• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • The Harker School
  • Menu
  • Admission
  • Lower School
  • Middle School
  • Upper School
  • Summer
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Alumni
    • Giving
  • News

  • The Harker News provides timely information, news and features about the Harker community to current and alumni Harker families.

  • |
  • General News
  • Lower School
  • Middle School
  • Upper School
  • Alumni
  • Summer
  • In the News

Teachers Travel, Learn New Skills During Summer

August 27, 2009 by Stephanie Woolsey

Share this:

  • Tweet

Harker students weren’t the only ones out and about over the summer. Several teachers and staff were also busy traveling, learning new skills and completing various projects.

Susan Nace, US music teacher, performed in a semi-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe,” alongside the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus and members of the D’Oyly Carte Company. She also completed seven jazz choral arrangements of songs by the respected jazz composer Billy Strayhorn, who wrote many of the songs for which Duke Ellington became famous.

  • Junior wins second prize in ENKOR music competition
    Read
    Junior wins second prize in ENKOR music competition

Nace’s colleague, US music teacher Catherine Snider, traveled to China this summer with her choir, the Ohlone Chamber Singers. The group tours every three years, but this was their first trip to Asia, where they performed at music conservatories in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou and a community center in Dalian. The group highlighted American spirituals and pieces in French, Hebrew, Mandarin and Italian. An alto in the choir, Snider also led a vocal jazz quartet at their performances. A highlight was rehearsing and singing with a choir in Hangzhou, which has an exchange partnership with Ohlone College’s performing arts department. The choir ended their tour with a few days in Hong Kong. When Snider returned she resumed rehearsals for “The Producers,” her 17th outing as musical director for award-winning Foothill Musical Theatre. The show played to critical and popular praise for four weeks in July and August.

One of the busier staff members this summer was Angela Neff, MS assistant director of instructional technology. She worked with a number of MS teachers who were spending their summer learning new skills via Harker’s Tech Grants program. She also traveled to Memphis, Tenn., for the Lausanne Laptop Conference, where she gave presentations on sharing technology-based curricula and one-to-one laptop programs.
Also at the Lausanne Laptop Conference was Dan Hudkins, US director of information systems, who was a keynote speaker on the topic of “Leading From the Trenches,” or “what do we do until we have all the time, talent and resources we need,” he explained.

In late July, Amalia Vasconi, MS dance teacher, went to New York City for the ninth annual Broadway Dance Center /Pulse Teacher Workshop. She spent three days at the workshop in a variety of seminars and dance classes. “I was able to meet and network with dance teachers from all over the United States, and take classes from the amazing BDC/Pulse faculty,” she said. “Aside from all of the fantastic choreography, I was able to bring home a lot of different methods in teaching dance, especially for the younger students.”

US English teacher Brigid Miller went to Oxford, Miss., in July for the 36th annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, held at the University of Mississippi. Every year, the week-long conference is held for the study and appreciation of the works of 20th century writer William Faulkner. “The ‘Teaching Faulkner’ sessions were especially informative, and I came back with wonderful ideas about how to better approach the works of Faulkner that I teach in American Literature, The Study of Short Fiction and especially Southern Fiction,” Miller said.

In late July, US chemistry teacher Mala Raghavan attended a workshop at Stanford University on AP Chemistry, where she learned about different methods of conducting experiments, demonstrations that students may find interesting and how AP teachers grade student papers. “I plan to incorporate all of these into my class,” Raghavan said.

US physics teacher Miriam Allersma accompanied a group of Harker students to the NASA Space Camp at the NASA Ames Research Center in Sunnyvale for two weeks in June. Along with students from several other South Bay schools, the group toured the labs and attended lectures, in addition to conducting biological experiments and creating rockets and robots. All of their work at the center was used to design an expedition to Mars to search for life. “It was amazing,” Allersma said. “We learned so much and can’t wait to bring it back to Harker.”

Nicholas Manjoine, US French teacher, headed across the pond to Avignon, France, for four weeks to attend a seminar held by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The seminar, titled “Theatricality and Reality in Modern French Drama,” examined the relationship between “culture, history and the theater in 20th century French drama,” Manjoine said. “Being in France for the month allowed me to collect up-to-date materials and information on current cultural patterns and linguistic trends. Of course, I hope that my students will like to sample some plays in class this year.”

US librarian Susan Smith went to Chicago for the American Library Association Conference, which was attended by nearly 30,000 people and had more than 6,000 exhibitors, “including authors and publishers, furniture and equipment manufacturers, subscription database providers, and generally all things library!” Smith exclaimed. She kept busy at the conference, attending a workshop on instructional design, taking in a presentation about the limits on access to government information and treating herself to a keynote address by NPR’s Cokie Roberts. She plans to use what she learned at the conference to develop “a more refined and targeted approach to each information literacy lesson,” collect information that will be used to create instruction for research projects and require students to publish what they learned from the projects.

MS fine arts teacher Elizabeth Saltos spent a week at the Mendocino Art Center in an intensive clay sculpture program. “We had no TV, no phones, no interference or distractions,” Saltos said. “Just art!” The program was small (three students and two teachers) but rewarding. “All of us were mature working artists and we just made art all week,” Saltos recalled. “I learned a ton of techniques to make sculptural shapes and vessels using the wheel and tons of applications for underglaze and color.”

US performing arts teacher Laura Lang-Ree spent four days in New York City at the Broadway Teachers Workshop. Held at Lincoln Center, the workshop attracted teachers from other top performing arts schools. “The caliber of the workshops and the leaders was top notch. All of them were working professionals, currently on Broadway in the areas of directing, lighting, sound, theater and musical theater,” said Lang-Ree. “It was engaging to work with them side-by-side on projects that the facilitators created for us.” Lang-Ree returned from the program with new ideas and directing tools for the US musical, and ideas for a touring company that she hopes to work into the US performing arts program.

