A Publication of the Tyrone Area School · PDF filepracticed his farewell speech until he knew it by heart. He practiced it in front of his forensic ... A Publication of the Tyrone

T he Time – Wednesday, June 3, 1959. The Place – Tyrone’s Wilson Theatre, which had stood since

1912 where Burger King restaurant now stands. The Event – graduation for 177 Tyrone students. On stage at The Wilson Theatre for that 1959 Commencement stood a student whom the eighteen members of the honor group had chosen to offer the farewell speech at graduation – William Norman Miller.

Ranked fourth in his class of 177, young William had practiced his farewell speech until he knew it by heart. He practiced it in front of his forensic’s coach, Miss Sair MacDowell. He practiced it in his house, on the back porch, and even down by the stream which flowed gently along the backyard boundary of his home at 414 West Fifth Street. That’s because his School Superintendent Father – Dr. Norman Miller – had insisted that Bill Miller memorize his talk, so that he could establish eye contact with the commencement audience.

Weeks before commencement unfolded on that June Wednesday of 1959, Bill Miller already had articulated his mission in life on page 59 of his high school yearbook – “Bill wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, and to enter the teaching and school

administration profession.” Did it dawn on anyone in the graduation audience that although Bill Miller said “farewell” in his speech at Tyrone commencement, he never really would say “good-bye” to his Alma Mater, or to his community? For better and for

worse, across the next half century, Bill Miller would establish himself in Tyrone and would energize himself with Five Values that he had learned in his hometown – Family, Foresight, Focus, Fortitude, and Faith.

Firm Foundation from Family

Just seventeen days after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Bill Miller was born – the son of then Tyrone School Superintendent, Dr. Norman Miller, and his wife, Catherine Hirning Miller. By 1941, Bill’s Father, Dr. Norman, already had served as Tyrone School Superintendent since 1939, having worked during the G r ea t Dep r es s ion as supervisory principal in the

Bellwood Antis and Shanksville Stonycreek/Berlin Brothers School Systems. His Mother, Catherine Hirning, had emigrated with her older brother from her economically distraught homeland of Germany,

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TyNotesTyNotesTyNotes A Publication of the Tyrone Area School District

Vol. 12, Issue 2 Winter 2013 www.tyrone.k12.pa.us

Soaring Forward

to Explore,

Challenge,

and Succeed

Tyrone Area School DistrictTyrone Area School District Home of the Golden EaglesHome of the Golden EaglesHome of the Golden Eagles

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It is the policy of the Tyrone Area School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race and national origin in its educational and vocational programs, activities, or employment as required by Title IX, Section 504, and Title VI. Please direct questions about this policy to Dr. William Miller, Superintendent of Schools, at 814.684.0710, Extension 4123.

Farewell – But Not Good-Bye! By Richard Merryman, Feature Writer

Seventeen-year-old Bill Miller delivers his carefully memorized and rehearsed Farewell Speech from the stage of Tyrone’s Wilson Theatre, for the day of his High School Graduation on Wednesday, June 3, 1959. His classmate John Hastings (right) who gave the Welcome Address, Superintendent Norman Miller (far left), and Graduation Speaker Ivan Boxell listen intently.

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Page 2 / Tyrone Area School District . . . Soaring Forward to Explore, Challenge, and SucceedSoaring Forward to Explore, Challenge, and Succeed

Tyrone Area School District

Board of Education James B. Crawford, President Brian L. Bressler, Vice President

Cynthia S. Banas, Paula A. Dorminy, William P. Hartsock, Reverend Norman E. Huff, Luther J. Laird, James E. Raabe, Amy L. Stever

Administration Dr. William N. Miller, Superintendent of Schools; Leslie A. Estep, Director of Curriculum & Instruction PreK-12;

Cathy L. Harlow, Business Administrator; Kourtney L. Klock, School Psychologist; Thomas R. Muir, Physical Plant Supervisor; Thomas A. Yoder, High School Principal; Kristen N. Pinter, Middle School Principal; Melissa K. Russell, Elementary School Principal;

Glen A Drager, Network Administrator

Deans of Students Michael F. McKee-ES; Lindsay N. Miksich-MS; Lucas D. Rhoades-HS

Shippensburg School Study Council Honors Counselor and Teacher ........... 8

Agricultural Science Education ..................................................................... 9

TAHS Spring Musical ................................................................................... 10

Who’s New ................................................................................................... 11

Preschool & Kindergarten Registrations ....................................................... 12 Wh

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during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Bill’s parents had married in Chicago in 1936.

In 1939, a daughter was born to the Millers, and christened Virginia. Years later, Virginia graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, taught English, history, and psychology, married Dr. Robert Barnes, became the mother of two children, and even today, still resides in Hollidaysburg. Then, on December 24, 1941, a son was born to the Millers and named William.

Coming of age in Tyrone after World War II, William Miller lived out his youthful years in rather routine ways. In 1946, his parents enrolled him in the first half-day kindergarten in Blair County, which had opened in their neighborhood at Washington Elementary School, on the corner of Park Avenue and Seventh Street. As a youngster residing at 822 Washington Avenue, Bill hauled horse manure in his Red Flyer wagon for his mother’s vegetable garden. By the time Bill entered high school, the Millers had moved to 414 Fifth Street, where he polished shoes, mowed lawns, shoveled snow, and painted houses around his Hillcrest neighborhood to earn some spending money.

