ARSA REPORTSOfficial Publication of the Arizona Rural Schools Association

in this issue... Great Venue Brings Success at ARSA ConferenceBy Bill Blong

Public school leaders, administrators and educators met at Little America in beautiful Flagstaff this September for the Arizona Rural Schools State Annual Conference, Designing Hope for Success. Rural educators were provided an excellent opportunity to network and collaborate with other rural professionals from around the state. The program included over a dozen pertinent sessions geared specifically for administrators or educators. The Little America was sold out with over 60 exhibitors. This year’s keynote, Rick Miller discussed empowering data on Hope in students’ lives and how schools can be transformed so all children experience success. Schools, towns from around the state and internationally have adopted Kids at Hope strategies. It was a great opportunity to look at what helps kids be successful and data to support it. A conference goal has always been a goal to provide new strategies and share the best information and practices from around the state.

This year’s luncheon keynote, Dr. Gary Emanuel brought the life and politics alive with his historical portrayal of Thomas Jefferson. The dialogue included the idea of universal education and how essential it was for self government to be successful. We had outstanding weather for this year’s golf tournament at Flagstaff Ranch. Thanks to the efforts of those who helped support the outing over the years and turn this into an annual event.

One of the highlights of the conference was recognizing some of the excellent rural teachers Arizona has throughout the 15 counties. ARSA recognized 12 County Teachers of the Year and honored Torie Ellison as the 2013 Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Ellison teaches at Toltec Elementary in Pinal County and will represent Arizona at the NREA Convention next year. ARSA also recognized Kathe Ketchem and inducted her into the Hall of Fame for her positive impact on education in rural Arizona.

The Executive Board would like to extend their sincere appreciation to our members, sponsors and business partners for their continued support of this organization and its efforts to support quality education in the rural areas of the state. We hope you had a great experience at Little America with its beautiful facility, good food and stunning forest. Your participation makes this association what it is today. Thank you!

Page 1 • ARSA Annual

Conference

• CEP Program

• General Membership

Meeting Reminder

Page 3 • 2013 County

Teachers of the Year

• ARSA County

Teachers of the Year

• 2013 Arizona

Teacher of the Year

Page 5 • CEP Program

(continued)

Page 6 • ARSA Annual

Conference Photos

Page 7 • ARSA Annual

Conference Photos

Page 9 • AZ Teacher of the

Year (continued)

• ARSA timelines

• Save the Date!

Page 10 • 2013 Hall of Fame

Inductee

• NREA Conference

Page 12 • Thanks, Sponsors!

Fall 2013

c

General Membership MeetingWelcome! Members, Supporters,

and Those Who Want to BeIn the Know…

Friday, December 13th7:00 am

Biltmore Conference CenterGrand Canyon Room

ARSA Members Benefit from Grand Canyon’s CEP ProgramGrand Canyon University is pleased to have the Arizona Rural School Association as a member of the Canyon Educational Participant (CEP) program. As a member of ARSA you are now entitled to receive the benefits of the agreement. It is an honor for Grand Canyon University to associate itself with you and your organization in your tremendous efforts to support rural education in Arizona. The purpose of this alliance is to serve the needs of our members in providing education to students and needed services to staff.

It is a privilege to offer you the benefits of the CEP participant agreement at no cost, or at a discounted rate, and you can utilize any or all of them immediately. For a complete listing of the benefits, please refer to the official agreement signed by Executive Director, Bill Blong, but included below are a few key benefits:

Continued on page 5

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Torie Ellison2013 Arizona

Teacher of the YearMrs. Torie Ellison began her teaching career in Hereford, Texas teaching 5th grade. She also taught 3rd grade in Odessa, TX, Special Education in Aurora, Colorado, and 2nd grade in Coolidge, before she landed in Pinal County. She is a Special Education teacher working with the severely and profoundly challenged students at the Toltec Elementary School in the Toltec Elementary District. She received her education at West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas, earning her Bachelors in Elementary Education in 2000. She went on to earn endorsements in SPED, K-12 and ESL, Early Childhood also at Texas A & M. Torie believes in developing a relationship of trust and respect with parents is key to creating a strong foundation for children to be successful. That teamwork with the parents creates a more solid education experience for her special needs students. “I believe that my parents are lending me their most prized possession and I I want them to know that I am teaching and treating their valuables with love, just as they were my own.” An administrator says that, “ Mrs. Ellison is a hardworking, reliable, and patient individual committed to her special needs students.

2013 County Teachers of the Year

From left to right: Lynette Burdick, Michelle Smith, Heather Walker, Halli Kinnick, Michelle Budden, Torie Ellison, TeriRomero-Dominguez, Carrie LaHaie, Carissa Morrison, Richard Paun, and Arnel Anog. Please note that Carol Anne Weech is not present.

