Celebrating Nixon's Teachers

from a series of Nixon News articles

Becky Brewer - School Secretary
by Anita Baldwin

There’s a reason Becky Brewer, the new Nixon school secretary, seems at home behind that big desk you see when you come up the steps to the office. "I’ve spent ten years in the district before coming here, and that helps a lot in understanding how Nixon operates," she says. She has worked in the classroom, as a reading tutor at both Ohlone and at Duveneck, as well as in administrative jobs for the coordinator of special education for the district, and for BASEE (Bay Area Schools for Excellence in Education).

But the kids probably don’t care so much about that - they appreciate, as we do, her calm, friendly manner. She has three of her own (two boys, Gabe and Travis, 14 and 10, and a girl, Sisley, 13), and since both her sisters live here, there are plenty of family get-togethers.

Becky loves outdoor activity and rides her bike to school almost every day. Her children are also sports enthusiasts, and her husband Tony actually played professional baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, both minor and major league. He also played winter ball in Colombia and Puerto Rico, and in a professional Japanese league for the "Nippon Ham Fighters" (that name would sound good in a World Series!). Becky joined him on these jaunts; fortunately, she loves to travel (she and Tony were married in the Virgin Islands). Now he coaches wrestling at Palo Alto High School and gives individualized hitting instruction.

Despite her travels, Becky seems pretty settled here in Palo Alto, where she was born and went to school. Her family has a "very large dog," Barkley, a cat, Snaggles, and a fish (not named).

It’s obvious Becky enjoys her job. "You have to be able to listen to several different things going on at once," she says. "And then come back to what you were doing before." And do it with a smile, something that comes easily to Nixon’s new secretary.

Ginny Chu - Nixon School Clerk
by Anita Baldwin

This column has not yielded much in the way of shocking revelation, but in the new year all that is about to change. Mild-mannered Ginny has acknowledged to me that yes, she enjoys cooking - up to a point. And beyond that point? Well, perhaps some things should remain mysterious. Other than that, Ginny is as forthright and warm-hearted as can be, operating with Becky to be Nixon’s efficiency experts in the front office.

One of the first things Ginny volunteered was that she had married a Chinese man before it was "done," thereby making her - we cast about for an appropriately up-to-date term - an "oldster." "People used to look at us when we were up in Chinatown, and give us looks, especially the older generation." Fortunately their families were accepting. Ginny met her husband, a doctor, while working in a Connecticut research lab (she received a degree in medical technology). After moving about for his residencies, they settled in this area as a compromise between her home state (Connecticut) and his (Hawaii).

Ginny’s own two children went to Nixon. David works in computer publishing but at night is getting a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies. Jennifer, with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies, works in Golden Gate Park at the California Academy of Sciences. Ginny herself started at Nixon roughly 12 years ago, first as a noon-time supervisor, then gradually working into her present, winning role.

Reading, playing tennis, working outside - these are some of Ginny’s interests; she’s also done volunteer work at Stanford Hospital and taken courses in topics that interest her, like Chinese brush painting. As a final question, I asked her about childhood memories - did she remember World War II? "I remember we had black shades pulled down at night, in case of bombing (yes, even in Connecticut!), and although I was only in kindergarten I do remember coming home from lunch and hearing that Roosevelt had died, and thinking it was sad. And when the war was over, we went outside and banged pots with wooden spoons."

Whatever one’s age, we agreed, working with children helps you stay young. "If I can be a little bit of a help, and make the children happy, then that makes me happy," Ginny says. A successful recipe for children and their helpers.

Megan Cox - English Language Development Teacher
by Anita Baldwin

All of us know what it is to have to move somewhere else. It can be exciting as well as daunting, and a select few may have to grapple with a new language. For us adults, learning a new language may take years. Children have to learn it as soon as possible, not just to be able to ask, "Where is the bathroom?" or "Can I play too?" but to have a meaningful learning experience in school. For those children at Nixon, Megan is the interface between the familiar and the new.

From an early age, she's been fascinated by other cultures and languages. Before settling down to teach, she sailed around the world - how many of us have done that? - stopping at ports in China, Laos, and Turkey, to name a few. She hopes her two children will want to have the same adventure when they're older.

But for the moment, Megan is really enjoying her current cultural exchanges as an ELD teacher. Initially, she got an elementary education credential, and then got her ELD credential while teaching 2^nd grade at El Carmelo. Her position is not full-time, but needs to be, if you look at the numbers. Nixon went from 37 ELD students last year to 61 this year, largely from Stanford. Fortunately, she has on loan this year ELD teacher Lee Birdsey from Briones.

