Teacher to speak at historical conference

High school social studies teacher Bill Rexford was recently asked by University of Oregon professors to join them in Salt Lake City at the Western Historians Association Annual Meeting Tuesday-Thursday, October 21-23.

Four years ago a $1 million federal grant was awarded to the U. of O. and the High Desert ESD. At that time Lora Nordquist, who was the Sisters School District curriculum director, asked Rexford if he would serve on the advisory committee for the grant.

The advisory committee consists of five members, including Rexford and Clay Warburton of Sisters Elementary School.

"We worked in conjunction with U. of O. faculty to plan activities to best implement the grant," said Rexford.

Grant members were sent to workshops and completed individual projects that they later shared with the group. They also were assigned an inquiry project that was shared with the group and they had to implement a curriculum project.

Rexford was asked by U. of O. professors to share his curriculum project at the meeting in Salt Lake City.

In addition, Rexford was asked to be the representative for the grant at the Executive Directors Meeting, which will be held in New York City in January, 2009.

While in New York City, Rexford will attend sessions geared to the nuts and bolts of the grant: budget, management, how to run the grant, etc.

"Even though our grant is over for all intents and purposes, the goal is for us to win another grant," said Rexford.

Due to the fact that Rexford and Warburton were involved in the grant, they were asked by Douglas County to help advise them on their grant.

Next year Sisters School District will have 12 teachers participating in the object-based learning exercise. Through the Douglas County ESD grant, each teacher will receive $500 to purchase curriculum and will attend three, three-day workshops throughout the year, all expenses paid.

"While there's a dearth of professional development dollars, there are now quality experiences available to our teachers. These activities have the potential to transform our schools and ground our students with a sense of place that is so needed in today's society," said Rexford.

Rexford told The Nugget the advisory board is very excited to work with Jean Nave, past president of Sisters Historical Society and current president John Hayes, to develop a lasting, constructive, meaningful learning experience for the Sisters community.