During the school year, Bill participated in Key Club, School Newspaper, Future Teachers of America, Mixed Chorus, and Basketball. During the summer, this school superintendent’s son lifeguarded at

Tyrone’s outdoor swimming pool, worked on the summer labor gang at Westvaco, packaged cough drops and Jack and Jill Gelatin at Tyrone’s Wilson Chemical Company above the Tyrone railroad station, and even transported films in an old pick-up truck to drive-in theatres located in Ebensburg and

Bellmeade and owned by Tyrone’s Wilson Family.

After graduating from the old high school in 1959, Bill studied to become a history and English teacher at Shippensburg State Teacher’s College. In 1963, he graduated from Shippensburg and returned to his hometown to begin teaching history and English in Tyrone’s third high school building along Clay Avenue – a building which looked refreshingly different from the one he had attended along Lincoln Avenue as a teenager. In 1966, Bill became business administrator for the Tyrone Schools. In 1969, he earned his

Doctorate in Educational Administration from Penn State, and became Tyrone assistant superintendent. In 1971, Bill Miller succeeded his father, Dr. Norman Miller, as Superintendent of Tyrone Schools – a position he would hold for the next 42 years. Even as events moved swiftly in Bill Miller’s work life, they also moved smoothly in his home life. On June 14 of 1964, William Miller married Melissa Steele – an elementary school teacher he had met while at Shippensburg College. The couple exchanged their vows in The Presbyterian Church of Mechanicsburg, and ultimately returned to Tyrone to establish their

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At the top of the stairway in Tyrone’s Lincoln Avenue High School, what is Tyrone Senior Bill Miller saying that he has so hypnotized his comrades Darrell Bathurst, Al Duey, Dave Fink, Joe Barber, and Bill Larosa? Is this future superintendent talking about finance, or about Friday night date prospects, or is he simply faking it for sake of an authentic yearbook picture?

Winter 2013 / Page 3

home next to Bill’s parents on West Fifth Street. For 30 years, Melissa Steele Miller taught fourth grade at both Adams and Logan Schools. She also served Tyrone youngsters as an elementary guidance counselor. In the years to come, Melissa and Bill would parent a family which included three children – Norman, Veronica, and Frederick. Norman grew up to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by becoming an English teacher, school principal, and assistant superintendent at Altoona High and also by earning a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Penn State. In the autumn of 2012, young Dr. Norman moved to the Central Dauphin Schools, outside of Harrisburg, to serve there as assistant superintendent. In 2001, he had married Miriam Kelly of Sinking Valley, and together they have two children – Mariel and Jacob.

D a u g h t e r V e r o n i c a graduated from Penn State University and earned a Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University. She has followed some of the work of her mother Melissa as a guidance counselor in Austin, Texas, where she serves as an elementary guidance counselor. Fred, the Miller’s younger son, graduated from Dickinson Law School, worked for the State College law firm of Miller, Kissler, and Campbell, and for the past ten years has served as Magisterial District Judge. Fred married Tracy Morgan of Florida. The couple are proud parents of a son named Grant.

Financial Foresight from Father

For 32 years – from 1941 until 1971 – Bill Miller watched his Father Norman serve as superintendent of the Tyrone Schools. During his formative years as a youngster, teenager, teacher, business administrator, and assistant superintendent, Bill Miller witnessed his father Norman’s foresight about school

finance in action. When he arrived in Tyrone in the autumn of 1939, the Tyrone School Board had charged Dr. Norman Miller with this duty – “to relieve the Tyrone Schools of the crushing burden of construction debt left to them during the tenure of School Superintendent Mr. Willis Eisenhart, who had served from 1921 until 1939.”

In eight short years – by 1947 – Dr. Norman had extinguished all the debt of the Tyrone Schoo ls . Immediately, Dr. Norman petitioned the Pennsylvania legislature to allow the Tyrone Schools to establish a Capital Reserve Fund of

$25,000, a novel idea in the Commonwealth. Thanks to shrewd investments by Bill Miller’s father, by 1953, this $25,000 had grown with General Fund transfers to almost $402,000. With this nearly half million dollars, Dr. Norman initiated the construction of Oak Ridge, Adams, and Logan Elementary Schools at a cost of $135,000, $1.5 million, and $1.5 million respectively.

With continued financial foresight, in 1954, Dr. Norman invested another $25,000 in a Capital



With faces both secure and serene, Father Norman, Sister Virginia, Brother William, and Mother Catherine (Hirning) Miller pose in 1957 for a family portrait at The Bruce Studio in Tyrone.

Reflecting on the marriage vows they just had recited at the altar of The Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, Bill and Melissa (Steele) Miller pause for a picture on their wedding day — Sunday, June 14, 1964.

“Summertime...and the livin’ is easy,” as the Miller Clan relaxed in front of the family home along Engelman Drive for a photo which includes (left to right) Bill, Norman, Jacob, Miriam, Melissa, Mariel, Veronica, Grant, and (back) Fred and Tracy.

