teacher-features

Daniel Schwabauer

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:32:12 +0100

Katie Wells,
Reporter

Mr. Schwabaur, (pronounced shoe-WA-bow-er) also known as Mr. S, is one of the new teachers that came to Brighton this past year, but his class is already one of the most popular ones of all. I asked around to get some kid opinions. “One of the best things about Mr. S is he really gets you into a story when he’s reading it aloud in class. I enjoy that so much!” says Sarah Wacker. “Mr. S is brilliant.” - Jacob Wildman. “My favorite thing about Mr. S is he is easy to work with/for. If you don’t understand something, he’s happy to help you understand.” Now you can see what a great teacher he is! J Here are some of the questions I asked him:

1. Name? Dan Mark S.

2. What inspired you to write Runt the Brave? My daughter.

3. Where is the farthest you have been from home? Guatemala

4. What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you? When I was a kid I broke a bone in my face.

5. How long have you and Mrs. S been married? 17 years.

6. Who were the first people to ever take the OYAN course? A class of 8 people, Lydia DeWolf was one of them.

7. Pets? Two Dogs, a collie that looks like lassie and a Yorkshire terrier who I take on walks and is pregnant.

8. What are you going to do with the puppies? We will probably sell them.

9. How did you come to Brighton? Lydia DeWolf’s mom recommended me.

10. What is your favorite food? Mexican, I’m allergic to wheat and Mexican gives me lots of choices. (He also mentioned a theory that guys that are allergic to wheat tend to look better)

11. What was your first impression of your Brighton class? Let me out a here! =)

12. What’s something interesting about yourself that no one knows? I used to take Karate but then I broke my back (I’m assuming in a NOT fatal way because he can walk) and my doctor told me that if I wanted to walk as an old man then I would have to quit. So I walked up to a different hospital where my dad was staying and I was feeling sorry for myself when I saw this lady with mangled arms and I realized no matter what happened, there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you.

13. What is your favorite music? Rich Mullens

14. When did you get saved? In college I was reading the Bible and I realized that if there was one God to believe in than it was Jesus.

15. In the story of life, who was your mentor? My Karate teacher, who first told me about Jesus. And my pastor of the church I go to.

16. Describe what you looked like in the 7^th grade? Lots of hair, plaid shirts, and corduroy bellbottoms.

17. If you could change your name what would you change it to? Stone Bailey, (and He started off on this pirate pirate accent.)

18. Pick one word that you think describes you? Irritating. (But I asked Mrs. S and she said Mr. S is thoughtful)

19. What inspired you to be a writer? I loved to read stories and I couldn’t be a Jet fighter Pilot.

So Mr. S is a great teacher and I name him epic person of the month. J

Jennifer Vrablic

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:23:37 +0100

Lydia DeWolf

Reporter

1. What is your full name?

Jennifer Ann Vrablic.

2. What classes do you teach at Brighton, and how long have you taught them?

This year I teach Junior High Spanish B, Spanish 1, 2 and 3. In the past, I also taught Elementary Spanish and Junior High Spanish A. This is my fourth year at Brighton.

3. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Gladstone, MO.

4. Where did you attend college and what did you major in?

I went to KU for my undergraduate degree in Spanish Language, Literature and Culture. I completed my M.A. at the University of Illinois-Chicago in Spanish Applied Linguistics.

5. Do you have any children? What are their ages?

Yes, I have two children. Mark is twelve years old and in seventh grade. Sarah is nine years old and in fourth grade.

6. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Oh…it’s hard to pick one. Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. We get together with all our relatives (my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, their kids, everybody) and eat and open presents…and eat some more. We then go to late church service and go home and get ready for Santa to come by putting out cookies and milk for him, carrots for the reindeer, and we sprinkle reindeer food (oats with glitter mixed in) on the lawn so Santa can find our house. We then read ’Twas the Night Before Christmas before bed.

7. Have you traveled any places interesting or exciting?

Well, I studied in Spain when I was in high school…that was very exciting! Since then, I’ve traveled to Mexico and throughout Europe and Eastern Europe visiting my sister who has lived in all sorts of different countries.

8. What is your worst fear?

My worst fear is that something bad would happen to my children.

9. Do you have any hobbies?

I love to swim, water ski, tube…anything in the water. I also like to read, watch old movies, and work out at Jazzercise.

