EDMOND —
Three educators and leaders in public schools, Career-Tech and higher education selected by the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame Board of Directors will be honored in August ceremonies in Oklahoma City, said Eugene Earsom, OEHF president.
“We are pleased to announce that Freda D. Deskin of Edmond, Roy Peters Jr. of Tulsa and Dr. Bruce Petty of Stillwater will join 82 other exemplary Oklahomans who have been inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame since its inception in 1984,” Earsom said.
“Each of these educators deserves our gratitude for a lifetime of service preparing children and adults for their futures as productive citizens and innovative professionals. Collectively, we appreciate the magnitude of their efforts in helping move our state forward.”
Edmond resident Freda D. Deskin is a 41-year educator who has had numerous positions in public schools and higher education throughout the state. In 2000, Deskin founded the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter (ASTEC) School, which was the first public charter start-up in Oklahoma, and is its chief executive officer.
The school must comply with state standards, accreditation and testing.
“Charter schools come under the same guidelines as public schools,” Deskin said.
The school is site-based management where the administrator is responsible for what is happening and teachers are evaluated on a business-based evaluation model developed by Deskin.
“At ASTEC we wanted to serve science, technology, engineering and mathematics within a liberal arts curriculum,” Deskin said. “All students have technology every day. They are teaching us.”
In a model that is being adopted by more and more school districts, students at ASTEC go a longer school day so teachers can be dismissed early one day for peer teaching, Deskin said.
“Subject area teachers meet at this time to discuss curriculum and to discuss how to help children,” she added.
Nominator Lou Kerr said Deskin “is a dedicated leader who understands change” and who “has a deep passion for those she serves.”
Through visionary leadership and an organizational commitment to academic excellence, ASTEC schools have exceeded the state benchmarks for attendance, graduation rate and test scores.
“Although we have a high degree of poverty in our school, the majority of students go onto college,” Deskin said.
A National Teacher-in-Space Semifinalist in 1985, Deskin is published extensively and has presented more than a thousand teacher training workshops and seminars. Deskin founded the Oklahoma Odyssey of the Mind student competition, the Oklahoma Aerospace Academy in 1987, the Team Quest Ropes and Leadership Course in 1989, and the International Aerospace Academy in 1993 — all of which continue today.
About 300 guests are expected for the formal dinner and ceremony, which will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 4 in the ballroom at the Quail Creek Golf and Country Club, 3501 Quail Creek Road, Oklahoma City. Registration and seating of guests will begin at 5 p.m. in the foyer on the second floor.
Education
Deskin named to Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame
- Education
-
-
Deer Creek official says state ‘testing results could be flawed’
Deer Creek Public School District official Cindy Koss voiced concerns that testing results may be flawed due to circumstances surrounding the testing process that took place in April and May.
In early May Edmond School District Superintendent David Goin addressed similar concerns in a letter to the Edmond-area legislative delegation.
Koss, chief academic officer for the Deer Creek District, reported to the Deer Creek board members there were invalidations and screen lock-up delays resulting in tests having to be retaken. -
UCO instructors recognized as top Oklahoma professors
StateStats.org, in conjunction with partner website OnlineSchoolsOklahoma.com, recently recognized several University of Central Oklahoma instructors as top professors in Oklahoma.
Each year StateStats.org sets out to find post-secondary educators who had been recognized recently for excellence in the classroom, on campus and in the community.
The recipients recognized as top professors, followed by profession, are as follows: -
ACM@UCO opens registration for youth summer rock camp for ages 10-16
The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) recently opened registration for ACM@UCO’s annual summer rock camp.
The summer rock camp will be from 1–4 p.m. July 22–26 on the fourth floor of the ACM@UCO building in the Bricktown district of downtown Oklahoma City. -
UCO student earns national scholarship to study in South Korea for 1 semester
For University of Central Oklahoma student Taylor Egger, spending a semester in South Korea this upcoming academic year will be more than just studying abroad — it will complete a longtime dream.
The sophomore international business major is the recipient of the highly competitive national Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year. -
OCU Hebrew students to study Dead Sea Scrolls
Students in a Biblical Hebrew class at Oklahoma City University will get a chance to study one of the Dead Sea Scrolls during the fall 2013 semester.
Religion professor Lisa Wolfe’s class, Readings in Biblical Hebrew, will participate in the project that is part of the Green Scholars Initiative, a program associated with the massive collection of biblical manuscripts and related artifacts that have recently been acquired by the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby. -
UCO awards leadership scholarships to local students
The University of Central Oklahoma recently awarded the President’s Leadership Scholarship and the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarship to multiple Edmond residents recognizing their demonstrated talent and distinguished achievement in leadership, citizenship, service and communication.
President’s Leadership Scholarship recipients include Bishop McGuinness High School graduate Sheyla Rabei and Edmond Memorial High School graduate Lexi Banister. -
UCO College of Fine Arts, Design awards scholarships
The University of Central Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and Design recently awarded two scholarships to Edmond resident Ben Campbell for the 2013-14 academic year.
Campbell, a Music Business major at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO), received the Don Betz Leadership in Arts Award and the Freda J. Cross Endowed Scholarship.
“We are proud of our students. These scholarships show our pride and support for excellence in academics, leadership and performance,” said John Clinton, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design.
“We believe in our students and our program and aim to help them achieve success in all areas of life.”
CFAD is a center for excellence for the fine and performing arts, as well as a center of innovation for improving and promoting arts education. The mission of the college is to prepare creative leaders and professionals in the fine arts, education and design. -
Local students graduate from Rice
ECU lists honor roll students
Outstanding academic work during the 2013 spring semester has earned listings on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s Honor Roll for students at East Central University in Ada.
The President’s Honor Roll is reserved for students who earned A’s in all their courses for a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Edmond’s Gina Ann Mengwasser, physical education (teacher certification) was listed on the President’s Honor Roll.
The Deans’ Honor Roll lists students who have at least a 3.33 grade point average with no grade lower than a C. At least 12 credit hours must be completed successfully during the semester to be included on either honor roll. The following Edmond students are on the Dean’s Honor Roll: Sabina Koirala, nursing; Brandon Ray Nicholson, business administration; David Gregory Traxler, cartography (geotechnique); and Rachel Marie Watson, biology. -
Food Bank gives free summer meals for children
For thousands of children, the end of school means three long months of wondering whether or not they will have enough food to eat. Fortunately, children 18 and under can get a nutritious lunch, and/or snack through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding program at selected sites from June 3 through July 27.
“One in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger every day,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from. This program ensures that children will receive adequate nutrition during the summer months when school meals are not available.”
Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and younger, without charge. The Regional Food Bank will provide free summer meals at the following sites and times in the Edmond area: -
Cancer Center welcomes 8 summer research scholars
Two students with Edmond connections are among eight college students who will spend their summer working alongside researchers at the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as part of the Summer Research Scholars Program.
Crista Riggs is an Edmond resident and a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., and Max Lyon, from Oklahoma City and a student at the University of Central Oklahoma, will be joining six other students as they work at the cancer center.
The program is in its fourth year at the cancer center, and it affords students the opportunity to work under the mentorship of senior cancer scientists. The aim is to heighten students’ interest and better prepare them for careers in cancer research and medicine. - More Education Headlines
-