The Millers


Reserve Fund to erect a state-of-the-art junior/senior high school along Clay Avenue, planned for completion in 1962. By 1960, that $25,000 investment plus transfer of monies from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund had blossomed to nearly $654,000. Laughed son William Miller, “In my graduating year of 1959, as my Father Norman worked to raise the necessary funds to erect a new high school, he encountered vigorous opposition about including an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool in this new high school. Motivated by a belief that swimming was a year-round and lifetime sport, my father solicited $35,000 in private donations for this indoor pool. Tyrone Bank President John D. Meyer consented to contribute $1,000, so long as he could throw my dad into the completed pool in a business suit. My dad got the money, and he also got soaked in his business suit!”

Dr. Bill has inherited his father’s foresight about finance. Thankfully, Bill also has utilized this gift during his 42-year career as Tyrone’s School superintendent. Energized and inspired by the recommendation of a highly capable Citizen’s Advisory Committee, during the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Bill encouraged the Tyrone School Board to consolidate Tyrone’s four elementary schools and to build one central elementary school to the left of the Tyrone Area High School Campus (1999). In addition, with the help of the Advisory Committee, he also planned to remodel and to revitalize Tyrone Area High School (1999), to build the Tyrone Middle School (1999), to construct the 35-acre Harry K. Sickler, Jr. Athletic Fields complex (1999), to renovate and rejuvenate Tyrone’s beloved Gray- Veterans Memorial Football Field (2001), and to build the Middle School addition (2006).

These ambitious school building projects evolved because of the tireless encouragement by the Citizens Advisory Committee and school board, and because of Dr. William Miller’s foresight about school finance. Given the fact that Bill had modeled much

of his administrative behavior after his father, no wonder he continues to proclaim that “My father was my finest mentor.” Recalled Dr. Bill, “My dad said that a school superintendent should adopt a noble Purpose, proceed with Perseverance, and always show Patience and Persistence.”

Full Time Focus on Students

From his earliest days as Tyrone Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William Miller has reminded people in supervisory situations in the school district that ultimately, they should focus on students. Sometimes that means they must remain on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Dr. Bill offers everyone that reminder, because he expects no less than that of himself. Even on weekends, as he sits alone in his corner office, accompanied only by a cup of steaming coffee and a sleepy dog, this veteran school superintendent recognizes that his raison d’etre requires a focus on students.

Drawing inspiration and motivation from former Tyrone School Administrators Carol Blundell, Theodosia Spewock, and Joann Lang and current administrator Melissa Russell, Dr. Miller became a champion of Early Childhood Education. Along with other Tyrone administrators, Dr. Bill encouraged the existence of a Preschool Home Visitation Program to prepare youngsters for their later school days. In 1999, once Tyrone’s four elementary schools had consolidated into one central elementary building, Dr. Miller more efficiently could ensure equal opportunity for all youngsters, especially the 230 kids eventually enrolled in Tyrone’s Early Childhood Center. Vividly aware that Tyrone embraces 59% disadvantaged students, 46% who are low income, and 13% who have special education needs, he and his team of dedicated Tyrone administrators tirelessly have labored to partner with local, state, and federal government to secure educational grants that will enrich the lives of those kids most in need.



Dr. Norman Miller may have lost his business suit in Tyrone High’s newly completed indoor pool, but he gained $1,000. Charged with the responsibility of raising $35,000 to fund the indoor pool, Dr. Norman gained $1,000 from Tyrone Bank President John D. Meyer, IF Mr. Meyer could toss Miller into the finished pool. Mr. Meyer won the pool toss, and Dr. Norman won the needed funding for this aquatic project. Mission accomplished!


With the passing decades, as state and federal government has intensified their involvement in the public schools via testing, Dr. Miller has motivated and orchestrated Tyrone teachers and students to strive toward high levels of achievement on PSSA Reading, Mathematics, and Writing Assessments. Thanks to Dr. Miller and all of those teachers he has encouraged, since 2002, Tyrone School scores have continued to meet the required Annual Yearly Progress levels. Thanks to Tyrone High’s English Department, chaired by Mr. Steve Everhart, Tyrone’s writing scores have ranked among the highest in the state. Perhaps these efforts by Dr. Miller and his Administrative Team partly explain why the 2008 and 2010 issues of US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT MAGAZINE have ranked T y r o n e H i g h a m o n g America’s Best High Schools.

In addition to focusing on the needs of the youngest, most vulnerable of students in the Tyrone School District, Dr. Miller also has shone the spotlight on Tyrone students, even as they prepare to conclude their public school education. Since 1996, at the close of each school year, this veteran Tyrone School s u p e r i n t e n d e n t h a s conducted both one-on-one interviews, along with paper and pencil class surveys, and eventually a computer generated questionnaire with Tyrone seniors before they graduate. During these interviews and surveys, Dr. Bill affords Tyrone seniors an opportunity both to compliment and to complain about daily classroom instruction, about interaction with their teachers, and about school environment, and school safety.

