|
Sykora Summary
|
|||
|
Greetings, My name is Sandy Sykora and I am part of a team of three that delivers a pull-out program for the High Ability Learner Program for the Bellevue Public Schools. Megan Kinen and Dawn Ediger make up the other educators in the HAL team. Professionally, I started my career in the Bellevue Public Schools in 1976 as a fifth grade teacher at Belleaire Elementary. I taught in this position for five years. During that time period I became interested in gifted education. I began a Master's degree program at UNO that had an endorsement in gifted education. I received my M.S. degree in 1981. I also 'retired' from teaching in 1981 to care for my two young children. During my years at home I substituted several days a month at various grade levels and for most of the metropolitan school districts, but mostly I relished the years at home nurturing my son and daughter and watching them grow and learn. The children started school at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Omaha, and I went back to teaching, also at Our Lady of Lourdes School. I taught second grade there from 1985 until coming back to Bellevue in 2000 to teach in the H.A.L.program. Being in an autonomous school gave me the opportunity to create curriculum, implement ideas and work out inventive solutions for individual students. I took the Bellevue position because the challenge of developing and implementing curriculum for high ability children appealed to me. It utilized my knowledge and understanding of high ability learners and afforded me the opportunity to work with small groups of children and with classroom teachers in order to better serve the special needs of this population. It has certainly been a learning experience for me. I find that the position is every bit as challenging and fulfilling as I thought it would be. Now starting my eleventh year, I am finding that having many of the same children for several years has given me an insight and perspective into their academic, social and emotional needs and goals. I am constantly impressed by their strength of individual observations and mastery of more difficult subject matter. You will notice a difference in the delivery of the HAL program this year. We have gone to an eight day schedule where I will be seeing your child two days in the eight day cycle. The district has also consolidated some of the schools with smaller gifted enrollments so those children will have an equal opportunity to meet and interact with other intellectual peers. I will be teaching the sixth graders at the consolidated sites. I will work with the students and teachers at Bertha Barber, Betz, Belleaire, Central, Fort Crook, Twin Ridge, Avery, Two Springs and Wake Robin. I look forward to meeting each child and each challenge and providing for the specific needs of this awesomely talented group! |