As you can imagine, these students from other cultures are exciting to work with. "Motivation plays a huge role in language acquisition," says Megan. And these students are motivated. They are in a new culture, receive lots of encouragement and support from their parents, and Nixon's excellence as a school doesn't hurt. Megan points out how important it is to have basic language skills when learning a new language. "If the children are literate in their primary language, then the table is set to add more information. If they come with limited proficiency in their primary language, they simply have less ability to reach their full potential as it pertains to second language acquisition," Megan points out. "When a child has had rich language experiences in their primary language it provides a foundation on which to build their second language skills."

Most of Megan's free time is family time, with trips to Carmel where they have family, and to the beach and Hawaii. But she hasn't forgotten her trip around the world. "Much of my motivation to teach comes from meeting people like Sunil, a child in Sri Lanka who was 10 years old and responsible for his five younger siblings. And Nancy, an orphan girl, who was so thrilled to learn the ABC song and sing it for her nurse. Such experiences allowed me to understand that we are all connected and that what we do and how we act makes a difference to people halfway around the world. An important part of what I want to teach the children is, how small the world really is, and how alike we are."

Betty Kancler - Special Education Aide
by Anita Baldwin

Betty knew early that she enjoyed working with children who needed some extra help. In her first teaching assignment, she received 34 third graders who constituted the lowest achievers of the third grade. "Ever since, I’ve been drawn to the children with special needs," she says. "I really enjoy trying to connect."

A Californian by birth, Betty first got her credential in 1965 and taught elementary school, first in Millbrae, then in the Whisman District. In 1974, she stopped teaching to raise her two children, who both went to Nixon. At some point, Betty realized she wanted to return, but perhaps not full-time. She called Nixon and signed on as Deb Lipari’s aide; she’s been here for over eight years.

I asked her who inspired her. It turns out she had a special first-grade teacher, with whom she kept in contact all her life, as well as - no surprise here - the inspirational Deb Lipari herself. These two must keep each other going.

Like Deb, Betty works with groups of one or more children on math and literacy skills. She also runs the "homework club," in which children do extra work each week, to give them a little more help. "We encourage these kids to take responsibility for their progress. I feel I’ve succeeded when I see them advancing and taking pride in their accomplishments."

Betty likes painting on glass - vases, wine glasses, jars, plates. This is something I would like to see; I wonder if we could commission, say, a set of sherry glasses for Nixon. She also plays piano and researches family history.

Together, Betty and Deb make a formidable special ed team at Nixon. Seeing them working with the children, wandering through their "loft" above the main office, a visitor has the feeling that these are dedicated people. "What is key to me is a sense of humor, " Betty says, "in all aspects of life, and especially with little kids." That sounds like Betty. Every time I’ve caught up to her I’ve had the feeling that she’s just had a good laugh about something.

Deb Lipari - Research Specialist
by Anita Baldwin

Entering Deb Lipari’s resource room above the office (the loft), you see chairs, desks, computers, bulletin boards, one or two tables, bookcases against the wall, and a fish tank, tucked into one corner. Fish? This was news to me. But it’s part of the effort to make the children feel at home, along with the cozy little "living room," with rug, sofa, a few small rocking chairs, and a glider rocker. "It’s important for children to feel comfortable and connected here," she says.

Deb works directly with the children to improve reading, writing, math, and study skills. She works with the school psychologist and the speech therapist to assess children who are suspected of having learning disabilities. She provides teachers and parents with specific strategies for helping kids succeed, not just at school, but also at home, and not just academically, but socially as well. She describes her job as teaching kids strategies to strengthen weaknesses and/or tap into their stronger learning modalities. There are many ways that Deb supports children with learning differences. She works with children within their classroom on the core curriculum, in the resource room with small groups on specific skills, as a team teacher, or on a consult basis to classroom teachers.

Deb was motivated to make helping children her career by the defining experience of having a cousin diagnosed, at the age of 12, with a form of Parkinson’s Disease. Having five brothers and three sisters must have had an influence on her as well. Deb was a dual major, receiving a degree in elementary and special education from the University of New York at Geneseo. She grew up on Long Island, then headed west with her husband to begin teaching.