During the 2011-2012 school year, Dr. Miller focused on the needs of Tyrone’s vocational students by proposing that after 72 years, TASD become a member of the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, and subsequently enroll and transport more than 50 students each school year, which could offer them more options in vocational technical training. Even as he and Tyrone Business Administrator, Cathy Harlow pioneered this painful but progressive proposal, Dr. Miller offered this reflection: “At $4,000 per pupil, sending 50 Tyrone students to Altoona for their career and technology education is economically not the most feasible, but educationally it is the most fulfilling for our students.”

Fortitude Amidst Financial Struggle

The Time – Friday evening, September 26, 1997. The Place – Bill Miller’s peaceful home along Tyrone’s Engelman Drive. The Event – a fateful Friday night phone call about the loss of 27 million dollars by the Tyrone Area School District, which had been advised by financial agent John Gardner Black to invest in “improper securities” as defined by Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and legal experts. Driving to cheer on an undefeated Golden Eagle Football Team that Friday evening, Dr. Miller phoned John Black in search of an explanation about this astonishing financial fatality. No one at John Black’s residence answered Miller’s phone call. For Bill

Miller, that Friday night phone call opened the most stressful AND the most educational chapter in his 42 years as Tyrone School superintendent.

Exactly three months later – December 26, 1997 – The Wall Street Journal published a front page article on the financial fatality in Tyrone’s Public Schools. As the t r a g e d y u n f o l d e d , Superintendent Miller and Business Adminis t rator Harlow felt flooded by two rivers of stress: in the short term, only $400,000 remained in The Tyrone Area School District bank account. In the long run, during the previous

spring of 1997, the school district had embarked on an ambitious elementary school building project and a high school renovation mission, which desperately needed funded by this missing 27 million dollars.

Bolstered by inner fortitude the Tuesday after the Friday night phone call, Dr. Miller and Ms. Harlow met with all school employees to reassure them that the Tyrone Area School District would remain stable, honor its obligations, and provide everyone with their regular paychecks on Thursday’s payday. Yet rage rumbled through the community and at Tyrone School Board meetings; taxpayers shouted that Dr. Miller should share equal blame with John Black, and ultimately should resign as school superintendent. With the skeletal shadow of a new elementary school in the distance, Dr. Miller found himself debating some of his former school board opponents on local Radio Station WTRN about his competency as school superintendent.



In the Business Office of Tyrone’s Lincoln School in 1973, 31-year-old Superintendent Bill Miller pauses at the close of a Tuesday evening School Board Meeting for a photograph with these faithful School Directors: Row 1 - Board Secretary Marjorie Eckert Barr, Willard Hickes, E. Gordon Cox, Anthony Androski. Row 2 - John Dearing, James Anderson, Albert Friday, Dr. John Dollar, Superintendent William Miller, and George Gripp.


Faced with mounting public pressure from many corners, Dr. Miller found the fortitude to struggle on and not to say “farewell” to a school and to a town for which he had developed great devotion. Strengthened by his late father’s advice to establish a noble purpose and to proceed with perseverance – even in life’s darkest hours – Dr. Miller along with Cathy Harlow found the fortitude to continue school construction, to consult continuously with legal expert Michael Betts, and to contain any additional burden on Tyrone taxpayers. Remembering that dark chapter in his career as Tyrone School superintendent, Dr. Miller offered accolades to the school district attorney and advisor during that financial tragedy – Michael Betts of Pittsburgh – and also to Business Administrator Cathy Harlow. Said Dr. Miller, “truly Mr. Betts gave his last full measure of devotion to the Tyrone School District, about the frightening financial challenges it then confronted. Looking back, we also recognize that a healthy Capital Reserve Fund also enabled our schools to survive during these stormy times.”

After countless conversations with attorneys and weekly trips to Harrisburg by Dr. Miller, in the autumn of 1999, this financial tragedy came almost to a close, when the Tyrone Area School District received assurances that it eventually would recover virtually all of the 27 million dollars it had lost just two years earlier. On December 9, 1999, of that very eventful autumn, Tyrone’s Golden Eagle Football Team won the AA State Football Championship in Hershey Pennsylvania. Physical fortitude had allowed Tyrone’s Golden Eagles to win the football state championship, while emotional fortitude had enabled Tyrone’s school superintendent, business administrator, and its beleaguered school board to win their worst financial struggle.

Faith in Staff Members

At their wedding, a minister offered a couple two words of advice that might ensure a long and fruitful marriage – ALWAYS CARE. ALWAYS CARE – those two words summarize Dr. Bill’s attitude toward Tyrone Area School District staff members – from cooks, to custodians, to aides, to principals, to

secretaries, to teachers. From his earliest years as superintendent, Bill Miller appreciated that he could not be everywhere, at every time for everyone. Thus, he had to cultivate a faith in staff members to accomplish the subtle and complex task of educating the next generation. In years gone by, staff members caught a pleasant glimpse of Dr. Bill’s comprehension of their efforts when each year they received a written birthday greeting and compliment from him. These days, staff members comprehend that Dr. Miller appreciates their efforts when he honors them with a variety of public recognitions.

