Life briefs: Richland County Dems, MOESC boot camps, Ohio Plein Air competition, AU grads
'Peace On My Block' initiative receives endorsement
The Richland County Democratic Party has endorsed the Mansfield City School's newly enacted "Peace On My Block" initiative after listening to a presentation on Aug. 10 by Mansfield City Schools Superintendent Stan Jefferson and School Board President Renda Cline.
After the presentation, a motion was offered by the Executive Committee to endorse and support the initiative. The motion passed unanimously by a voice vote of the members. Several members of the Richland County Young Dems, who either graduated from, or are still students, of Mansfield Senior High School were in attendance.
Chairman Larry Weirich said they will display the “Peace on My Block” banner in the front windows of their downtown headquarters.
MOESC hosts manufacturing teacher boot camps
This summer, educators from districts in Richland, Crawford and Morrow counties had the opportunity to participate in the first Teacher Business Boot Camps. Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center's Business Advisory Council and Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce partners in each county organized these programs to show teachers what goes on behind the scenes in manufacturing in each county through tours of local manufacturing facilities. Participants gained firsthand experience with the careers available in manufacturing and the skills students need to obtain and retain these local positions.
Educators who applied for this professional development opportunity and were selected to participate in the boot camp received three graduate credits from Ashland University, materials to use in the classroom and instruction and guidance from top-level professionals.
In addition, IST in Richland County sponsored a free 3-D printer for a Richland County boot camp teacher participant who designed a lesson, unit or project that best exemplified the use of 3-D printing in a manufacturing setting. IST also covered the remaining costs ($125 per teacher) of the fees for teachers who completed the program to earn graduate credits from Ashland University.
During the weeklong program, educators had the opportunity to explore the workforce development needs and opportunities in their respective communities so that those educators could use the experiences to strengthen classroom career readiness connections that are embedded in core subject area instruction. All educators were required to create a project/unit to use with students during the 2023-24 school year and present this project to businesses and administrators on the final day of the boot camp.
Ohio Plein Air Society to host 20th annual competition
The Ohio Plein Air Society (OPAS) will be holding its 20th annual competition on Sept. 24 on the grounds of the Mansfield Art Center, 700 Marion Ave.
This organization consists of artists painting in the French Impressionist way of “painting in the open air.” The artists will descend upon Richland County for three days painting scenes from nature, cityscapes and rural locations. On the fourth day, Sept. 24, they will have their artwork judged by nationally known artist Valerie Craig. Artists will be competing for prizes and recognition.
Open to the public, a “Wet Paint Show & Sale” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 24. A “Quick Draw Competition” will occur from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Artists will complete an entire painting on location. At 1 p.m. awards will be presented. There will be high-quality artwork on display by well-known artists. Depictions of Richland County done in oil, watercolor and pastel mediums will be on display and for sale.
The Athenos Gyro Express food truck will be serving from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mansfield Art Center parking lot. On-the-go-gyros, baklava and more will be available for purchase.
The Ohio Plein Air Society was established in 2002. Members come from nearly every county in Ohio and from each of the surrounding states. For more information, visit ohiopleinairsociety.com.
Six state winners of History Teacher of the Year honor have ties to AU
ASHLAND — Six state winners of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s History Teacher of the Year award for 2023 are either graduates or current students of Ashland University’s Master of American History and Government (MAHG)/Master of Arts with a Specialization in Teaching American History and Government (MASTAGH) programs. The state winners were announced at the end of July.
The six state winners connected to Ashland’s programs are: Marilyn Orseno, Ohio; Pam Cummings, Arkansas; Angel Ledbetter, North Carolina; Mike Bisenius, North Dakota; Carrie Huber, South Dakota; and Justin Glodowski, Wisconsin.
Each state winner was first nominated by a colleague, parent or student. Then, nominees submitted a resume, teaching materials and a letter of recommendation for a committee of educators and education professionals in their state to consider. The winners are all eligible for the National History Teacher of the Year, which will be announced this fall.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Peace On My Block endorsement, teacher boot camps, art competition