Deb and her family gravitate north quite regularly, to a shared beachhouse on Stinson Beach, and to property they are developing just south of Clear Lake. They have planted olive trees with a plan to produce extra virgin olive oil. Add to this a part-time farmer husband, two active children, one Brittany Spaniel, a couple of dwarf hamsters, hobbies which include reading, skiing, rollerblading, beading jewelry, and gardening, and you have a pretty full life. "I love what I do," says Deb. "Teaching children in the learning style and modality which suits them best, watching them make those connections and feeling pride in their accomplishments is so rewarding. I’m the lucky one to work with such a gifted staff and such a warm and supportive community," she says. She and Betty, her skilled aide, are a team, and an invaluable resource for Nixon.

Janice Mulholland - School Librarian
by Anita Baldwin

Right away, Janice Mulholland wanted to talk about why she thought Nixon, and by extension, the library, was special. "It’s like a little U.N. here, and we work so well together - it’s an example of what our community is like, and what we would prefer the world to be like."

Janice, a Berkeley graduate with both teaching and library credentials, got started at Nixon when she ran a book fair at her son’s school some years back. At the time she was a high school librarian, but found helping the young children lots of fun, and started working part-time at Nixon, moving gradually to her present nearly full-time schedule.

Each time I interview someone it seems the symbiotic relationship between staff and parents is alive and well. Janice is grateful to the parents and to the PTA for helping to give her high job satisfaction. "Because parents check out books and reshelve them, it gives me valuable time to really work with and teach their children." This takes the form of using, for instance, simple games to show children where books "live," working with dictionaries to introduce research skills, and playing games modeled on "Bingo" and "Family Feud."

Janice is always on the lookout for ways to enrich children’s experiences. A parent who is writing her own children’s books read her drafts to the children: "So the children get to see a mom who’s an author!" And she tries to have published authors come and speak about the writing process. That way, the children realize that real authors have to make the same kinds of choices about writing that they do.

Not surprisingly, this librarian loves to haunt bookstores and libraries. Her family enjoys traveling and likes to ski. She’s looking forward to her 13-year-old entering the PAUSD, from Portola Valley schools. She believes deeply in the excellence of this district - and is looking forward to the family all having the same vacation time! Very important, as we know.

"I like to think of the library as the hub of a wheel, with the spokes radiating out into the pods." It’s a lovely metaphor for what a library should be: a school’s intellectual center. Janice makes that happen every day.

Abiodun Okunuga - Head Custodian
by Anita Baldwin

Abi Okunuga is Nixon’s custodian, the man the school staff depends on to fix, to clean, to set up and take down, to call when something physical needs doing at the school. He is here at 6 a.m. to make sure the school is ready when the doors open at 8:00. When teachers need desks delivered, he oversees delivery and moves the desks to the classrooms. He set up the chairs for Back-to-School Night. And after lunch, he cleans the pods to prevent picnicking bees and flies.

But Abi has a lot to say, too. He’s a thoughtful man with opinions on how the world can be a better place. "I take care of the kids and the adults - everyone needs attention," he says. He has been with the district since 1982, and with Nixon for 15 years after a stint at Gunn High School. "I am fortunate in my life. I’m proud to have this job. The kids are my joy, they are well-mannered, they respect each other’s wishes. And the PTA - they are so good to work with. They make my job much easier." It was difficult for Abi to come up with something about his job he did not like. "Probably when the kids throw up in the classroom...!"

Abi was born in London, where his mother still lives, but his family came from Lagos, Nigeria, and many are still there. He moved to the U.S. over 25 years ago, and attended San Jose State.

I asked him if he was ever homesick for London, where he grew up. "Oh, no. I make anywhere I am home. And I visit Europe, London, and Africa every year. But I am not there just for vacation." He explained that owning your own business is an African tradition - his mother did so - and when he’s abroad he looks for similar economic opportunities.

Abi has two dogs and enjoys walks with them. He also loves sports, and keeps up with bay area baseball and football teams - but likes the Dallas Cowboys best.

The man who has lived in a variety of cultures shares this thought with the Nixon community. "Young people here have not experienced the different cultures of the world. The earlier they do that in this life, the more they can appreciate what they have. And they will learn to respect people for what they are, who they are, no matter what nationality they are."

Barbara Vana - Computer Lab Teacher
by Anita Baldwin

I confess to being technologically challenged, so it was a pleasure to sit down with Barbara Vana and know that Nixon’s children will have no such limitation. Barbara has been working in the Lab for three years and has been in the United States for five; she moved here from the Czech Republic in 1998 (her husband got a job here). At the time, her English was limited, but she went to Palo Alto Adult School, and now, obviously, is in complete command, though she doesn’t agree and finds using English sometimes "stressful."