Tyrone’s veteran superintendent justifies his faith in staff members through clear expectations, regular evaluations, and timely encouragement. At every

level, through a variety of checklists and duty descriptions f rom hard-work ing school administrators, Dr. Miller clarifies the high expectations that Tyrone citizens and board members have about each school employee. His high expectations can connect to cleaning a school lavatory, or calming a special needs child, or carrying out discipline toward unruly students. For the past 42 years, at the opening of school, Dr. Miller has expressed his faith that staff members will strive to fulfill a set of noble expectations on behalf of ALL school students.

As each school year unfolds, both formal and informal evaluations play a pivotal part in day to day school operations with the school superintendent. Even though he has given staff members autonomy to perform their work, the school superintendent regularly reminds employees of

their duties to students, to parents, and to each other. With lectures, letters, and laughter, the school superintendent calls upon the staff to offer their last full measure of devotion in the cause of educating America’s next generation. Occasionally, Dr. Bill’s faith in staff wavers, and at those moments, he combines a pep-talk with a second chance for staff to get it right the next time around.

Daily, Bill Miller provides Tyrone School District employees with words of encouragement as he encounters them on their routine rounds of duty. Yearly, he formalizes those words of encouragement by recognizing school staff members who regularly have gone beyond the call of duty with several awards. Since 1984, Dr. Miller and other school



On November 15, 2012, in his 42nd year as Tyrone School superintendent, Dr. William Miller and his wife Melissa share a proud moment in the dining room of Harrisburg’s Hilton Hotel, just after the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators honored Dr. Miller as 2013 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year.


employees have encouraged 273 staff members with the Power of Positive Students (POPS) Award. Since 2001, Dr. Miller has encouraged 31 Tyrone teachers with Exemplary Educator Awards, which include a significant financial gift by an anonymous Tyrone alumnus. Since 2006, Dr. Miller has encouraged 11 Tyrone teachers by nominating them for the Shippensburg School Study Council Outstanding Teacher Award, which honors outstanding teaching and curriculum innovation. Like the stage manager, in Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play, Our Town, Dr. Miller constantly shares expectations, evaluations, and encouragement with both student and adult actors who share the stage in Tyrone’s hugely successful educational production. Like that stage manager, Dr. Miller believes that “there’s eternity in every human being!”

During his half century as a history teacher, business administrator, assistant superintendent, and ultimately superintendent of the Tyrone Schools, surely Bill Miller has encountered William Shakespeare’s wisdom that “All the World’s a stage, all the men and women merely players, and that one man in his time plays many parts.” In more than one

scene of his career, for better or for worse, Dr. Bill has played the role of a wrestler.

For years, Tyrone wrestlers have spent their practice hours in that sweaty room known to taxpayers as the Tyrone wrestling cage. During their practice time, wrestlers have found themselves emotionally enriched by some 1910 words of the late President Theodore Roosevelt, painted on the rear wall of the wrestling cage. Said Roosevelt, "It is not the critic who counts, but the man in the arena, who strives and sometimes comes up short, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who knows great enthusiasm and great devotion, and who shall never be counted among those cold and timid souls who know neither defeat nor victory.”

In like manner, people in the Tyrone community offer their gratitude that although Bill Miller said “Farewell” in his 1959 graduation speech, he chose not to say “Good-Bye” to his school or to his hometown. Instead, he has stayed steadfast in his school, he has wrestled with many powerful enemies of public education, he has fought the good fight, he has kept the faith, and in the distance, he sees the happy ending of this glorious race.


A special thanks to administrative team members, past and present, for their

commitment to the Tyrone Area School District during my tenure as

Superintendent of Schools. ~ William N. Miller

Bradley AultsBradley AultsBradley Aults William BakerWilliam BakerWilliam Baker Marjorie BarrMarjorie BarrMarjorie Barr

Richard BarrettRichard BarrettRichard Barrett Carol BlundellCarol BlundellCarol Blundell James ButlerJames ButlerJames Butler Glen DragerGlen DragerGlen Drager

Michelle DutrowMichelle DutrowMichelle Dutrow Peter DutrowPeter DutrowPeter Dutrow Rebecca ErbRebecca ErbRebecca Erb Leslie EstepLeslie EstepLeslie Estep Charles EyerCharles EyerCharles Eyer

Donald FridayDonald FridayDonald Friday Peter GardellaPeter GardellaPeter Gardella John GormanJohn GormanJohn Gorman

Benjamin GroveBenjamin GroveBenjamin Grove Cathy HarlowCathy HarlowCathy Harlow

David HelinskiDavid HelinskiDavid Helinski Joanna HillerJoanna HillerJoanna Hiller

N. Grant HixsonN. Grant HixsonN. Grant Hixson

Marion HomerMarion HomerMarion Homer Robert IuzzolinoRobert IuzzolinoRobert Iuzzolino

Warren KeithWarren KeithWarren Keith Janette KellyJanette KellyJanette Kelly Max KimmelMax KimmelMax Kimmel

Kourtney KlockKourtney KlockKourtney Klock Jeanne KnouseJeanne KnouseJeanne Knouse A. Robert KutzA. Robert KutzA. Robert Kutz

