The Creek Indian Creek Local School District Newsletter January 2020

Indian Creek BOE Begins Year with Good News The Indian Creek Local Board of Educa-tion kicked off 2020 with a rotation of lead-ership and some favorable news for the dis-trict. The board held its reorganization meeting on Jan. 9 at Indian Creek Middle School in Mingo Junction, where district Treasurer Denise Todoroff swore in re-elected mem-bers Kim Mark, Bob Smith and Dr. Ted. Starkey. Member Daniel Bove was named president with Smith chosen as vice presi-dent, after which officials approved various measures related to operations for the year. A regular session immediately followed and Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear shared positive news regarding ICMS’s aca-demic standing. He announced that the school had been recognized by the Ohio De-partment of Education as a High Progress School of Honor for achieving standards based upon the state report card. “Recently Indian Creek Middle School’s seventh and eighth grades received the High Progress School of Honor. There’s only a limited number of those schools throughout the state and it shows how hard they work.” He credited Principal Dr. Holly Minch-Hick and Assistant Principal Scott Aber-crombie as well as the teachers, staff and students. All public schools administering Ohio State Tests (OSTs) were considered for the distinc-tion and selected based upon criteria for the 2018-19 school year. A total of 63 districts, 436 schools and 12 career-technical planning districts were lauded for achieving high per-formance, outstanding progress and momen-tum for students across Ohio. Evaluations for ICMS were based upon progress and gap closing components in the seventh and eighth grades and the school earned a ‘B’ overall on the state report card, as well as an ‘A’ in progress and ‘B’ in gap closing. ICMS met criteria for serving 40 percent or more economically disadvantaged students, plus student performance on Ohio state tests over a five-year period from 2015-19 school years was evaluated against statewide gains. Assistant Superintendent John Belt said the district’s public relations firm was shoring up graphics for social media to recognize the achievement.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chappelear said there be movement to put a short-term fix on an issue of concern to local public school leaders. Dr. Chappelear described a recent meeting of superintendents with state legislators Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-30th District) and Rep. Don Jones (R-95th District) about Education-al Choice, or EdChoice, vouchers which could cost public schools thousands of dol-lars. It is part of a scholarship program launched in 2006 where private school vouchers are offered to students in grades K-12 who are assigned to “low-performing” public schools. Participating private schools are required to accept the voucher as full tuition for students whose families are at or below 200 percent of the poverty level, and school districts pay the costs. The superintendents expressed concern about how their districts could lose funding to private facilities amid low indicators on state report cards, even though they have worked diligently to attain ever-changing standards.

Dr. Chappelear said Rep. Jones, who heads the House Education Committee, is a longtime teacher who understands the impact the voucher system would have upon public schools and was working to improve the situation. “He’s really in the middle of this [and] has been working with Sen. Matt Huffman on a fix for EdChoice,” he added, saying a tempo-rary remedy would be in place by the end of the month. “The main thing is we need [grade 9-12] language that students have to be in a public school for a year to be eligi-ble.” Dr. Chappelear said both the high school and ICMS grades 5-6 had been on the list for academic watch but were since removed, yet the voucher was still in place. He questioned how that was possible considering the schools were meeting standards and hoped the matter would be resolved.

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The Indian Creek Local Board of Education reorganized for 2020 and marked School Board Recognition Month for January during a subsequent regular session. Pictured are, front from left, Vice President Bob Smith and President Dan Bove. Back: Dr. John Figel, Kim Mark and Dr. Ted Starkey.

