Pipeline, Aug. 2006

GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING EDUCATON
Pipeline

August 2006

Celebrating Georgia's Young Writers and Illustrators

The winners for the 12th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest have been chosen. More than 500 Georgia students, ranging from kindergarten to third grade, entered their original illustrated stories this year. At the end, 12 winners were chosen along with eight honorable mentions for writing and illustration.
A celebration honoring the winners and participants was held at Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) on May 26. Winners received gift cards from Barnes & Noble $50 for first place, $20 for second place and $10 for third place - along with other prizes. All participants received a certificate of achievement by Lavar Burton.

are as follows:
Winners Kindergarten: Madelyn Smith (First), Illina Logani (Second), Katie Kraft (Third) First Grade: Bailey Jacks (First), Judah Means (Second), Janelle Price (Third) Second Grade: Kristyn Jean Evans (First), Natalie Holiday (Second), Serena Mon (Third) Third Grade: Jacob Landon Alexander Boges (First), Casey Allen (Second), Rhiannon Toney (Third)

Judging for the contest was a collaborative effort of art and education majors from Valdosta State University, Clark Atlanta University and the University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art. The final round of judging took place at GPB and was conducted by educators, authors and librarians from across the state. We are extremely pleased with the turnout and thank the teachers and parents who encouraged their students and children to take part in the contest.

Honorable Mentions Illustration: Brian Hays (Kindergarten), Slamon Ghani (First Grade), Emma Gwin
(Second Grade), Eboni Goar (Third Grade)

The Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators contest is designed to encourage early elementary aged students to utilize their creative abilities in both language arts and art by developing and illustrating original stories. The Georgia regional contest was coordinated by GPB in partnership with READING RAINBOW, Barnes & Noble and Innotrac.

Writing: Rae Anna Claire Starosciak (Kindergarten), Regan Cook (First Grade),
Emily Haynie (Second Grade), Lauren Curtis (Third Grade)
To view this year's winning stories and celebration, visit www.gpb.org/public/ education/highlights

The winners and recipients of honorable mentions for the 12th Annual Reading Rain-
bow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest

Special Resource for First-Year Reading Teachers
WETA's Reading Rockets project offers a special resource online for first-year teachers of reading. It is an online course developed especially for new teachers of reading.
On the site, teachers can work at there own pace and access a number of useful resources, including 10 online professional development modules, a teacher toolbox and diaries from two first-year teachers. All of these resources help teachers shape students into skilled readers.
The site is an outgrowth of a pilot mentoring program undertaken between 2003 and 2005 in the Washington, D.C. area. The program taught valuable strategies to teachers of reading.

C-47 Short Film Project

Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia Council for the Arts, the Digital Arts and Entertainment Lab at Georgia State University, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development are proud to introduce a new opportunity for independent filmmakers in Georgia, C-47: The Georgia Short Film Showcase.
The C-47 project combines broadcast and digital technology to create a Web site centered on the art and technique of filmmaking and a monthly showcase devoted to Georgia filmmakers and their short films.
C-47 is particularly relevant as filmmakers explore new directions in film, video and digital media. It is designed to foster creativity, engagement and camaraderie within Georgia's film industry and give Georgia filmmakers a broadcast goal in their home state.

gram rewards filmmakers focused on quality filmmaking within the boundaries of the short film format.
Each month, two filmmakers and their films will be awarded special recognition and be featured on the C-47 television program and discussed at length on the C47 Web site. To be featured on C-47 is to be recognized as a superior Georgia filmmaker.

voting as the top short film in the state of Georgia.
To find out more about the C-47 project, please visit www.cforty7.com
What is a C-47 and what does it have to do with films?
Two websites to start your search: Urban Dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/ define.php?term=c47 Answers.com http://www.answers.com/main/ ntquery;jsessionid=w9atd1vah8c? tname=clothes-pin&sbid=lc11a