Joann LangJoann LangJoann Lang Vicky LangVicky LangVicky Lang John LawJohn LawJohn Law Earl LittleEarl LittleEarl Little

Christa McIntyreChrista McIntyreChrista McIntyre Michael McKeeMichael McKeeMichael McKee

Cheryl McMillanCheryl McMillanCheryl McMillan Lindsay MiksichLindsay MiksichLindsay Miksich

Amy MillerAmy MillerAmy Miller Barbara MozinaBarbara MozinaBarbara Mozina

Thomas MuirThomas MuirThomas Muir Mark MurphyMark MurphyMark Murphy

Frances ParkerFrances ParkerFrances Parker Kristen PinterKristen PinterKristen Pinter Lucas RhoadesLucas RhoadesLucas Rhoades Gerald RobertsGerald RobertsGerald Roberts Melissa RussellMelissa RussellMelissa Russell

Allen SellAllen SellAllen Sell Richard ShildtRichard ShildtRichard Shildt

Neil SmithNeil SmithNeil Smith Linda SnyderLinda SnyderLinda Snyder Jeff SpackmanJeff SpackmanJeff Spackman

Theodosia SpewockTheodosia SpewockTheodosia Spewock Duane TraxlerDuane TraxlerDuane Traxler

Howard VanTriesHoward VanTriesHoward VanTries John VendettiJohn VendettiJohn Vendetti

Mary Ann VoldersMary Ann VoldersMary Ann Volders Marshall WagnerMarshall WagnerMarshall Wagner

Clair WagnerClair WagnerClair Wagner Robert WestleyRobert WestleyRobert Westley Thomas YoderThomas YoderThomas Yoder R. Terry ZeekR. Terry ZeekR. Terry Zeek


Shippensburg School Study CouncilShippensburg School Study Council

Honors TASD Counselor and TeacherHonors TASD Counselor and Teacher

E ach year, the Shippensburg University School Study Council solicits nominations to recognize the

accomplishments of outstanding education professionals who, largely unheralded, work so hard on behalf of students and our schools.

The Tyrone Area School District is very pleased to announce that High School Guidance Counselor Tiffany Johannides and Sixth Grade Middle School Teacher Scott Bouslough were selected as recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award. Mrs. Johannides and Mr. Bouslough were honored by the Shippensburg University School Study Council at a luncheon held at Shippensburg University on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. The following remarks regarding Mrs. Johannides and Mr. Bouslough were made by colleagues and submitted to the Shippensburg University School Study Council Outstanding Teacher Selection Committee:

Left to Right: Mrs. Tiffany Johannides, Dr. William Miller, Mr. Scott Bouslough

Tiffany Johannides

The students are relieved to see Mrs. Johannides

in times of trouble and conflict. Although Mrs.

Johannides is a strong student advocate, she is

also objective and insightful when dealing with

sensitive issues.

Mrs. Johannides is always available for her

students. When a student is crying and upset,

she is there to console him/her. When there are

problems in a classroom or issues with a teacher,

Mrs. Johannides is there to help solve the

problem.

Mrs. Johannides is a teacher, mentor, parent,

guardian, confidant, intercessor, and friend to her

students. She is a remarkable counselor.

While understanding and caring, Mrs. Johannides

is firm in her dealings with students and with

parents. She has a proven track record and is

highly respected by students, parents, and peers.

Scott Bouslough

An analytical and insightful individual, Mr. Bouslough is able to reflect on all situations and make appropriate and effective decisions for the welfare of all involved.

Mr. Bouslough encourages his students to stretch their thinking to levels that they may not believe they can reach and supports challenging, appropriately demanding activities for the students with which he works.

Mr. Bouslough has worked collaboratively and positively with his colleagues and administrators on many projects and is willing to try new ideas and will enthusiastically embrace new challenges as a means to contribute to the advancement of the students and of the school district as a whole.

Since his arrival at the Tyrone Area School District in 1991, Mr. Bouslough has worked tirelessly in his efforts to challenge and support our students in their academic and extracurricular endeavors.


W hen I’m asked to describe FFA, I begin with the mission: “FFA develops the potential of students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

Yet how does it all work? Simple - “through agricultural education.” This proven process has been summed up with simple eloquence in the FFA motto:

Learning to Do Doing to Learn Learning to Live Living to Serve

“Learning to Do.” The first order of business in agricultural education is to lay a solid foundation of knowledge that encompasses the science, business, and technology of agriculture. Through classroom and laboratory instruction, agriculture teachers impart fundamental and advanced concepts for students.

“Doing to Learn.” Once the academic foundation is established, students put learning into practice by applying math and science, language and arts, technology and business to real-world situations. Here’s where the real developmental magic takes place. The tools for “doing” are many. Each student has a supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) that could involve creating and operating a business or conducting an agriscience research program. FFA is a vital part of learning by doing. FFA award and degree programs recognize students for excellence in academics, career development, leadership, and community service. During the Pennsylvania FFA mid-winter and summer conventions, we will celebrate the accomplishments of hundreds of FFA members for skills in leadership, communications, team work, problem solving, character, community service, and citizenship.