ICHS Alumna Looking to the Stars Inspirational author Norman Vincent Peale once wrote, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” But Marissa DeFallo, a 2015 graduate of Indian Creek High School, is taking that statement literally as she sets her sights upon the final frontier. DeFallo, the daughter of Laurie Nichols of Toronto and Rich DeFallo of Pittsburgh, is cur-rently a junior mechanical engineering major at the University of Pittsburgh and with a focus on aerospace and will have her project included among others from around the world on the International Space Station this summer. She and part-ner Nik Vostal, a material science major, were one of two experiments selected as part of Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 14. SSEP was launched in 2010 by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Foundation (NCESSE) in strategic partnership with NanoRacks, LLC and is a national STEM education initiative that gives about 300 students the ability to design and propose real experiments to fly in low Earth orbit, first aboard the final flights of the Space Shuttle and then on the ISS. Pitt obtained a grant to conduct a contest in partnership between the engineering and pharmacy schools. “I’ve always wanted to work with NASA or SpaceX and I’ve always wanted to build satellites or rockets,” she said. “Pitt received a grant and has a contest where two experiments could go on the space station. We could submit our exper-iment ideas and they go under review. They have to meet strict requirements.” DeFallo and Vostal‘s submission in-volves the rate of corrosion of aluminum foil to indicate the sustainability of mate-rials used on rockets in space. “It would see how aluminum foil cor-rodes in water and we’ll 3-D print alumi-num and make smooth and rough surfac-es,” she explained. “We’ll see how the topographies affect corrosion.” The goal is to only have the unique surface corrode and not the aluminum itself, thereby maintaining a sound struc-ture. Aluminum is commonly used be-cause of its light weight, durability and strength and is found on engines and the outer portions of airplanes, rockets and the space station itself. DeFallo learned the good news in De-cember that the project will be among 30 worldwide to undergo testing onboard the ISS through NASA. She said the experi-ment will be refined before it heads into

space and she will be at Cape Canveral, Fla., for the official launch around June. She was inspired by her experience as an intern with American Airlines since one of her tasks was performing maintenance. “I have to do yearly training modules and one is on aluminum corrosion. I was doing this training as we were thinking about experiments and thought about the aerospace application,” DeFallo recalled. “I’ve always been interested in space and would watch the science channel. I’ve always had a love for space.” She also remembers investing in aca-demics at ICHS and counted math teacher and coach Joe Dunlevy among her men-tors. “He was a very practical person and you learned everything yourself. I really liked that way of learning because it gave me time to figure it out at a higher level.” Dunlevy praised his former pupil, saying she showed all of the elements of being successful while under his tutelage. She was a student for three years of honors math, including AP Calculus, and he re-flected upon her abilities to learn. “She was a great student, a great person above all and a great athlete, and you know a student like that is going to do

something special down the road. It’s not hard to imagine her doing a lot of great things. We’re just so proud of her and all of our former students for the things they’ve done. She’s one of the best.” Dunlevy continued that her ability to study, play multiple sports and participate in myriad organizations were signs of her keen ability to manage time and strong work ethic. “Nothing she would do surprises me. Well, maybe a little bit,” he said. “The sky’s the limit.” DeFallo said Dunlevy’s methods have assisted her in her college career and she has continued that momentum through her internship, which included working in Tulsa, Okla., with component and compo-site engineering. Her work entailed ana-lyzing broken parts and helping mechan-ics repair them, plus she updated manuals on how to fix the parts. Currently, she works in Pittsburgh with the Airworthi-ness Directive Group. She also hopes the experiment will put her on course to fulfill her longtime dream. “I’m super excited and I hope this will lead me into a career in aerospace engi-neering,” she said. “I dream big.”

Marissa DeFallo, a 2015 graduate of Indian Creek High School and a current mechanical engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh, is pictured performing an experiment with partner Nik Vostal. DeFallo and Vostal had their aluminum corrosion experiment selected for inclusion on the International Space Station this summer as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 14. DeFallo said her longtime dream is to work in the aerospace industry with the likes of NASA or SpaceX.

