Bernie teachers recognized for excellence

Noreen Hyslop photo Ginger Beaird (at left) and Ashley Robertson, both Bernie teachers, have received notification of honors that will place them at national and international levels of learning.

Robertson, who has served as Bernie School District's librarian for the past three years, has been notified that she is to become a member of the Emerging Leaders Program which is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA).

In conjunction with the ALA, the Missouri Association of School Librarians selected Robertson to be the first librarian to be financially supported by the state organization.

"The Missouri Association of School Librarians will cover up to $1000 of my expenses as I attend conferences in Boston and in Washington, DC next year," Robertson explains.

The Boston and DC conferences are international gatherings, one in January 2010 and the other in June, whose programs target librarians who have been in their positions for less than four years.

"The Emerging Leaders group," she says, "offers new ideas, techniques and innovative library strategies and their implementation at our home libraries."

"This is a wonderful opportunity, and I am tremendously honored to be a part of these conferences," Robertson shares. "I'm anxious to gain new concepts from both of these meetings, and I look forward to the challenges ahead."

In addition, Bernie's Ginger Beaird, who services both Early Childhood Special Education students and gifted students in the district, has been selected as a National Association for Gifted Children Javits-Frasier Scholar.

The Scholarship Fund for Diverse Talent Development serves to increase culturally and linguistically diverse students' access to talent development opportunities through educator training and support.

"That training and support," says Beaird, "is directly related to equity and excellence in teaching the gifted child."

Bernie Schools qualified to apply for this scholarship by virtue of the district's Title I status operating in a rural and ethnically diverse community.

Beaird's scholarship will grant her a $500 stipend to attend the NAGC Annual Convention in St. Louis next month where she will participate in a Javits-Frasier Scholar roundtable discussion with other scholars from around the nation. She will also receive complimentary registration to the NAGC Annual Convention which includes lodging.

Beaird will also receive toolkits and membership to the Diversity and Equity Committee and a two-year membership to the National Association for Gifted Children organization.

Like Robertson, Beaird anticipates the challenges ahead that accompany her honor.

"To represent Bernie and Southeast Missouri in this capacity is a real honor," says the 13-year Bernie veteran instructor. "I look forward to the roundtable discussions and anticipate gaining insight from other teachers across the country and bringing that back to Bernie."