With the advent of the digital film revolution, the art of the short film has once again emerged into the collective consciousness of today's culture. This pro-

At the conclusion of each year, one film will be chosen via audience and industry

The 2006-2007 Irasshai School Year Begins!
Irasshai, Georgia Public Broadcasting's Japanese language and culture distance learning program, will start its 11th season in August. Over the past 10 years, more than 5,000 students have traversed the Irasshai hallways with Tim Cook-sensei, the Emmy award-winning, nationally recognized distance educator. Detailed information about the program and how to register can be found on our Web site at http://www.gpb.org/irasshai. Click on "how to register" to locate the appropriate forms for your school.
Come visit the Irasshai booth at JapanFest in Stone Mountain September 23 and 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event offers visitors an introduction to Japanese food, culture and arts. For more information, check out http://www.japanfest.org. Free tickets for your students are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who register before September 1. We hope to see you there!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Satellite Changes for this Coming School Year

The Education division of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB-Education) has announced that changes will be made to the satellite maintenance service this school year.

tinued unless the site chooses to pay for the repair (Steerable antennae will be "fixed" on the GPBEducation signal) One functioning Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD DSR 9400) will be maintained at each location instead of two

GPB-Education will now be providing a streamlined maintenance service for the satellite downlinks at educational facilities .
Changes being implemented by the streamlined maintenance service are:

The streamlined service has allowed GPB-Education to meet its fiscal commitments while still ensuring that our signal is delivered reliably. The helpdesk service will remain unchanged.
If you have any questions about these service changes, please email Patrice Weaver at pweaver@gpb.org

Average time to repair a "down" site has increased to five days
Repair of the steering function of an antenna will be discon-

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Back to School with Achieving Excellence: Inside Georgia Schools
Parents, students, educators - everyone interested in education will not want to miss Achieving Excellence: Inside Georgia Schools. This is an engaging program that brings educational issues such as literacy, technology, arts education, higher education and student achievement in the state of Georgia to the forefront. Host Jane Robelot, former CBS news anchor and Georgia parent, talks with guests on some of the most important issues in education.
As educators and families return to classes, the topics of Achieving Excellence will be Parent School Connection, airing in August, and Student Wellness, airing in September. This monthly news and information show is available as a broadcast program with a video streaming component and extensive web-based resources. Look for the new Achieving Excellence Photo Gallery feature at www.gpb.org.

Arts Education Grant Announcement

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) will be opening a second round of applications for its Parent Teacher Artists Grant in August. This grant has been designed to assist classroom K-5 teachers provide not

only arts education programs for their students, but also to fund expensive diesel-fueled buses for field trips.
The PTA Grant enables a classroom teacher to work with local artists and nonprofit arts organizations to present arts education programming to students and parents in an after-school or weekend setting. Included in the eligible activities are field trips to see plays, visit arts museums, attend dance performances, as well as participate in hands-on activities.
The PTA Grant offers up to $3,000 with only a one-third match requirement. The matching funds may come from the

school's discretionary funds, from contributions, from the school's PTA or PTO or booster club, or even from cash donations made from local businesses.
Awards will be announced in early December, enabling the programming to occur before June 30. The deadline is October 13. Visit the GCA website at www.gaarts.org for detailed information on the PTA Grant, as well as the other arts education grants offered.
Questions should be directed to Debora Ott at 404-685-2795 or dott@gaarts.org.

