|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
PTJH Teacher Linda Miller Wins Lyric Contest |
 |
 |
Pine Tree Junior High math teacher Linda Miller recently placed second in the January/February 2008 lyric contest sponsored by the American Songwriter Magazine. Miller grew up singing with her sisters and has always enjoyed writing country-western and Christian songs but it was “Dear Abby” that won accolades from her songwriting peers. She was even interviewed by a local television station after her triumph.
Miller taught 6th and 7th grade math for 27 years at Pine Tree schools and previously taught 2 years in Hallsville. She has served as a math-science coach, lead math teacher, and on numerous school committees. Miller is now the at-risk math coordinator at Pine Tree Junior High. She is very excited about her win and will continue to enter contests. For more information about Miller and to hear some of her songs, visit her website at www.sonicbids.com/LindaCostMiller
| |
|
|
The Heart & Soul of PTJH |
On January 18 head custodian Sherry Childress left PTJH after 18 years to head for Houston and help with the care of her grandson, Hayden. Six-month-old Hayden will soon be going home from Texas Children’s Hospital after several operations and medical problems. Sherry’s daughter, Johnna, and son-in-law Ryan will enjoy having “Gammie” help with Hayden’s care.
The PTJH staff and principal Bob Jeter honored Sherry with a plaque and gift to show her how much everyone appreciated her dedication and hard work over the past 18 years. The plaque emphasized how Sherry is the “heart and soul” of the campus.
|
|
 | |
|
Clay Gillentine - New 2007-2008 Assistant Principal at PTJH |
 |
|
Former Pine Tree graduate Clay Gillentine has recently become an assistant principal at Pine Tree Junior High. Mr. Gillentine will be responsible for 8th graders. Debbie Terry is the assistant principal for 9th graders.
Gillentine completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Stephen F. Austin State University and was formerly the assistant principal at Pine Tree’s 7th grade campus. He has spent his professional years at Pine Tree as a teacher and coach. In his free time, Gillentine continues his education at Texas A&M University, Commerce, and enjoys playing golf.
| |
|
|
PTJH 2007 Teacher of the Year - Evelyn Tenner |
U.S. history teacher Evelyn Tenner was elected teacher of the year by her peers at Pine Tree Junior High.
|
|
 | |
|
8th Grade English Teacher Wins Grant for Books |
 |
|
Shana Bellatti, Pine Tree Junior High 8th grade reading teacher, was notified recently by AEP-SWEPCO that her grant application "Read to Learn, Learn to Read" was approved. The letter included a check in the amount of $401.
The grant money will purchase 44 new fiction and nonfiction books for the eighth grade classroom. Bellatti said, “The new books will help my children enjoy the magnificent places they can visit through literature.”
Improving education in the communities they serve is a high priority for AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company. Teachers have an exciting challenge in motivating students to learn and think creatively, and SWEPCO has partnered with the schools to help make that possible through the AEP Teacher Vision Grant program.
| |
|
|
PTJH Coach Kyle Burns Earns Award |
After several bus drivers retired and moved last year, the Pine Tree ISD transportation department faced a school year with several driver vacancies. Upon hearing about the driver shortage, Pine Tree Junior High Coach Kyle Burns offered to help when his busy coaching/teaching schedule allowed. Since August, Director of Maintenance and General Operations Tony Hollins and Director of Transportation Jack Davis have often called on Burns to drive a bus. Burns never hesitated to help the school in driving a bus whether it was early in the morning or in the afternoon.
"Kyle's unselfish actions have contributed immensely to the transportation department's ability to provide uninterrupted transportation for the district's students," Hollins said. The department recently presented Burns with a certificate of appreciation and a dinner at a local steak house.
|
|
 | |
|
Iler Boyd Wins Teaching Excellence Award |
 |
|
The Pine Tree ISD Education Foundation’s second Beacon Awards Banquet honored PTJH language arts teacher Iler Boyd the Regen Stiles Teaching Excellence Award on May 4. The award was based on former student Rebecca Eberhard’s essay describing Ms. Boyd’s classroom discipline and empathy as the reasons she straightened out her life of being a troublemaker and slacker.
