Eleven Wetzel County educators and principals recently attended a JASON Learning conference in Ashburn, Va. Several of these individuals were at the Wetzel County Board of Education’s Aug. 27 meeting to give a presentation and share their experiences at the conference.

JASON Learning is a nonprofit founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert D. Ballard. Notably, Ballard is best-known for his discovery of the Titanic.

JASON Learning provides curriculum in science, engineering, technology, and math and is also known for its Argonauts program.

Argonauts are student and teacher pairs who go on adventures. Argonauts travel to national parks, as well as islands around the world. On these travels, Argonauts meet and study with scientists.

According to JASON Learning, each Argonaut applicant applies for an Argonaut position through a highly competitive and rigorous selection process, including personal essays, video statements, reference letters, and academic records. Each individual is competing against their peers from around the world for a highly coveted spot on the team. These materials are reviewed by a national team of JASON staff, educators and administrators familiar with the program.

At the Aug. 27 meeting, the board was told how there are two parts to JASON.

The first day of the recent conference focused on Immersion Learning. This incorporated English and Reading into a hands-on STEM activity. Each person was able to choose which class they would like to go to. The topics in this program were Ancient Eruptions, Dolphins and Life at the Extremes, Marine Mammals of the Arctic, Monterey Bay, Nautilus Live, Return to Titanic and Secrets of the Gulf. These were all topics that were geared toward the younger students. Another part of day one was called “It’s All Fun and Games.” Conference attendees were able to attend classes on gaming with JASON as well as ARRi Educational Games. The second day was considered an adventure day, and each person chose an adventure to go on. Some went to the NASA Goddard Space Center as well as the Space Flight Center, while others went to the National Museum in Washington D.C. On the last day, some conference attendees went to a session called “World of Waves” which proved to be the favorite of several that attended.

Those that attended the NASA session were able to hear expert speakers such as Dr. Carlos E. Del Castillo. They also learned about super computers that NASA uses for weather and global monitoring.

One attendee got to experience learning in nature. Her group went into a stream to look for invertebrates. She was also able to watch someone core a tree to see how old it was. She said she learned of apps that will identify leaves and insects just by interpreting a picture. She said she was able to experience several activities in nature that made learning fun and exciting, and she feels if this information is utilized, it will make the learning much easier to understand because it was all hands-on. She said different subjects were incorporated into these lessons.

Another educator noted she wanted to take some of the information gained from the conference and “move forward with it.” She noted she wants to implement an “outdoor classroom” and learn from the outdoors.

The educators described the experience as a “phenomenal experience,” and they are excited to develop a curriculum that goes with their standards and shows kids why they’re doing things and how they can use this information in their careers.

A few other teachers recently attended a Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and watched a safety crash test. In order to attend this function, one had to be a car manufacturer, researcher, or an insurance company. However, thanks to a JASON partnership, teachers were allowed to attend. They watched a crash test and were able to test the automatic braking system. Some were also able to drive the vehicles.

Also at the Aug. 27 board meeting were Mrs. Carolyn Hizer, teacher from Paden City High School, and two students – Abbe Stackpole, a junior at PCHS, and Martha Doiron, a sophomore from Valley High School. These three gave a presentation about their recent JASON Argonauts excursion. They had planned to travel to Nicaragua; however, because of recent political unrest, this excursion was canceled. They instead visited the Andorran Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France.

Hizer, Stackpole, and Doiron described reaching the Pyrenees mountain peak, approximately 9,000 feet in elevation. The trip involved studying wildlife ecosystems and climate change effects. They also studied the Alpine Meadows and tree lines.

On day one of their trip, some of the activities included hiking and bird banding, comparing high/low elevation populations. They also collected bird waste and identified the birds, obtained their ages, weight, muscle, and fat. The Argonauts also were able to conduct the actual banding; for this, special pliers were used to make sure the bands did not hurt the birds, which were then released. The Argonauts did insect trapping and surveyed black pines.

Wetzel County’s argonauts described several sayings their team leader expressed during the trip, including “Never trust a wet rock,” as well as “It’s better to be down than up and wish you were down.” These sayings were in reference to safety because of the weather that could be challenging at times. Thankfully, the group was well equipped with rain gear.

The trio were the only three from West Virginia in the group.

After the presentations, board president Warren Grace said he felt like he had learned more science that night than he did in two years at WVU of the required science. Board vice-president Bill Jones said, “It has been a long, long time since I’ve seen this much excitement about learning. This was phenomenal tonight, and this is what it’s about. If we can create this kind of an atmosphere in our classrooms, we’re winners! I just applaud the fact that we’re doing this kind of thing and I’m real proud of it.”

The following matters were also approved at the Aug. 27 meeting of the Wetzel County Board of Education.