“Earning to Live” is the point of an education. In agricultural education, students discover their passions and talents while exploring careers. FFA members set life goals and map out educational pathways to satisfying careers. There are over 300 different careers in agriculture, covering such areas as biotechnology, landscaping, forestry, food technology, engineering, communications, marketing and, yes, farm and ranch management. Our students can explore them all to find the right fit.

Finally, “Living to Serve.” The philosophy behind the leadership and personal growth activities of FFA is that all Americans need to be prepared for active engagement in civic life and service to others. That is why many of the Pennsylvania members will participate in the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni – 10,000 Hours of Power Campaign – to make a contribution, to learn firsthand that helping others is what builds character and develops communities.


Agricultural Science Education . . .

Preparing Students for Life On and Off the Farm

All students took part in the Annual Tyrone FFA Fruit Sale. More than 270 cases of fruit and 100 fruit baskets were sold this year. Students learned about quality assurance, customer service, and identification of different types of fruit. Pictured left to right: Joseph Woomer and Chandler Mayhew – 8th grade FFA Discovery Members.

Ashley Watters (9th grade) interacts with “Tips” the classroom rabbit in Agricultural Careers Class. A new small animal and veterinary skills semester course will be offered next year.

Hunter Confer (9th grade) is working on creating a complete flower from plastic soda bottles in Horticulture and Landscape Class.

By Tiffany Hoy, Career & Technology/Agriculture Substitute Teacher


On Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, at 7:30 p.m., Tyrone Area High School students will perform the musical Grease. Grease tells the story of 1950s Rydell High School students as they go through their senior year of high school. New student Sandy moves to Rydell only to discover that her “summer love” Danny attends her new school. The importance that he places on popularity tests their relationship. Interweaving plotlines and upbeat ‘50s-style musical numbers helps to tell the story of a group of friends as they finish high school and make important decisions about growing up.

The TAHS version to be produced this spring is a special school edition that has been edited for content. What will result is a family-friendly show that all ages can enjoy! This production will be directed by Karen Volpe, music directed by Brittany Hipp, and choreographed by Molly Riva. Many Tyrone students and staff are involved in the production in a number of ways, from acting and singing onstage, to designing the program, to stage crew, to creating sets. High school art teacher Eric Feather and his students are designing and decorating the sets and Adelle Dolney’s business students are organizing and designing the programs.

Auditions held on December 11 and 12 resulted in

challenging casting decisions. With a great turnout

at auditions, the cast consists of very talented

students. Grease is a show that relies on a large

amount of strong roles rather than just a few

dominant leads, so it was important to have strong

students for each part. This is a

very strong year with strong

performers at the high school, so

Grease was an obvious choice!

Audiences may be surprised to find

that there are many changes from

the popular 1977 film in that there

are more songs and many of the

characters who were “non-singing”

in the movie have extensive singing

roles in the show. Audiences may

have a new favorite song that they

never knew came from Grease, but

will also leave humming some

standards. Some classics from the show include

“Summer Nights,” “We Go Together,” and “Greased

Lightning.”

Tickets for Grease will be $6 for general admission

and $8 for reserved and will be available at the

TAHS Main Office in March.

To be Performed at Tyrone Area High School

Save the Date April 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Tyrone Area High School Auditorium

FFA members are incredibly diverse, and they represent so much more than farming. Our members come from every corner of the school district—urban, suburban, and rural—and they are preparing for diverse careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. It would be a mistake to think of them as “farm kids.” The organization was founded as “Future Farmers of America” in 1928, but in response to the incredible diversification of agriculture and our membership, we’ve been known as “The National FFA Organization” for the past 20 years.

Second, when using the word “agriculture,” we are referring to the full spectrum of 300 diverse careers. You may be surprised to hear that 17 percent of working Americans are engaged in some aspect of the food, fiber, and natural resources industry. That is why we plan to grow the Tyrone Area School District Agricultural Sciences Education program over the next few years. We will be offering year-long and semester courses that are diversified and will enhance the quality of the program education levels.

By supporting the work of FFA and agricultural science education in the coming years, each of you will have a profound impact on the lives of our next generation. That is a power not to be underestimated. The partnerships being forged in Blair and surrounding counties will ensure the Tyrone FFA Chapter continues to serve agriculture students and alumni with a world class educational experience.

Agricultural Science Education (Continued from page 9)

By Brittany Hipp, TAES/MS Music Teacher


Angela McFarland Day Care After School Lead Teacher Early Intervention Paraprofessional

Ms. McFarland has worked in daycare settings over the past 17 years and loves

being around young children. She is dedicated to educating positive development in young children through creative, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments. Ms. McFarland enjoys working with children immensely and finds it truly rewarding. She has five grandchildren who range from ages five to twelve.

Carol Friday Cafeteria Worker

Ms. Friday earned her General Equivalency Diploma in 2000. She lives in Tyrone with her husband Dave. Ms. Friday enjoys

spending time with her family and grandchildren and loves spending time outdoors.

Denise Paul Day-to-Day Substitute Teacher

Ms. Paul is a 1991 graduate of Altoona Area High School. She is a 1997 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and a 2002

graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Paul lived in Maryland and worked as a second grade teacher for four years. After having children she and her family moved back to Pennsylvania and she was a stay-at-home mom for five years. Ms. Paul now lives in Warriors Mark with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending time outdoors, running, reading, and spending time with her family. Ms. Paul is glad to be back in the classroom again.

