Safely Reopening Schools: 2020-21 Information
Pioneer's Classroom Close-Ups
This page is dedicated to Pioneer Teachers that were featured on Walla Walla School District's "Classroom Close-Ups" You will be able to view the photo-filled newsletters and 60 second radio spots that were played on numerous stations in our area.
This weekly series takes you back to school by highlighting classroom work throughout the district. A fun, photo-filled newsletter and exciting radio spot featuring the teacher and classroom activities are included in this series.
Learn what subjects are being studied and some of the learning objectives. You will also hear about the strategies being used to enhance achievement and how technology is linked to classroom lessons.
RADIO SPOTS AND NEWLETTERS CREATED BY MARK HIGGINS
View Our Staff Classroom Close-ups
Shannon DeBeaumont
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Kids are adding two or three years of growth in just one school year based on their STAR testing. One of the best parts of the program is the students are gaining confidence."
Donna Morris
Excerpt from Newsletter
“The goal for me as a teacher is to leave these kids with an experience where they feel they can do something regardless of their individual fitness level. I really focus on lifetime fitness so they can connect what they are doing now with what they are going to be doing the rest of their lives"
Jim Eggart
Excerpt from Newsletter
"If we can ignite some kind of connection to physical activities it is something they'll do the rest of their lives. The more we can do to get kids excited about movement and exercise the better off they are. They feel better and are healthier."
Debbie Bailey
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Students and staff members are very accepting of our students. The other Pioneer students interact with my students and help them when ever they can. I have several general education students who serve as teacher assistants and each year there are more students volunteering in my classroom."
Alicia Quackenbush
Excerpt from Newsletter
"At Pioneer, we put in a lot of positive supports for kids and give them reasons to feel safe and successful at school. We meet clothing needs through a closet clothing exchange program. We have vast after school opportunities."
Anne Schulz
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Middle school is a significant shift from elementrary school. Students are in transition in every aspect of their life and I see this as a contributing factor to test scores. I believe part of the solution is allowing students time to discover their learning.
Chris Plucker
Excerpt from Newsletter
“On our visit to Olympia, students represented Pioneer Middle School and our district with class. They wore ties and dresses during the Capitol building tour. Throughout the entire trip they were very respectful and mature. Our tour guide called Principal Mira Gobel to report our students were the best group he had ever escorted through the Capitol building.”
Julia Woods
Excerpt from Newsletter
"We find a lot of our music students are excelling in their studies and are in advanced placement classes. Music helps the brain connections develop, as well as encouraging the kids who are already advanced to maximize their potential."
Laural Bohnet
Excerpt from Newsletter
"People who don't have kids in school anymore probably don't feel connected to the younger generation. These are great kids. They are nice, helpful and kind. Our community should be very proud of our students."
Lynn Junke
Excerpt from Newsletter
"I love being a tool to help students learn. It is inspiring when my students discover something by using their reasoning skills. This tells me we will have great people leading our communities and country."
Angie Butler
Excerpt from Newsletter
"The way we attack problems in science is often the way we attack problems in life. Science is all around us. Science is in the way we develop and solve problems. Science is in our natural world so having a strong background in science helps students learn about the environment around them."
Brian Richards
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Physical Education class allows the students to release some of their stored up energy. Classroom teachers will tell you it helps their students perform better in school"
"It was exciting to hear Dr. John Medina talk about the importance of physical education and its connection to brain development."
David Blocklinger
Excerpt from Newsletter
"I try to find books I would have liked as a middle school student. Many of the novels my students are reading have teenagers as the main characters. They get into a lot of exciting adventures. It’s important for the students to be able to relate to the characters in the stories."
Gina Stahlheber
Excerpt from Newsletter
"The first thing you need to do is let them know you care and develop trust. I know about their families, their interests and hopes and dreams. Once they know I am a safe person who just wants to help them learn, the barriers to their learning start to come down and we make progress."
Dan Calzaretta
Excerpt from Newsletter
"We have kids covering everything from education to the war in Iraq to animal abuse issues to deforestation. I’m very impressed with the diverse group of documentaries the students are working on."
Lani Kiefel
Excerpt from Newsletter
“This job is rewarding because I help the students become more confident in their reading and math and this confidence carries over to everything they do in school. I love seeing the students when the light clicks on for the first-time and they 'get it."
Kim Gradwohl
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Kim is an outstanding young teacher. She is creative and dedicated and a valuable member of our teaching staff. She consistently works with her colleagues to provide a successful learning experience for all students."
Brad Ludwig
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Brad Ludwig is one of those teachers students gravitate toward. He has a great rapport with students and works to make lessons relevant for our 8th graders."
John Carter
Excerpt from Newsletter
"At Pioneer, we put in a lot of positive supports for kids and give them reasons to feel safe and successful at school. We meet clothing needs through a closet clothing exchange program. We have vast after school opportunities."
Kim Lawbaugh
Excerpt from Newsletter
"Seventh grade is my favorite middle school age. They are so energetic and have so much enthusiam for what they are learning. I just love working with these kids"
Doug Venneri
Excerpt from Newsletter
"The way we attack problems in science is often the way we attack problems in life. Science is all around us. Science is in the way we develop and solve problems. Science is in our natural world so having a strong background in science helps students learn about the environment around them."
- Newsletter
- Radio Spot