Personnel Matters:

Resignations:

Jennifer L. Eller, acceptance of resignation from position as SAT Coordinator at Short Line School, effective immediately.

Kayla B. Hizer, acceptance of resignation from position as Assistant Cheerleading Coach at Paden City High School, effective Aug. 13.

Carolyn Hostutler, acceptance of resignation from position as Countywide Substitute Teacher Aide, effective immediately.

Makenzie L. Koontz, acceptance of resignation from position as countywide substitute Teacher, effective Aug. 7.

Rebecca E. Patterson, acceptance of resignation from position as Middle School Academic Coach at Paden City High School, effective Aug. 11.

Professional Personnel:

Cynthia R. Anderson, approval for employment as Title I Reading Intervention Teacher at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Anna M. Barrick, approval for change in assignment from First Grade Teacher at Paden City Elementary to Fifth Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Jennifer M. Emch, approval for change in assignment from countywide substitute Teacher to Spanish Teacher at Magnolia High School, effective Aug. 29, on permit.

Brenda E. Glasscock, approval for change in assignment from First Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School to MI/LD/BD with Autism Teacher at Short Line School, effective Aug. 29.

Susan G. Grilli, approval for employment as countywide substitute teacher, effective Aug. 29.

Brooke Liptak, approval for employment as School Counselor at Paden City Elementary, 205-day contract, effective Aug. 22.

Janice A. Moore, approval for employment as countywide substitute teacher, effective Aug. 29.

Craig A. Schneid, approval for employment as countywide substitute teacher, effective Aug. 29.

Joseph S. Semple, approval for employment as countywide substitute teacher, effective Aug. 29, non-certified.

Tiana M. Tallman, approval for employment as Art Teacher at Hundred High School, effective Aug. 29.

Service Personnel:

Cindy D. Aliff, approval for change in assignment from Supervisory Teacher Aide at Short Line School to ECAT/Supervisory Aide, Kindergarten, at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Virginia R. Derby, approval for employment as countywide substitute Supervisory Teacher Aide, effective Aug. 29.

Eva A. Rogalski, approval for employment as countywide substitute Supervisory Teacher Aide, effective Aug. 29.

Rae E. Stuart, approval for employment as countywide substitute Secretary, effective Aug. 29.

Extracurricular:

Marlee E. Amos, approval for employment as Academic Support Coach at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Elizabeth F. Bragg, approval for employment as Head C heer Coach at Hundred High School, effective the beginning of the 2018-2019 WVSSAC Season.

Kayla B. Hizer, approval for employment as Head Cheer Coach at Paden City High School, effective the beginning of the 2018-2019 WVSSAC Season.

Shelly Lynch, approval for employment as ACT/SAT Prep Instructor at Magnolia High School, effective Aug. 29.

Craig Mason, approval for employment as ACT/SAT Prep Instructor at Magnolia High School, effective Aug. 29.

Eric F. Piekarski, approval for employment as ACT/SAT Prep Instructor at Paden City High School, effective Aug. 29.

Lisa A. Shepherd, approval for employment as ACT/SAT Prep Instructor at Paden City High School, effective Aug. 29.

Reconfiguration for the 2018-19 School Year:

Anna Barrack, upon the recommendation of the Principal in accordance with West Virginia Code 18A-4-7a(u), approval for change in assignment from Fifth Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School to Fourth Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Barbara Blain, upon the recommendation of the Principal in accordance with West Virginia Code 18A-4-7a(u), approval for change in assignment from Third Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School to First Grade Teacher at New Martinsville School, effective Aug. 29.

Hannah Evans, upon the recommendation of the Principal in accordance with West Virginia Code 18A-4-7a(u), approval for change in assignment from 1/2 time Social Studies and 1/2 time Business Teacher at Hundred High School to Social Studies, full-time, at Hundred High School, effective Aug. 29.

Jeremy Kelch, upon the recommendation of the Principal in accordance with West Virginia Code 18A-4-7a(u), approval for change in assignment from Special Education Teacher at Hundred High School to 1/2 time Business Teacher and 1/2 time Special Education Teacher at Hundred High School, effective Aug. 29.

Ratification of Superintendent’s Recommendation:

Approval of a five-day suspension without pay for a service employee.

Request to Use School Facilities:

Approval of request from Carol Haught, Clerk of the Wetzel County Commission, to use the following facilities for the 2018 General Election: Hundred High School, Short Line School, Valley High School, Board of Education Office, Paden City Elementary, New Martinsville School, WCTEC.

Approval of Second Reading of Revised Wetzel County Policies IKA: Assessment/Reporting Systems Policy; IKF: Program of Study Adolescent Education (Grades 9-12); GCB: Employee Contracts and Compensation Plans; and GDBA: Service Personnel County Supplement Schedule.

With the date and time of the next meeting being Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m., a motion was made and approved to adjourn the meeting.