-
servatives.
Becky Miller, Carrollton
Garcia for Dallas County
Elba Garcia should be the next Dal-
las County Commissioner for District
4, which includes Irving.
Current Distict 4 County Commis-
sioner Ken Mayfield has held this seat
since 1994 and has not represented us
well at all.
He, like a lot of politicians who have
served in the same office over and over
again, has taken us for granted. I truly
believe he feels all he has to do is show
up, and he is an automatic shoe-in.
Irving voters hold a big key to who
is going to win this commissioner’s
race in November.
I am pretty active in Irving politics,
and I can honestly say that since 1994,
I cannot recall one major benefit May-
field has contributed to making Irving
better.
Like his decision to support an out-
dated trolley system in Dallas, May-
field seems out of touch with his con-
stituents. We have a great opportunity
to change this.
Anthony E. Bond, Irving

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 10B Sunday, August 29, 2010 E dallasnews.com
Community opinions
They’re raising their voices
Today, we introduce our 2010-11 Teacher Voices and Student Voices volunteers.
They will write columns and be featured in Sounding Off on Sundays.
Renee Costello
Senior, Rockwall High School
Activities: Co-editor of the Rockwall High
School student paper, The Stinger, and presi-
dent of the school’s sailing club. “I enjoy trav-
eling with my family and expanding my small
yet hopeful library of books.”
Wants to write about: “Whether colleges
should consider SAT scores and GPA over class
rank when accepting students.”
What her English teacher says: “Renee is
able to understand some issues in a deeper and
more mature way than many of her peers. Al-
most without exception, when we have a class
discussion, Renee will add insight and value.
Her critical thinking skills are much higher than
those of a typical high school junior.”
Susan Bin
Junior, Plano Senior High School
Background: A Chinese-American whose
family moved to Plano shortly after Sept. 11,
2001. She describes Plano as “a suburban land-
scape that stirs memories of the 1950s, where
college is assumed, minivans are the dominant
feature and wealth is inexorable. And Beijing is
a world away from Plano.”
On where she’s from: “I spent my summers
a stranger in my native land, my tongue an
untrained muscle at Mandarin, and my Amer-
ican values painfully clashing with Eastern
ascetics. I like to believe that from these strains
is where one of my most personal mantras
developed: ‘Don’t believe them when they tell
you that where you’re from is where you
belong.’ ”
On school: “I genuinely like school; I adhere
to it; there’s a commonality in it, there’s an
unseen camaraderie to it.”
Alex Gandy
English teacher, J.J. Pearce High School,
Richardson
Background: A 23-year-old entering her
second year of teaching at the same school
where she graduated as salutatorian in 2005.
On being back home: “I still struggle with
calling my fellow teachers by their first names. It
has made for some interesting moments —
especially adding to that the fact that my youn-
gest sister is a student who walks past my room
to get to her classes every day (and tries to ask for
passes out of class).”
In her free time: “I’m an avid yoga enthusi-
ast; I watch the news like it’s a drug; and I just
finished editing a book by my former professor
that will be published in the next several
months.”
Bhooma Srinivasan
Head of school and teacher, Riddle Street
Montessori, McKinney
Career path: “I am a parent advocate turned
educator. The journey to help my child find the
right school lead me to open a unique school
combining Montessori curriculum with ad-
vanced methods for gifted children.”
Why she teaches: “I teach because I know
what it’s like to be frustrated with the system. I
teach because the majority of today’s teachers
are under-educated about how to work with and
teach gifted children.”
Before starting her own school: Volun-
teered for two years with the Lewisville ISD
gifted classes and has a doctor of philosophy in
biomedical sciences from the University of
North Texas, where she completed a post-doc-
toral research fellowship, and completed a
post-doctoral research fellowship at UT South-
western Medical Center.