Be sure to also read about US psychology teacher Naomi Schatz’s trip to Australia and US Japanese teacher Masako Onakado’s visit to Japan!

You may also like

  • MS science teacher publishes second book on the elements
    MS science teacher publishes second book on the elements
  • Upper school English teacher to deliver keynote at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival
    Upper school English teacher to deliver keynote at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival
  • Efforts to help Harker faculty and staff affected by California fires
    Efforts to help Harker faculty and staff affected by California fires
  • Employees honored for years of service at end-of-year ceremony
    Employees honored for years of service at end-of-year ceremony
  • Middle school LID director among first-ever recipients of CSTA Equity Fellowship
    Middle school LID director among first-ever recipients of CSTA Equity Fellowship
  • Face Time: Pauline Paskali
    Face Time: Pauline Paskali
  • Face Time: Walid Fahmy
    Face Time: Walid Fahmy
  • Face Time: Cyrus Merrill
    Face Time: Cyrus Merrill

Related

Filed Under: General News, Uncategorized Tagged With: Faculty

Primary Sidebar

Search for Articles

Multimedia Features

  • Harker Research Symposium Video Earns Award
  • Into the Fringe: Conservatory Takes ‘Into the Woods’ to Edinburgh

Subscribe to Harker News via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Harker News and receive a daily digest of recent posts.

Delivered by FeedBurner

Trending Stories

  • Harker speech and debate takes first place at UC Berkeley tourneyHarker speech and debate takes first place at UC…
  • Harker teams place high in regional DOE Science BowlHarker teams place high in regional DOE Science Bowl
  • 2017 grad Colt McNealy competes at Ellie Mae Classic among golf pros and sports stars2017 grad Colt McNealy competes at Ellie Mae Classic…

The Harker Magazine

Published two times a year, The Harker Magazine showcases some of the top news, leading programs, inspiring people and visionary plans of the greater Harker community.

More Harker publications

About Harker

The Harker School is a non-profit, private K-12 school in Silicon Valley that has earned international recognition for its top academics, quality teachers and students' achievements. Founded in 1893, Harker is the largest independent school of its kind in California, with a dedicated campus for each of its divisions – elementary school, middle school and upper school – in San Jose, CA.

Learn more about The Harker School

Links

  • Harker Aquila
  • Preschool
    • Academics
    • Specialty Classes
    • Teachers
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Lower School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Middle School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Upper School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
    • Admission
    • Summer
    • About
    • News
    • Alumni
    • Giving
The Harker School

Copyright © 1893-2015 • The Harker School • 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129 • 408.249.2510 | Contact Us | Privacy Policy

  • Follow Us!
  • Admission
    • Request Information
    • Campus Visits
    • Applying to Harker
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Admission FAQs
  • Preschool
    • Academics
    • Specialty Classes
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Support & Services
      • Extended Care
      • Food Progam
      • Libraries
      • Summer Preschool
      • Transportation
      • Safety & Security
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Lower School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • After-School Program
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • STEM
      • Student Research
      • Visual Arts
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Middle School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • After-School Program
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • STEM
      • Visual Arts
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Speech & Debate
      • Student Research
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Technology
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Upper School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • Visual Arts
      • STEM
      • Business & Entrepreneurship
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Speech & Debate
      • Student Research
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • College Counseling
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Technology
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Summer
    • Summer Preschool
    • Summer Camp Plus: KinderCamp
    • Summer Camp Plus: Grades 1-5
    • Summer Institute Middle School
    • Summer Institute Upper School
    • English Language Institute
      • Program Details
        • International English Language Institute Brochures
    • Swim School
    • Summer @ The Conservatory
    • About
      • Eligibility
      • Summer Jobs
      • International Families
      • Summer Registration and Policies
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Philosophy & Mission
    • History
      • Harker's 125th!
    • Events
      • Family & Alumni Picnic
        • Admission Passes & Tickets
        • Alumni Guests
        • Schedule of the Day
        • Raffle
        • Silent Auction
        • Picnic T-Shirts
        • Donations
        • Sponsorships
        • Volunteer
        • History
      • Homecoming
      • Harker Concert Series
      • Harker Speaker Series
      • Harker Gala: Night on the Town
        • Community Sponsorships
        • Corporate Sponsorships
      • Harker Sports Clinics
      • Research Symposium
        • Student Abstracts
        • Corporate Exhibitors
      • Harker Alumni Gold Classic
    • Message from the Head of School
    • Board of Trustees
    • Facts & Stats
      • Student Achievements
      • Alumni Achievements
    • Sustainability at Harker
      • Nichols Hall: LEED Certified
    • Eagle Store
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
    • Media Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • COPPA Statement
  • News
    • General News
    • Preschool News
    • Lower School News
    • Middle School News
    • Upper School News
    • Alumni News
    • Summer News
    • In The News
  • Alumni
    • Transcript Requests
  • Giving
    • How to Plan Your Giving
    • Annual Giving
      • How Funds are Spent
      • Gift Clubs
    • Capital Giving
      • About the Cornerstones Campaign
      • The Cornerstones Of Success Campaign: Phases 1-5
      • Gift Recognition & Namign Opportunities
        • Capital Giving Gift Clubs
      • How To Make A Capital Gift
      • Naming Opportunities
        • Performing Arts Center
        • Athletics Center
        • Paving Tiles
        • Bucknall Campus
        • Saratoga Campus
        • Policy
    • Endowment & Planned Giving
      • Endowment Policy
    • Volunteering
    • Donations and Pledges