The 2006 Youth Environmental Symposium
Finalists of the Youth Environmental Symposium (YES) gathered at the Teaching Museum South in Hapeville, Ga. to present their environmental projects to judges and their peers on April 28. The finalists consisted of twelve schools or clubs around the state of Georgia.
Students received ten minutes to present their environmental projects to judges and audience members, which included creative skits, videos and PowerPoints. The student-run projects ranged from clean-up initiatives to environmental awareness and education around the state.
Winners of the 2006 YES were awarded cash prizes for their efforts in getting involved and making a difference in the quality of the environment.
The goal of YES is to develop knowledgeable, dedicated and interested students who are more aware of environmental issues.
For more information, please visit: http://www.georgiaconservancy.org/Education/ED_YES_06_Winners.asp

Free Online SAT Prep Class
Georgia students will once again have access to a free online SAT Preparation Course. The course is open to all high school students, including students enrolled in home school programs and accredited private schools located in Georgia.
The SAT Preparation Course offers students 18 interactive lessons; six full-

length, official SAT practice tests and diagnostic pretests; over 600 practice questions and answers; automated essay scoring; and personalized score reports for students.

For more information, please visit: http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ pea_communications.aspx? ViewMode=1&obj=1200

This program, created by the College Board, was offered last year, but was only available to high school students in public schools.

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Attention all K-16 Georgia mathematics teachers and coaches!!!!
As you probably already know, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) annual conference is going to be in Georgia this spring. It will be held in Atlanta on March 21-24, 2007. As if that wasn't exciting enough, there's more - we want to use this opportunity to SHOWCASE EXEMPLARY WORK OF GEORGIA'S STUDENTS. Your help is needed in collecting student work from all grade levels (Pre K - 16), as well as superb work by teacher candidates. Your assistance will help to highlight the excellent work Georgia students are producing for the rest of the math world to see. Projects that are in line with the new Georgia Performance Standards may be placed on the Georgia Department of Education website. And projects that show exemplary use of technology may be placed on the Georgia Public Broadcasting website. So, as you begin your school year, please allow us to borrow student work for this exciting project.
Please share this information with teachers, mathematics coaches, mathematics coordinators, and principals. A downloadable application AND consent form can be found below. Once the application and consent form are complete, please submit it to the co-chair of the Student Exhibit Committee:
Desha L. Williams 1072 Shumard Lane McDonough, GA 30252.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Desha L. Williams at dwilliams@gsu.edu, Peggy Pool at ppool@gctm.org, or Linda Flynn at lflynn@gpb.org. Student work samples may be retrieved on Saturday, May 19, 2007 from a central location which will be announced prior to the conference. Teachers will be contacted via e-mail with the location's address.
Thank you, and HAVE FUN creating AWESOME mathematics projects to share at the conference!!
Application

Programs to Look for in August

Art Programs from the National Gallery of Art's Education Division We are excited to offer twenty new arts-based programs from the National Gallery of Art's Education Division through the Department of Education Resources. These programs will be broadcast for the first time on our satellite Channel 420 in August. Topics include Renaissance, Baroque and PostImpressionism Art. We follow that up by featuring art in the Twentieth Century, including American Art and Sculpture. There are a total of 21 programs that will be aired.
Airing on Channel 420: Friday, August 4 at 6 a.m. Friday, August 18 at 6 a.m.

13th Annual GPEE Bus Trip Across Georgia From Ft. Oglethorpe and Dalton in the north to Albany and Tifton in the south and several points in between, the 13th annual bus tour visited 14 schools that are tops when it comes to student achievement. Two bus loads of education, business, government and civic leaders visited the achieving schools to see first hand what makes them successful. This popular "Best Practices" program brings public recognition to the schools and showcases innovative programs that might be adoptable/adaptable in other parts of the state. Don't miss this original GPB production that chronicles the 13th Annual Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Bus Tour!
Airing on Channel 430: Monday, August 7 and 21 at noon Tuesday, August 1 and 15 at noon Wednesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 10 and 24 at 11a.m. Friday, August 11 and 25 at 11:30 a.m.