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A forum for readers in Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties
Brittany Lawson
Senior, North Mesquite High School
Introduction: “I’m an independent worker
with an open mind and an easy smile. I’m ambi-
tious with a unique voice that desires and de-
serves to be heard.”
Senior schedule: “I will be co-editor of my
school’s newspaper along with taking all AP or
honor courses. I understand time management
and how hard work can pay off.”
What her English teacher says: “I could not
wait for submissions to start for Student Voices.
Brittany Lawson was the first student I ap-
proached about applying. I have been able to
watch her writing grow and see her come into
her voice. … Brittany’s perspective on life will
also captivate readers, because she is a gifted
teenager from a single-parent household.”
Andrew Clark
Junior, Allen High School
Personal introduction: “I don’t do my
homework regularly, often scrambling to do it at
the last minute, so choosing me for this would
probably not be a good idea. … But that aside, I
have an excellent work ethic, dedication and
integrity, which are about as evident as the
bacteria in yogurt. These attributes allow me to
excel in the modern academic world, as well as
climb the social ladder, and epitomize the defi-
nition of the word ‘awesome.’ ”
Others would say: “I have been described as
irresistible and impetuously charming by the
ladies and am often considered to be among the
ranks of the world’s top comedians and schol-
ars.”
But seriously: “I will add the comedic touch
that this section of the paper needs.”
Brandon Vestal
Eighth-grade history teacher,
Utley Middle School, Rockwall
What drives him: “I am passionate about
engaging students, their parents and the public
and informing them of what’s really happening
in the classroom and what needs to happen to
make education work better.”
Column idea: Taking an honest look at the
achievement gap between ethnic groups.
Why he teaches history: “It is a subject aptly
suited for character lessons. I have not met
anyone who doesn’t like a good story, and that’s
all history is: one big narrative. I tell my students
that we study history to celebrate the accom-
plishments and learn from the mistakes of
others because they will continue the story of
history. I want them to make good history.”
Barbara Springs
Seventh-grade English teacher,
Bussey Middle School, Garland
Career path: “Like many teachers these
days, I’m a career-switcher. I came to teaching
after some years in journalism and public rela-
tions and then some time staying home with my
children.”
On feeling prepared: “A teacher prep pro-
gram doesn’t tell you what to do when a student
thinks it’s funny to belch on command in the
middle of a test or how to break up a fight. On
the other hand, it also doesn’t tell you how thrill-
ing it can be to see students engaged and excited
about what they’re reading. Or to see a student
who has struggled to write a paragraph proudly
produce a full-length essay.”
Column idea: “The Center on Education
policy reports that boys lag behind girls on
standardized reading tests in all 50 states. What
can get boys reading?”
Maggie Sipiora
Senior, McKinney High School
Personal introduction: “If you’re looking
for a straight-A student in all ‘gifted and tal-
ented’ classes, that’s not me, but let me tell you
who I am. I’m a theater kid, involved in every
school production and also community theater.
I sing, act and dance and hope that Broadway is
in my future.”
Other activities: Swim team, newspaper
staff, Young Democrats.
Wants to write about: “My mother has
written columns for The Dallas Morning News
and discussed our family. I could provide anoth-
er perspective such as, “What’s a kid to do with a
raving Republican father and a liberal, left-wing
mother?” Or, “How do teenage kids feel about
having two parents who work full-time jobs with
long hours?”
Austin Schubert
Senior, Plano East Senior High School
Work history: “First as a basketball time-
keeper, currently as a swimming lesson teacher.
In my job, I’m responsible, show up on time,
respect my boss and work hard. People would
describe me as hard-working, passionate, in-
telligent and friendly. My good work ethic is one
of my defining characteristics, and it translates
over into everything I do.”
Career aspiration: Sportswriter.
On the run: “I run cross country for Plano
East, running at least six days a week, year
round. This hard work has translated into run-
ning better times. Being a student athlete gives
me a unique perspective that I think would help
me in writing.”