Below are some of the reasons Ms. Boyd continues to excel in teaching and caring about her students.
| |
|
|
Bookmark Stops Teacher from Quitting 27 Years Ago |
By Linda Semlear, PTJH
The custodian found a bookmark and handed it to a young language arts teacher. Little did he know – but the bookmark’s inscription changed the life of Pine Tree Junior High teacher Iler Boyd 27 years ago.
“This isn’t for me,” thought Boyd, after realizing she had made a mistake to even try to teach reading to eighth graders.
Boyd grew up in Marshall and helped usher in integration when her ninth grade class attended Marshall High School instead of the previously all-black Pemberton High School in the same city.
“It was a class of wills,” said Boyd. “The teachers and students were unhappy and unsure of what would happen but through the grace of God we made it and got through it well.”
Going to a new campus was hard enough but Boyd’s class had to learn how to go to school with white children and white teachers – an adjustment for all involved. These 1974 high school graduates were the first class in Marshall to accept the fact that they were integrated and that they would learn to live together.
“Dad was a teacher,” quipped Boyd on a recent radio interview, “and that’s what I wanted to do because I saw him leaving the house every day. I wanted to follow in his footsteps.” Boyd knew what her mother did all day at home but thought something more interesting was outside her doors. Her parents had taught her that “people were people” and that we should all see the “good” in each other.
Boyd finished college at East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University at Commerce. She graduated in August, 1977, with a secondary degree in English and French.
Boyd thinks college days are training grounds for life and that self-discipline should start at home. “I finished college in just three years to avoid summer chores at home like shelling peas and canning peaches,” Boyd exclaimed. “Self-discipline starts at home.”
She believes college students need to be on time for class and finish their projects without parental supervision. “Students need to have good work ethics and respect for their work,” Boyd said. “We weren’t rewarded for doing things that were expected of us.”
After her college days, Boyd worked for one year teaching English and French at Union Hill High School in Betty, Texas. Since she wasn’t hired for the next school year, she worked at the mall and found it hard to find a teaching position without enough experience.
In 1979, Pine Tree Junior High hired their first African-American female teacher – Iler Boyd. And what a chaotic school year that was for Boyd. “Neither the predominantly white student population nor the faculty accepted me at that time.”
Over the past 27 years, Miss Boyd has become a well-loved, outstanding teacher at Pine Tree Junior High – teaching language arts to eighth graders.
“But I almost messed up my teaching career that first year,” Boyd recalls. “I didn’t have enough discipline management then and the classes were going wild. I thought I’d made a mistake and thought teaching just wasn’t for me.”
As Boyd was packing up to leave her position, an unknown fact to others, a custodian (Jerry ‘J.C.’ Carter) handed her a bookmark he found in the halls.
The bookmark’s inscription still rings true today: “If you think you’re beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but think you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t. For out in the world we find success begins with a fellow’s will. It’s all in the state of mind.”
Upon reading the bookmark, Boyd said, “Okay, God – I guess this is where you want me to be.” And with that, she turned around and went back in the classroom with a roomful of eighth graders where she’s been for the past 27 years.
As Pastor Leroy Richardson said on his recent KJTX radio interview with Boyd, “It’s amazing how God puts people in our paths with just the right words to affect our entire lives. That custodian and God knew you had potential and would affect kids for the next 27 years and I’m glad He did.”
Boyd feels her purpose in life is to give a positive viewpoint of African-Americans. “I feel I’ve made a difference with kids and have been rewarded by touching young peoples’ lives in positive ways.”
Boyd believes the future of our educational system is getting better with more opportunities and technology. “More positive things are going on than the media people emphasize.”
This truly dedicated teacher has been an asset to the public school system and Pine Tree ISD truly appreciates her commitment to learning. “I give God all the glory for not letting me give up that first year,” Boyd claims.
Miss Boyd is the daughter of Lois Boyd and a member of Galilee Baptist Church. She is also a member of the teacher sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the service sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Boyd truly makes an impact on her students and community.
|
|
| |
|
|