Leonardo da Vinci Ginerva de' Benci, 1474/1478 Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund National Gallery of Art

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Meet the Staff
Since we began serving the Georgia learning community in 1994, the Education division of Georgia Public Broadcasting has continued to expand the programs and services we provide. We have grown from a small department operating a single ITV channel to a resource-rich organization providing programming and training through multiple satellite channels, open air television, and the Internet. In order to ensure that we are meeting the needs of teachers and students, GPB has assembled a team of professionals with the experience and expertise required to understand those needs and provide solutions. Take a moment to read about each member of our staff below and learn who can assist you with specific questions you may have about GPB programs and services.
The Leadership
Mike Nixon - Director GPB Education
Mike served as the Director of GPB's Information Technology Division for four years before assuming the directorship of GPB Education. His background in information systems and distance learning technology enables him to develop unique solutions for Georgia educators that maximize GPB's technological infrastructure while providing high quality resources for use in the classroom. Under his leadership, GPB Education has continued to expand our video streaming and webcasting capabilities, which provide video resources to schools via the Internet without the need for a television or VCR. Additionally, he has solidified partnerships with the Georgia Department of Education and a number of other education entities that have resulted in the development of programs and resources that impact not only classroom teaching, but also professional development for educators. You may contact Mike at mnixon@gpb.org or 404685-2256.
Patrice Weaver - Operations Manager, Social Studies
Patrice came to GPB after 15 years in the classroom. Before getting her Masters Degree in Instructional Design and becoming an award winning social studies teacher, Patrice worked as a Chief Executive Officer and Fiduciary Accountant for 10 years. Both of these skill sets serve her well as the Operations Manager of GPB Education, where she is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the division, including the budget, broadcast and streaming services, and client services. In addition to supervising the division's other project managers, Patrice herself serves as the social studies project manager, responsible for evaluating social studies content for broadcast and maintaining the extensive Georgia Stories website. She has been Executive Producer on a variety of education multi-media projects and continues to conduct professional development trainings statewide. Patrice actively cultivates partnerships with other state organizations in order to serve the needs of Georgia educators. You may contact Patrice at pweaver@gpb.org or 404-685-2563.
The Administrative Staff
Markisha Gray- Unit Service Financial Analyst
Before joining GPB, Markisha worked in many different industries as an accountant for five years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Livingstone College. Markisha's current role with GPB Education is the Unit Service Financial Analyst where she tracks, develops and analyzes budgets and statistical reports to show the department's financial position. In addition, she reviews and approves accounts payable and procurement transactions. She also monitors income and expenses for all GPB Education activities and Revenue Funded Production projects. Overall, she serves as the financial liaison for the department. If you should need any financial assistance, you may contact Markisha at mgray@gpb.org or 404-685-2558.
Meghan Morris - Apprentice
Meghan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in public relations from Georgia State University. She also minored in hospitality administration and earned a certification in tradeshow and event planning while attending GSU. After graduating, she joined the GPB Education team as an Apprentice. Currently, she assists in producing the monthly Pipeline E-Zine, marketing materials and other communication materials. She also helps to create awareness among Georgia's educational community about GPB's products and services. You may contact Meghan at mmorris@gpb.org or 404-685-2534.
Jascenda Pasley - Administrative Assistant
Jascenda has been with GPB Education for four years, during which time she has become an indispensable part of our team. She is the person you speak with when you call the main GPB Education phone number, and she can assist you with placing orders for GPB original programs, finding the technical assistance you need for your satellite or video streaming equipment, and locating the appropriate GPB staff person to answer your content-specific questions. Jascenda also inputs all of the program information you find in our online program guide and assists the project managers in preparation for conferences and trainings. You may contact Jascenda at jpasley@gpb.org or 404-685-2413.
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Meet the Staff--Continued