Apache County Lynette Burdick St. Johns USDCochise County Richard Paun Douglas USDCoconino County Heather Walker Williams USDGila County Halli Kinnick Payson USDGraham County Carol Anne Weech Pima USDLa Paz County Arnel Anog Bicentennial Union HSD Maricopa County Teri Romero-Dominguez Mobile ESDMohave County Michelle Budden Lake Havasu USDNavajo County Carrie LaHaie SnowflakeUSDPinal County Torie Ellison Toltec USDYavapai County Carissa Morrison Seligman USDYuma County Michelle Smit Yuma Union HSD

2013 Arizona Rural Schools Association’s County Teachers of the Year

Continued on page 9

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Grand Canyon’s CEP ProgramContinued from page 1

1. CEP members will have access to a 10% degree discount for tuition for online undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree programs at GCU. CEP members will have access to a 5% degree discount for spouses for the same programs. 2. CEP members will have access to GCU’s Educational Development & Support services. These services could be most beneficial to your districts/schools. More detailed information follows. 3 Individual courses for GCU’s degree programs, along with a portfolio of three-week online continuing education classes, will be offered at a 10% discount. 4. CEP members will receive priority communication and involvement in GCU-sponsored initiatives and programs and CEP members will have access to the GCU Online Job Board to post employment opportunities and search for applicants. 5. CEP members requesting student teaching/practicum placements of GCU candidates will receive priority.

Educational Development and Support (EDS) services brings together practitioners whose expertise in professional development spans 21st century teaching techniques with Common Core: AZ College and Career Ready Standards integration and embedded technology to maximize the performance of all educators and their students. When requested, GCU’s EDS department will work to provide professional development opportunities uniquely tailored to meet each participant school or district’s goals, mission, vision and initiatives. Participants can choose from a broad list of “21 C’s” that range from Common Core Standards and Assessments, Critical Thinking, Classroom Organization, Character Education, to Cognitive Coaching and Cooperative Learning to name a few. To arrange for EDS services contact Lorin Marchese, GCU EDS Coordinator at 602.639.6320, or email eds@gcu.edu. Another benefit of being a GCU CEP member is the discounted admission to the following events: 1. January 14-15, 2014: Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs 1-14th: Leading the New Literacies: Digital, Media and Global for the 21st Century Learner 1-15th: School Teams: Aligning and Mapping Your School Curriculum to the Common Core: AZ College and Career Ready Standards. Participants may attend one or both days.

2. March 18-19, 2014: A Google Summit: All Things Educational Beverly J. Hurley, Ed.D. Kathryn ScottDirector of Academic Alliances Director of Educational Development & SupportDirect-602-639-7220 Cell-480-395-5606 Direct- 602-639-7837 Cell-480249-5675

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Scenes From The ConferenceCheck our website (www.azruralschools.org) to see more photos and view a slide show of the conference

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Thanks to Sharon O’Malley for thewonderful conference photos!

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ARSA Moves Up Timelines ARSA Executive Board has decided to move up timelines for Teacher of the Year and presentation proposals. This allows more time for the Teacher of the Year Committee to read the nominations and interview the county teachers from around the state.The Teacher of the Year nomination forms will be posted on the website in January along with Presentation Proposals so that the Conference Committee has sufficient time to review the proposals submitted. This will allow us more time to post the breakouts with the agenda on the website.Please consider nominating a teacher or sharing your expertise now in the new year.

Torie Ellison2013 Arizona Teacher of the Year

Torie is a sensitive, warm and caring person, who is good with all people. She is well organized and self reliant and demonstrates poised and insightfulness when communicating with parents/guardians.”

The Arizona Rural Schools Association is proud to have Mrs. Ellison represent the state as the 2013 Rural Teacher of the Year and represent Arizona at the National Rural Education Association Convention.

Continued from page 3

ARIZONA RURAL SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

September 18-20, 2014Little America • Flagstaff , Arizona

Save the Date!

Page 10

2012 Arizona Teacher of the Year, Marlene Armstrong, with

Paul Kuhlman, 2013 NREA Teacher of the Year and John

Hill, National Rural Education Association Executive Director

at the NREA Conference in Branson, Missouri in October.

Kathe Ketchem 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee

The Arizona Rural Schools Association is proud to induct Kathe Ketchum into the 2013 Hall of Fame. Kathe began her 41 year career in the small rural Continental Elementary School District in 1971, teaching multiage classrooms in a cooperative open classroom. This began a lifelong love for rural education, and its rewarding challenges and opportunities. Kathe joined the Payson High School staff six years later as the reading and homebound teacher. In 1984 she accepted a Kindergarten position at Pine/ Strawberry which began a twenty-one year stay, where she taught every grade. In 1999 she was selected as the Principal-Superintendent of Pine/Strawberry School District. For the next six years Kathe Ketchem lead her district with distinction. In addition, she served on the Arizona K-3 Advisory Board, the Arizona Rural Schools President and worked as an Adjunct Professor for both NAU and ASU teaching graduate and undergraduate. In 2005 Kathe went back to Payson where she assumed the challenges of a charter school, and the role of Principal for Payson’s Center for Success High School. She found success there when she received the Arizona Education A+ School Award in 2008. This was the first such award for Payson Unified School District, and the first in Gila County. As a principal before retiring in June 2012, under her leadership Payson High School received an AZLEARNS “A” Designation by the Arizona Department of Education. As a teacher, principal, superintendent and rural schools leader, Kathe Ketchem has personified the highest standards of professional service, ethics and dedication both as a teacher mentor and instructional leader.

Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success. Thomas J. Watson

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Arizona Rural Schools AssociationP.O. Box 3123Parker, AZ 85344

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPHOENIX,AZ

PERMIT NO.750

Thank You Conference Sponsors!

The Professional Group Public Consulting, Inc.

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season to you and yours!Bill & Beth