On the Road

On October 19, Burmaster traveled to Colby Middle School to award a Milken Family Foundation Award to Michele Stewart. As a fifth-grade teacher of reading, English, language arts, science, and mathematics, Stewart started a “Before School Reading Club” that helps struggling readers develop confidence in their reading and a more positive attitude toward school. Her “Reading Buddies” project pairs fifth-grade students with first-graders to help struggling fifth-graders develop fluency, intonation, and comprehension. Another mentoring project among fifth-graders and high-school buddy/tutors builds younger students’ skills while boosting self-esteem in the high school students.

Burmaster held a brunch and reception for winners of her Stand Up for Rural Schools, Libraries, and Communities Awards in Madison on October 20. This is the second year the state superintendent has recognized programs that bring together rural communities. An awards ceremony was held at the State Capitol following the reception.

That evening, the state superintendent hosted a farewell dinner for visiting teachers from Hessen, Germany and a reunion of the superintendent’s delegation that traveled to Hessen in 2005. Twelve teachers and an administrator from Hessen joined 11 Wisconsin teachers at the event. There are presently 16 students from Hessen in Wisconsin for a five-month stay. Their Wisconsin hosts will return to Hessen with them to spend three months in Hessen schools.

Last updated on 10/23/2006