The Project Managers
Rod Berry - Programming
Rod came to GPB Education from the world of database maintenance, where he worked to keep track of GPB's membership database for five years. Now that he's part of the Education team, Rod serves the crucial function of scheduling the programming that airs on Channels 410, 420, and 430. Rod is also in charge of seeking out new programming from vendors across the nation. If you have questions or concerns about the broadcast schedule, you can contact Rod. Also, if you would like to see more programming in a particular subject area, please let Rod know and he will do his best to acquire it for broadcast. You may contact Rod at rberry@gpb.org or 404-685-2649.
Deborah R. Grayson - Social Sciences
Deborah comes to GPB with a Ph.D. in American Studies and over 15 years of classroom experience at the college level where her areas of expertise included Biomedical Ethics and African-American Literature and Culture. She has received awards for excellence and achievement for her work as an educator and literacy volunteer in various church and community organizations. Deborah is also a painter, quilter and doll maker who regularly exhibits her work. A recent addition to the GPB family, Deborah serves as an Education Project Manager with a concentration in Social Sciences. Her current projects include overseeing programming and evaluating content for the social sciences. She will also develop and maintain the extensive Georgia Stories Web site. Further, Deborah will facilitate partnerships between GPB and other organizations throughout the state to serve Georgia educators and learners. You may contact Deborah at dgrayson@gpb.org or 404-685-2418.
Linda Flynn- Elementary Education Project Manager
Before joining GPB, Linda was a teacher for six and a half years. She most recently taught fourth grade in Cobb County for two and a half years. Prior to that, she spent a year in Mexico teaching English as a second language to middle school and high school students. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston and is currently working on her masters in middle childhood education with a concentration in mathematics at Georgia State University. Linda is the Elementary Education Project Manager, concentrating on science and mathematics initiatives. She can assist you with any questions you might have regarding science and math programming and professional development offerings. She can also provide you with information about the "COUNT ON IT!" math series for grades K-3 as well as the "Georgia Outdoors" program. Linda provides professional development training on using video streaming and multimedia in the classroom. In addition, she facilitates partnerships with other entities throughout the state that can serve Georgia educators and learners. You may contact Linda at lflynn@gpb.org or 404-685-2555.
Joy Jensen - Sales and Training Coordinator
Joy is a graduate of the University of Georgia. While attending UGA, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and an ESOL certificate. Following graduation, she became a certificated Reading Recovery Teacher. Joy spent eight years serving as a reading specialist in Georgia Public Schools. She has also served as an ESOL teacher. Throughout her teaching career, providing professional development regarding best practices was a priority, and she delivered many professional developments regarding literacy acquisition to her peers. Joy's passion for literacy and literature led her to the publishing business where she worked as an Educational Consultant and Sales Representative. This diverse background supports her efforts as the Sales and Training Coordinator of GPB Education. Her projects involve coordinating and facilitating professional development across the state and raising public awareness of GPB services and products. Joy is currently working to build partnerships between GPB and other educational organizations to better serve the learning community of Georgia. You may contact Joy at jjensen@gpb.org or 404-6852743.
Laura Miller - Family Literacy, Ready to Learn
Laura came to GPB from WGBH in Boston, where she served as a member of the team that piloted Ready To Learn (RTL), public broadcasting's answer to the call for all children to begin school ready to learn. Laura has a Master's Degree in Education, with an emphasis in English, and experience working in various educational settings within the K-12 arena. Since joining GPB, Laura has served the Ready To Learn needs of the entire state through workshops for educators, parents, and caregivers. Additionally, she evaluates programming and oversees professional development in the areas of early childhood education, adult literacy, and family literacy. Laura further serves the needs of these communities through the facilitation of partnerships with other organizations to develop initiatives such as the Department of Education's Reading First project. You may contact her at lmiller@gpb.org or 404-6852521.
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Meet the Staff--Continued
Barbara O'Brien - Fine Arts