Therapy Dog Soothes Students at ICMS Indian Creek Middle School students have a new friend in the building with Scarlett the therapy dog on hand to pro-vide comfort in times of need. Eighth-grade social studies teacher Mary Margaret Qualtire’s 1 ½-year-old golden retriever was certified through the Destiny Dog Obedience School in Pottery Addition. Scarlett still attends weekly training classes and is now helping stu-dents at ICMS who have stress, anxiety or other behavioral issues. “When I got her, I wanted to give some-thing back to the community. I work with the kids here and there’s a need,” Qualtire said. “She brings so much joy to every-body she meets and goes with other thera-py dogs to rest homes and has also been to literacy nights at the local elementary school.” Qualtire spent time over Christmas break getting Scarlett accustomed to the school environment and the dog will work with school guidance counselor Collette Honsowetz, plus school resource officer Deputy Dave Darago walks her down the halls while students are in class. For now, Scarlett is at the school one day a week and spends time in only Qualtire and eighth-grade English teacher Katie Padden’s classes, but that could change. “Mrs. Honsowetz did handling exercis-es and used commands,” Quatiere added. “Scarlett will help reduce stress and anxi-ety and give kids confidence. There is a lot of data that dogs help reduce stress, plus they don’t judge and are always hap-py to see you. Dogs are accepting.” Scarlett has already settled into her new task, but this is not the first time ICMS had a therapy dog in the classroom. Fifth-grade English teacher Jane Bennett previously had her daughter’s dog, Win-nie, on hand for her Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program to assist pupils with reading comprehension. Those who may be uncomfortable reading in front of others could curl up with a good book next to the family pet in a neighboring conference room and share a tale. Qualtire said Scarlett has passed Canine Good Citizen and Canine and Good Citi-zen Advanced certification tests and reg-istered with Therapy Dogs International in November. The dog will now work toward other tests including the Good Citizen Urban Test. “I love it. It’s a wonderful hobby and it makes me feel good,” Qualtire said. Honsowetz is finalizing her schedule for Scarlett and hopes to utilize her up to

three days per week. She said the dog’s presence has drawn a great reaction thus far and there are many positives to having a therapy dog on board, but she will mon-itor the process over time. “She will sit with me and do specific work with individual kids,” she ex-plained, adding that the dog will also stay in classes with students. “Having a pres-ence in the classroom helps. So far, the kids have all enjoyed it and lot have re-quested her. When she’s in the class-rooms, students can sit around her and she helps kids who have sensory, stress and depression. Sometimes just being around her is comforting.” Honsowetz is also seeking parental per-mission to include more students in the venture and hopes to add more classes in the future. “She averages a half-day in each class now, but I plan to rotate her out into other classes. I am starting small and building up,” she added. “I am seeking parental permission because some students may be allergic or scared of animals and I want to pinpoint them.” She said therapy dog programs are gaining interest in school systems and research indicates that they work “You are starting to see a lot more pet

therapy. I need to conceptualize that it’s not playtime and is actual work for her. I need to education the student population about that.”

Indian Creek Middle School welcomed Scarlett the therapy dog on board to help students suffering from stress, anxiety and other behavioral issues. The 1 ½-year-old golden retriev-er belongs to eighth-grade social studies teacher Mary Margaret Qualtire and is certified through Destiny Dog Obedience School of Pottery Addition and registered with Therapy Dogs International. She has happily settled into her new role and is pictured making friends with students Kylee Haines, Faith Stewart and Kylie McClure during a class activity.

In other news, officials passed a resolu-tion also designating Jan. 26-Feb. 1 as Public Education Week while the super-intendent highlighted School Board Recognition Month in January. He also praised board for working for the better-ment of schools. “It makes administrating a lot easier when you have a board like this. You have a public that votes for representa-tives and you have a school district that has five representatives who have the district’s best interest at heart,” he said, adding that notes were recently discov-ered regarding the formation of Indian Creek Schools in 1966. “It’s amazing. I feel fortunate to be part of it. I think our employees are fortunate and our students are fortunate to have a board like this. Thank you for all you do.”