Doug Valentine
Librarian, McKillop Elementary School, Melissa
Educational philosophy: “I strongly believe
that we need to look at new ways to teach today’s
‘digital natives’ to prepare them for the challeng-
es of our 21st century world. … I like to think I
am developing good citizens for our country’s
future.”
Inspiration: “Teaching is the one profession
in which you can go home every night and feel
like you have made a difference in someone’s
life. … My principal tells me that I am ‘sowing
seeds of which I may never see the fruit.’ ”
Recent honor: Association of Texas Profes-
sional Educators Special Services Teacher of the
Year.
Kim McClanahan
Computer technology teacher, Garland
Alternative Education Center
Why she teaches: “My opportunity to teach
came after getting fed up with the business
world and innocently agreeing to fill in for a
teacher friend one day. I absolutely loved it.”
Connecting with students: For 13 years, she
has taught at an alternative school for discipline.
“I believe with my entire being that God put me
in this position with these special, challenging
children to give them tough love, understanding
and exceptional academic expectations they
haven’t seen in the past. I have a gift for identify-
ing learning disabilities, as I myself have dyslex-
ia and struggled in school.”
Column ideas: Gangs, drugs and cultural
education for parents.
B10 E 08-29-2010 Set: 17:11:06
Sent by: nhoy News
The Dallas Morning News
Laurenda Gauthier
Sophomore, Plano Clark High School
Activities: Drawing, writing, playing piano,
entomology. “I have a blue belt in the Youn
Wha Ryu style of Tae Kwon Do.”
Entomology?: “I am a member of the FFA:
captain of the Entomology Team. I would like
to attend either the University of Guelph in
Canada, or Texas A&M University, and I am
hoping to pursue a career in veterinary medi-
cine.”
Why she writes: “I would enjoy writing
about agriculture, social issues and science/
technology. I wanted to be a Voices columnist
because I want to make a difference in this
world, and I want to share the beauty in things
that are often overlooked.”
Krista Simandl
Senior, Princeton High School
Her childhood: “As a unit of three, my
mother, brother and I were transplanted repeat-
edly; we took on the shape of apartments in
West Virginia, hotel rooms in California, small
houses in South Carolina and duplexes in Texas.
My brother and I grew somewhat clumsily,
gripping only each other as the gravity of our
mother inevitably shifted us from one school to
the next.”
What her history teacher says: “Her writ-
ing is technically proficient, but it is the holistic
aspects of her writing that are exceptional. Her
writing holds voice and context and really seems
to draw the reader into her world.”
Column ideas: “Troubles/triumphs of my
generation, personal memoirs, morality in
today’s society.”
Richard Edwards
Seventh-grade language arts teacher,
McKinney ISD
Previous careers: “I spent six years in the
U.S. Army and 22 years in the private sector as a
software developer and trainer.”
On his enthusiastic style: “I have been
asked, ‘Are you a preacher?’ My response is, ‘I’m a
preacher of English!’ I hope my passion as a
teacher will ignite their passion for something
other than themselves. Too many people do not
follow their passion, and our nation suffers as a
result. This is why I teach.”
Column ideas: Why running education like a
business may or may not be a good idea. The
damage of multiple choice tests on thinking.
Christy Robbins
Reading specialist, Northrich Elementary,
Richardson
What she does: “I pull small groups of strug-
gling students from the standard classroom, but
I’ve also adapted my job so I can pull groups of
students who are advanced beyond the grade-
level TEKS and need an extra push. I am given
permission to use my passion for curriculum to
try to find the links to put it all together and
create a successful reader.”
Thoughts on testing: “I’m for state tests,
maybe just not this one. … It’s important all
students grow whether they can pass the test day
one of the school year, or day 150.”
Column idea: “Teacher retention — it’s a job
you do because you love it. There is this whole
concept about the ‘breaks’ that draw people in,
but trust me, most of that is smoke and mirrors.”
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