Barbara has been working in the fine arts community for her entire career. In addition to a wealth of personal experience as a dancer and choreographer, Barbara has an M.Ed. in education with an emphasis in dance. She has taught fine arts in classrooms from the pre-K through postsecondary levels, served as an artist-in-residence for various educational programs, and worked with such noteworthy Georgia organizations as the Fulton County Arts Council, the High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences of Atlanta. Since joining GPB as an Education Project Manager in 2003, Barbara has shared her fine arts knowledge with the larger Georgia learning community through the selection of fine arts education programming. She also provides professional development training for educators who want to integrate multimedia into classroom teaching of fine arts subjects. Additionally, Barbara facilitates partnerships between GPB and other organizations that further the cause of arts education in the state. You may contact Barbara at bobrien@gpb.org or 404-685-2545.
Irasshai
Lisa Hannabach - Administrative Assistant for Irasshai
When you call the Irasshai Hotline (1-800-883-7444 or (404) 865-2811 in the Atlanta area), chances are Lisa's will be the first voice you hear. Although she has a B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of Hawaii and has lived in Japan for ten years, she promises to answer your Irasshai-related questions in English. As the administrative assistant for GPB's Japanese language and culture distance learning program, Lisa provides support to the Irasshai staff, acts as liaison between staff and enrolled schools, and facilitates the day to day operations of the Irasshai office.
Kathy Negrelli - Program Manager
Kathy comes to GPB with a Ph.D. in foreign language education from The University of Georgia and more than 20 years of teaching experience in Japan and in the U.S. ranging from elementary to university level. She has served on the team of Irasshai - GPB's high school distance learning course in Japanese language and culture - since its inception in 1995. She was an integral member in helping develop the Audio Interaction component of the course, as well as playing critical roles in the creation of Irasshai Explorer, the middle school course and i-irasshai, an interactive CD-Rom supplement to Irasshai. She currently acts as liaison between GPB and Irasshai subscribers across the nation, and is editor of the Irasshai Shinbun, a newsletter devoted to providing information and activities to facilitators and students of Irasshai.
Katsumi Suzuki- Program Coordinator of Irasshai
Katsumi came to the U.S. as a college student to major in English at Shorter College (Rome, GA). Her original plan was to stay in the U.S. for a few years until she graduated. During her last year of college, she went to visit a Japanese class at The University of Georgia. She was so excited to see American students learning Japanese, and she dreamed about becoming a teacher herself. She was encouraged to go to graduate school at UGA, where she studied foreign language education and taught Japanese in undergraduate classes for six years. She is one of the original staff who has been working for the Japanese distance course, Irasshai, since it piloted in 1996. She completed her Ph.D. in 2001 and is still enjoying teaching Japanese and coordinating the Irasshai program.
Sakiko Suzuki- Program Coordinator of Irasshai
Sakiko is originally from Kyoto, Japan and moved to the U.S. in 1997. She earned her Master's degrees in languages and cultures from Kansai Gaidai University and in comparative literature from The University of Georgia. She has been serving as a program coordinator of Irasshai since 2000 after having taught elementary school, middle school, and university both in Japan and in the U.S. Since 2000, she has been helping high students across the nation learn Japanese language and culture. Her 13 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings make her unique in her role as Distance Education Specialist in GPB's Education and Technology Division. She hopes that more students in the U.S. will broaden their worldview through learning the Japanese language and culture.
Even though the school year is coming to a close, the staff at Georgia Public Broadcasting is available to work with you on integrat-
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Where We'll Be
September 12, 2006 CCSD Media Exhibit Cobb County Civic Center Marietta, Ga.
September 20-22, 2006 COMO Convention Classic Center Athens, Ga.
October 13-15, 2006 ASCD Conference Buena Vista Palace Orlando, Fla.
October 18-20, 2006 GCSS Annual Conference Classic Center Athens, Ga.
October 19-21, 2006 Georgia Mathematics Conference Rock Eagle 4-H Center Eatonton, Ga.

November 15-16, 2006 19th Annual GaETC Conference Georgia International Convention Center Atlanta, Ga.
November 15-17, 2006 ACTFL 40th Annual Meeting and Exposition Nashville Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel Nashville, Tenn.
February 4-6, 2007 GMSA 30th Annual Conference and Exhibit Marriott Riverfront Hotel Savannah, Ga.
March 21-24, 2007 NCTM Conference Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Ga.

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