Jenna Dillon Day-to-Day Substitute Teacher

Ms. Dillon is a 2007 graduate of Tyrone Area High School, and a 2011 graduate of Penn State University, where she earned a

Bachelor's of Science Degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education. Throughout her educational journey thus far, Ms. Dillon has earned the honor of Salutatorian of her high school graduating class, and earned manifold academic honors in college. She lives in Tyrone and enjoys singing in a local band, traveling for mission trips, spending time with her grandparents, and writing.

Kelsie Bumbarger Day-to-Day Substitute Teacher

Ms. Bumbarger is a 2008 graduate of Altoona Area High School and a 2011 graduate of Penn State University, where she earned a

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. After playing four years of college volleyball, Ms. Bumbarger made the transition from player to coach and is currently the assistant coach for the Mount Aloysius College Women’s Volleyball team and a coach for the Horseshoe Volleyball Club. She is also an instructor for various camps run through Penn State Altoona’s Kid College program and an active member of her church. Ms. Bumbarger currently lives in Altoona. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing board games, card games, watching movies, and reading books.

Jennifer Irons Paraprofessional

Ms. Irons is a 1991 graduate of Avella High School and a 1996 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, where she

earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work. She and her husband Jim moved to Tyrone twelve years ago and have two children, Reagan and Drew. Ms. Irons enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is loving her time with her K4 class.

Leah Lyons Paraprofessional

Ms. Lyons is a graduate of Elizabethtown Area High School. She graduated from IUP with her B.A. in Theater and Dance in 2007

and her M.A. in English Education in 2009. Ms. Lyons came to Tyrone by way of her husband's new job as the band director at Juniata Valley School District. She taught English and Drama in the Warren County School District before moving to the Tyrone area. In Warren, Ms. Lyons was very active in the educational and community theater programs as an actor, director, and choreographer. She currently serves as the assistant marching band director at Juniata Valley and is preparing for the upcoming indoor percussion season. When not at school or band, Ms. Lyons enjoys spending time with her husband and puppy and hopes to become involved in local community theater in the near future.

Who’s New at TASDWho’s New at TASD



Transfers:

James Coleman - Head Custodian Pamela Swabick - Cafeteria Worker

Other Hires:

Nick Miller - Boys Head Varsity Coach Jessica Sprankle - Paraprofessional Kelly Pearson - Assistant Swim Coach Jeri Veit - Paraprofessional Lisa Shaffer - Cafeteria Worker Bethany Wise - Cafeteria Worker Kevin Soellner - Boys Junior High Basketball Coach

Kirsten Snyder Daycare Paraprofessional

Ms. Snyder is a 2002 graduate of Tyrone Area High School. She grew up on a dairy farm in Warriors Mark, where she still resides

with her husband Kenny, son Gavin, and daughter Bailey. Ms. Snyder enjoys spending time with her family, watching her children play sports, and being outdoors.

Alicia Roan Cafeteria Worker

Ms. Roan is a 2011 graduate of Tyrone Area High School and is in the process of going to college to become a teacher. She grew up in

Warriors Mark and currently lives in Tyrone. Ms. Roan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, riding ATVs with her siblings, listening to music, and doing art projects.

Your thoughts, please . . . Was there an article in this edition or a previous

edition of TyNotes that you really enjoyed? Is

there a topic that you would like us to address in a

future edition? We appreciate any and all

feedback and hope to hear from you soon!

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 814-684-0710, ext. 4123

Mail: Tanya Sharer

Tyrone Area School District

701 Clay Avenue

Tyrone, PA 16686


Coming up in the Spring

Edition of TyNotes

2013-2014 School Calendar

2013 Commencement

Speaker

Staff Retirements

Spotlight on TAHS

Class of 1963

Preschool Registration for the 2013-2014 school year will be held on Tuesday,

March 12 and Wednesday, March 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Tyrone Area Elementary School. To be eligible for the K3 Preschool Program, children must be three years old before September 1, 2013, and to be eligible for the K4 Preschool Program, children must be four years old before September 1, 2013. To request an application or

more information, please contact Amanda Kurtz, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 814-684-0710, extension 2706, or visit the Tyrone Area School District website at www.tyrone.k12.pa.us.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2013-2014 school year will be held on Thursday, April 4, from

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Tyrone Area Elementary School. To be eligible for Kindergarten, children must be five years old before September 1, 2013. Registration forms will be available in the Tyrone Area Elementary School Main Office beginning Tuesday, March 5. For more information, please contact Amanda Kurtz, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 814-684-0710, extension 2706, or visit the Tyrone Area School District website at www.tyrone.k12.pa.us.

Mark Your Calendar Preschool and Kindergarten Registration Dates

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.tyrone.k12.pa.us

http://www.tyrone.k12.pa.us

Documents

A Publication of the Tyrone Area School · PDF filepracticed his farewell speech until he knew it by heart. He practiced it in front of his forensic ... A Publication of the Tyrone