Brian Hagberg
RUSSELL, Pa. – The Warren County School District recognized a pair of teachers and more than a dozen students for recent accomplishments during Monday’s regular board meeting.
Most of the recognitions stemmed from work done at the Warren County Career Center. One teacher, Joe McClellan, earned a state association award, while students were honored for their accomplishments at DECA, FBLA, and Skills USA competitions. Youngsville music teacher Cindi Scheid was recognized for being named to the Executive Board of the Phi Beta Mu international bandmasters fraternity.
JOE MCCLELLAN – PA ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY EXTRA MILE AWARD
“This esteemed accolade is presented to individuals who go above and beyond in the realm of educational technology,” WCSD Virtual Academy Principal Misty Weber said. “Mr. McClellan’s unwavering dedication to his craft and his students’ growth is truly inspiring. Through his innovative teaching methods and advanced use of technology, Mr. McClellan has made a significant impact within the STEM Academy his program highlights career pathways that revolve around technology, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in an increasingly digital world. As a result, his students are better prepared to tackle the challenges they will face in their chosen fields and can contribute to society in meaningful ways.”
McClellan explained to the board some of the projects his students have recently completed, and came prepared with a visual demonstration as well:
“The type of learning that he’s facilitating in that space is really unique,” WCSD Superintendent Amy Stewart said. “He’s not standing in the front of the room presenting a body of content. I mean, kids are coming in with their own ideas on what they want to learn and what they want to do.”
When asked what his favorite project has been, McClellan answered not with a project, but with a moment.
“The aha moments where somebody struggles for a week or two weeks, and I just have to keep encouraging them like you’re getting closer stick with it, but maybe think about it in this different way,” McClellan said.
CINDI SCHEID – PHI BETA MU BANDMASTERS FRATERNITY EXECUTIVE BOARD
“Thank you for recognizing me,” Scheid said. “It is a true honor to be appointed to the executive board thereby making me the person who launches other band directors so I can recommend them to become a member of this community. This is a big honor.”
Board member Arthur Stewart asked Scheid what lesson she’s learned over her 30-plus years in the district stands out most.
“Probably one of the things that I’ve learned, I mean, we talked about how to listen,” Scheid said. “And of course, when you’re standing in front of the band, or the artist or the choir, you learn to listen to everything that’s happening in front of you, and how to adjust so that it becomes more musical.”
WARREN COUNTY CAREER CENTER STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DECA 2023 STATE QUALIFIERS
A dozen students qualified for the DECA State Competition in 2023 and eight of them returned with at least one medal for their efforts.
Ella Bouchard, Kendra Chase, Paige Dexter, Marissa Gourley, Nicholas Hamler, Addyson Hannold, Bree Huntington, Rylan Meneo, David Perry, Samuel Smith, Charles Strickland, and Sarah Tome all qualified for the state competition.
Tome won three medals in Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Smith won three medals in Marketing Communications, Hamler won three medals in Retail Merchandising, Hannold won an individual medal in Sports and Entertainment and a team medal with Gourley for Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Huntington won a medal for Written Score – Integrated Marketing Campaign, Chase won a medal for Role play – Entrepreneurship Series Event, and Dexter won a medal for Entrepreneurship Cluster Exam in Entrepreneurship – Team Decision Making.
“While none of the students were able to continue on to Nationals, we are very proud of their performance,” WCCC Principal Jim Evers said.
SKILLS USA STATE QUALIFIERS
Two Skills USA competitors qualified for the state competition, and both of them finished third in the state.
Connor Hecei, who finished first at the District 10 competition, was third in Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair. Dominic Benson took third in Power Equipment Technology.
FBLA STATE, NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
More than a dozen FBLA students qualified for the state competition, four students-one team of three and one individual-were national qualifiers, and one team returned as state champions.
The team of Andrew Morgan, Liam Smaroff, and Devin Stover won first place for Network Design and qualified for the national competition in Atlanta later this year. They’ll be joined in Atlanta by Jordan Cameron who took third in Introduction to Information Technology.
“This is a huge accomplishment,” Evers said. “We want to thank all of you for your continued support of our student organizations, and of all of our programs without your support, none of this would be possible.”
Other state qualifiers included Perry, Jessie Horning, Toby Jackson, Meneo, Michael Smith, Samuel Smith, Strickland, Caidence Brailey, Jacey Reagle, Chase, and Dexter.