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Budding biologists and experts have a chance to showcase their talent during the third annual Hills Elementary School Sci-ence Fair. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 with judging to begin at 11 a.m. Among the judges are Ron Sismondo, di-rector of professional development and curriculum for the Jefferson County Edu-cational Service Center; Mark Wise, a re-tired Indian Creek schoolteacher; Barry Gullen, an adjunct professor at Franciscan University and JCESC Governing Board member; Scott Abercrombie, assistant principal at Indian Creek Middle School; John Rocchi, director of special education

for Indian Creek Local Schools; Mike Mi-nor, an ICMS science teacher; Lois Pate, retired Hills guidance counselor; and Gary Ryan, an Indian Creek High School sci-ence teacher. The fair exhibits will be open to the public from noon to 1 p.m. School administrative assistant Robin Laughery is organizing the fair and said it will cover a variety of interesting topics. “I have 48 entries, as of now, ranging from grades K-4,” she said. “We have vari-ous entries about bubbles, planets, the ef-fects different drinks have on teeth, volca-noes, the importance of rainforests, torna-does, inventor Nikola Tesla, elephant toothpaste, the Mars Rover and many oth-

ers.” Laughery added that trophies will be given for the top three fourth-grade exhib-its since their projects are more detailed and judged differently from the other sub-missions. Students in grades K-3 will be combined with first-, second- and third-place trophies awarded and their displays are more of a show-and-tell format. Mean-while, the overall grand prize winner will earn a $25 Cinemark gift card. She said the science fair both inspires and delights students. “I’ve been doing this for the past three years at Hills Elementary and the kids real-ly enjoy it.”

Students Showcasing Knowledge at Science Fair

Hibbits Recognized for Her Work at Wintersville Elementary Wintersville Elementary School paraprofessional Janie Hibbits has been rec-ognized for her dedication to serving stu-dents in her building. Hibbits and Indian Creek Local School District Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear traveled to Ohio University’s Zanesville campus on Jan. 15, where Hibbits was among dozens of school employees who gained an Outstanding Support Staff Award through the Coalition of Rural and Appala-chian Schools (CORAS). About 52 people were honored and Hibbits received her award from Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria. “These awards are always so hard to pick because we have so many of our support staff at Indian Creek who do a great job. In the end, we decided on Mrs. Hibbits because of the impact of the work she is doing at Wintersville Elementary,” Dr. Chappelear said. Hibbits, who has worked in the district for the past two years, said she was glad to be part of the staff and has met a lot of great people she now considers to be friends. She serves as a paraprofessional in the resource room, which includes students in grades K-2, and works with teacher Rachel Bodo and fellow paraprofessional Stacy Schaffer. “Mrs. Bodo has taught me a lot and Stacy Schaffer is also great with kids. We all work very well together,” she noted. She was shocked to learn of her honor and said she is humbled to receive the award. “When you think about all of the great support staff we have in this whole dis-trict—the secretaries, janitors, bus drivers, cooks and cafeteria workers and other parapros—all those hardworking people, and for [Dr. Chappelear] to select me is an honor.” Hibbits resides in Wintersville with her husband, Brian, and both are Wintersville High School alumni. He currently works as

a district bus driver and together they raised two children and have two grandchildren who will also attend district schools. She said she enjoys her job, particularly being around the children, and every day is different. “They are all on different learning levels and seeing them grow and learn, even in small ways, is rewarding. We say we are like a little family in our classroom,” Hib-bits added. “I started watching children in my home so I could spend time with my own children, as well, and then a friend asked me to come to a daycare in 2005. I eventually became a preschool teacher and

enjoyed it so much. In 2018, I saw the job opening for a parapro at WES and thought I would apply. I am so glad I made the change because I am very happy here.” She also values the children she serves. “Every day I try to make a difference in a child’s day. I sometimes stand in the hall greeting them as they arrive, not just our class but other students as well. I try to see the positive things students are doing and tell them ‘Good job.’ But my favorite thing is listening to their stories. They all have a story and love to have someone listen to them. I hope they know they can always find a helping hand in me.”

Janie Hibbits, a paraprofessional at Wintersville Elementary School, received an Out-standing Support Staff Award through the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, or CORAS, during an event on Jan. 15. Pictured are, from left, Dr. T.C. Chappelear, superin-tendent of the Indian Creek Local School District; Dr. Renee Middleton, dean of the Patton College of Education at Ohio University; Janie Hibbits; and Paolo DeMaria, Ohio Superin-tendent of Public Instruction.