But teaching computers is not. She loves it. She has a degree in civil engineering, but "I always wanted to teach. For me the USA is the country where your dreams come true," she says. She certainly has been able to follow her teaching dream here, and to fulfill her desire to "help educate young people as much as possible." "The computer is simply a tool, like a calculator. I’ve developed the curriculum in close connection with the teachers so that I can be sure it’s related to what they’re learning in the classroom."

How does the schedule work? Every class has an hour slot every other week. The teacher can choose whether to send all or half the class at a time; for the lower grades, there isn’t as much to cover, so half an hour is enough. A teacher may request extra time if necessary for students to work on a project. Grades 2, 3, and 4 also learn typing for 15 minutes each week (by fifth grade they’ve acquired adequate proficiency), an invaluable skill for later on.

Barbara developed a computer lab website (http://staff.pausd.org/~bvana/) which helps both her and the teachers in their teaching. The website is organized by grades and has links so the students can easily use the Internet for specific projects. For example, the third grade students might have access to pictures from their field trip, and be able to use them in a presentation.

Barbara has two children and a husband she calls a "computer geek;" enjoys skiing, running, nature, reading, the movies (none of us are any too different, are we...). "I think teachers are one of the most important people in a child’s life because they have so much influence on young people. If kids like school, there is a chance they will become life-long learners." She is certainly doing her part.

Barbara Welch - Retired Principal
by Anita Baldwin

First, let’s answer the urgent questions right away. Barbara’s favorite color is "somewhere between coral and burnt orange"; her favorite food, "a cross between crab and something chocolate" (!); and her favorite animal, her black poodle, Alex. There’s a poem there somewhere.

Barbara came from middle school six years ago to be Nixon’s principal. "What I like most about being here is that the kids are so joyful. You can go into the classroom and enjoy their adventures and learning. In elementary school, you have a chance to make a real difference. And the school itself is so much more a focal point for the community, in an intimate sense. I can really get to know the parents."

How do you get to be an elementary school principal? Barbara started by teaching, saw things she wanted to change, and went from there. She actively enjoys being principal and is grateful for her staff, especially when she was out for five months last year. "I never worried about what was going on in the classrooms," she says. "Sure, I worried about schedules and missing meetings, but the most important thing was - I didn’t have to worry about the kids."

She is fortunate that the district’s elementary school principals support each other in a collaborative effort, freely sharing ideas (something they must have learned in kindergarten). Support from without, and from within Nixon itself, undoubtedly helps her to, as she acknowledges, "look forward to Monday on Sunday night."

Based on past "Meet the staff " profiles, it’s time to form a Nixon Travel Club. Last year Barbara went to Australia and loved it. She went to Italy recently and thinks Austria and Bavaria might be next on her list. She traveled with her children when they were small. Now her three daughters are grown and carving out careers of their own.

Asked what she would like in a perfect world, she only half-jokingly answers, "A bigger parking lot." But she probably speaks for all of us when she says, "Where else can you work, where if you’re having a bad day, you can get a hug anytime you need it?"

Mary Pat O’Connell - Principal

NIXON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL APPOINTED

PALO ALTO, CA - We are pleased to announce the Board took action Tuesday evening, April 8, to appoint Mary Pat O'Connell as Principal of Nixon Elementary School.

The Nixon Principal Selection Input Committee saw Ms O'Connell as an outstanding educator who embodied the qualities they were looking for in their next principal. The committee was impressed with her commitment to excellence, her K-12 work in math and science instruction, and her support for focused professional development. Superintendent Kevin Skelly believes Ms. O'Connell's successful experience leading an elementary school, her personal background, and her focus on student learning will serve the Nixon community well.

Ms. O'Connell began her teaching career in the San Mateo-Foster City School District where she taught science for over fourteen years. From 1997 to 2001, Ms O'Connell served as the coordinator to the Aragon Borel Complex-a six-school partnership in San Mateo that developed and coordinated professional development opportunities for teachers around math and science instruction and assessment. In 2001, she began her current principalship at Highlands Elementary School in the San Mateo-Foster City School District.

Ms. O'Connell earned her Bachelor of Arts-Psychology from Stanford University. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University and received her teaching credential from Stanford University.

Ms. O'Connell lives with her family in Palo Alto.