10. What do you usually do in your free time?

Ha! There’s not much during the school year, is there? When there is, I like to read or watch an old movie.

11. What was your first car?

Oh! My first car…I haven’t thought about that in a LONG time! It was a two-tone brown ’82 Buick Skylark passed down from my mom when she got a new car. Definitely not the coolest car to have. But I was happy to be able to drive to school and not have to take the bus.

12. What advice do you have for any student considering entering your field (education and/or Spanish)?

I would say get out there and talk to people in Spanish as much as possible and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Once you get over being worried about speaking perfectly, a whole new world opens up to you. It’s amazing all you can learn just from having a conversation with somebody else! p

Glenda Hester

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:06:23 +0100

Lydia DeWolf
Reporter

            Mrs. Hester has taught Elementary Science classes at Brighton for four years. She says she enjoys her job because she loves science, loves making it hands-on for her students, and believes that all kids can like science if they are taught the right way from the beginning. She says if students can learn to love science, they will continue to pursue it and enjoy it even when it gets a little tougher!
            Having lived in Kansas City all her life, Mrs. Hester attended the University of Kansas (KU) and majored in Occupational Therapy. She has five daughters, all of whom play volleyball, and she’s spent a lot of time at tournaments. She has traveled abroad to Eastern Europe, especially Czechoslovakia (what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) and Yugoslavia (which is now multiple separate countries). Her favorite food is anything Italian, and her favorite music genre is Contemporary Christian. She loves To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It may surprise you to learn that her first car was an orange Mustang!
            Mrs. Hester’s advice to students, including those who are considering entering her field, is “study hard, take your schoolwork seriously, and enjoy learning.” Thanks, Mrs. Hester!▲

Judy Logan

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:00:13 +0100

Lydia DeWolf
Reporter

If Brighton had a Most-Adored Teacher Award, Mrs. Logan would definitely be in the running for it! She’s best known as the nicest speech teacher anyone’s ever had, and for making expanding your speaking skills into an enjoyable experience. In this Teacher Feature, you’ll find Mrs. Logan’s answers to a few interview questions.

Mrs. Logan’s favorite teacher was her 7^th Grade science teacher, because she made every class exciting, and she loved her students.

She has taught classes for three years at Brighton Academy, including Public Speaking, American History, World History, and American Government.
Her hobbies include swimming, working out, and watching old movies.
Her favorite food is pizza.
She has two sons: Alex, age 21, and Austin, age 17
Her first car was a Chevy Nova—in her words, “awful!”
Her travels have taken her to the Bahamas, Europe, Spain, Mexico, and all over the U.S.
She is originally from Chicago.
At present, she doesn’t have a worst fear!
In college, she started out in nursing, switched to mission work, and finally settled on education.
She recently witnessed a burglary of her neighbors’ house, and her sharp memory and quick thinking helped the police to catch the thief! She gives the glory to God, and says that His hand was evident in the entire incident.

It was great to get to know Mrs. Logan a little better. Her advice to students is, “Try to intern in whatever you’re interested in long before college. Picture yourself in the job you think you want to pursue.” Thanks, Mrs. Logan! ▲

Christi Gramling

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:03:52 +0100

By Lydia De Wolf

Mrs. Gramling has been teaching higher-level math courses and physics at Brighton Academy for four years. I sat down with her for a quick interview to get to know her….

She grew up in a small town called Onalaska in western Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin, where she caught the enthusiasm of her calculus teacher. Now she lives in Kansas and has been blessed with three sons: Daniel, age 17, David, age 15, and Matthew, age 12. In the spare time she can salvage from a busy schedule, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Some facts you might not know about Mrs. Gramling include: she is a breast-cancer survivor, she enjoys waterskiing, and has traveled to Alaska and the Bahamas. She is an amazing knitter, and if you keep an eye out in the halls and classroom, you might spot one of the gorgeous handbags she’s created! Also an avid reader, she enjoys the Mark of the Lion serious by Francine Rivers, as well as By the Light of the 1,000 Stars by Jamie Langston Turner.

I asked Mrs. Gramling what advice she might give to any students considering a career in her field. “Do what you enjoy and use the talents God has blessed you with,” she told me. Hopefully, these fun facts have helped you get to know our fantastic teacher a little better.