Perrysburg Schools Spotlight - October 2016 Edition

We hope you enjoy our monthly eNewsletter, spotlighting excellence in our programs, students and employees!

Empowering Students through Book Choice

Teachers have begun a new and exciting approach to senior English classes at PHS. English 411 now focuses on student choice. Not only do students select the books they want to read, but also the genres in which to write.

The idea for this new approach began in the summer of 2014 when Deb Drew, PHS English Teacher and Department Chair, and Caitlin Evans, PHS English Teacher, attended a workshop with well-known literary experts Robert Probst, Kylene Beers, Penny Kittle and Linda Rief. The workshop’s mission was to show how students in the English classroom could be empowered through the choice of books that they read. Drew and Evans returned from the workshop energized and were given approval to proceed. They spent many hours researching, reading and learning all they could to make the course the best it could be.

Caitlin Evans piloted the class last school year. “This has been the most rewarding teaching experience I have had,” says Evans, “and that is simply due to the motivation and interest that I see in the students. Students come into my room talking about what they read the night before, and they're not only talking with me but with one another. They are recommending books to their peers, they're finding literature that interests them, they're developing a reading habit that they will take with them to college and into their lives beyond the walls of this school.”

Classroom instruction takes the form of mini-lessons on the craft of writing, conferencing with students individually as well as in small groups and creating a classroom community that is built upon the power of reading and writing.

Photo Caption: Boothbay Literacy Retreat, where the PHS 411 Teachers Department went this summer to develop this course. L to R Leah Oliver, Deb Drew, Kwame Alexander, Caitlin Evans and Joy Wagener. Kwame Alexander was a keynote speaker at the conference and his book, The Crossover, is in our libraries.


John Luke Kish, a 4th grade student, recently organized the September cancer awareness drive at Woodland Elementary. He hung posters and encouraged everyone to wear yellow to foster awareness of childhood cancer.

“I've been so impressed by John Luke and his dedication to the cause of cancer awareness. His classmates as well as the staff here find him to be truly an inspiration,” said Betsy Bilanow, Art Teacher at Woodland Elementary.

John Luke also enjoys reading and Physical Education class.

We’re so proud of you, John Luke!

Bobby Knurek

Bobby Knurek, who teaches 8th grade math at Perrysburg Junior High School, is also a trailblazer in “blended learning,” which incorporates traditional classroom lessons with electronic learning resources. Bobby is working as part of a team of 16 Ohio teachers to develop a Schoology-based 8th grade math course that will be available to all Schoology subscribers when complete. This is part of the Ohio Blended Collaborative.

Bobby is also in his third of the four-year Resident Educator Program, which means he has a lot of extra work to complete this practicum. Beginning teachers in Ohio must now successfully complete the Resident Educator Program, which is a performance-based assessment. Participants must demonstrate that they are able to engage students in complex thinking and use formative and summative assessments to guide their teaching.

In addition to all this, Bobby volunteers Tuesdays and Thursdays after school for Chess Club. Over fifty students enjoy chess and develop their skills in a fun environment!

To suggest a program, student or employee for an upcoming Spotlight, please contact Rachel Zickar at [email protected].