GCEA - Member Spotlight

Gloucester County Education Association


		GCREA
M E M B E R S P O T L I G H T
Recent Event Pix	2007-08 Spotlights

Helping the Troops for the Holidays
	Please remember our troops serving at home and abroad in defense of our country – and their families waiting at home. My son and his unit have recently arrived in Afghanistan. I go to the post office every Saturday and mail “supplies from home” to keep their spirits up and remind them that they are not forgotten and are very much appreciated. Many people always say that they would love to show their support in some way. Due to security reasons, military families cannot give out soldiers’ names, ranks or troop movement and locations.
Michele Harris
Below is a list of supplies that are commonly needed or desired by the troops. It is 20° at night now. A variety of snacks – often the ones that have individual wraps – soldiers can put these in the deep pockets of their BDU’s. Crackers, cookies, nuts, Pringles, Hostess-type baked items like Twinkies - things that you might put in a school lunchbox Packets of Hot Cocoa mixes; Instant Coffee; Tea Bags Ramen noodles or soups “in-a-cup” – so that all they have to do is add hot water Girl Scout Cookies, Granola/Energy bars, Pop-Tarts, Fruit Roll-ups, Gum Candies (Twizzlers, Variety bags with individually wrapped candies as an example) Small cans of fruit with pop tabs (Acme carry these – maybe others do as well) Playing cards; Puzzle paperbacks: Sudoku, Crossword, Word searches (Dollar stores) Packs of Mechanical pencils (Dollar stores have these) Magazines: sports, cars & trucks – these ones are popular Fleece/Polartec-type blankets – twin size will do INTERNATIONAL or WorldWide or Global Calling Cards – so they can call home – it’s very expensive for them and they can only use “international-type” cards Disposal Digital Cameras – many stores have sales this time of the year (CVS, Target, Walmart) Batteries: AA and AAA; small packets of Kleenex (to put in pockets) Thank you for any help in supporting our troops! - Michele Harris Please help our troops. Michelle Harris will be happy to take your donated items in a box or bag if you can drop them off at Wedgewood School in Washington Township. Please just attach her name to the box or bag and leave it in the main office.

GCPMSCA Leadership Award Recipients

Mickey Shaw and Barbara Smith are receiving the leadership award as they are the co-presidents of Gloucester County Professional Middle School Counselors Association. This Association represents the Middle School Counselors in Gloucester County. They provide professional development opportunities that meet the needs of the children they serve. Both Mickey and Barbara are guidance counselors at Orchard Valley Middle School in Washington Township.

Meet some of GCEA's Fabulous Members!

Our hats are off to Liz Allen and Bev Potosky!
	Read the following account from Florence Hoffman and Debbie Conners, a parent of children who attend Aura School in Elk Township. Florence Hoffman, president of Elk Township Education Association, “Like all of our members, Liz and Beverly have always stepped up to the plate when we have had children and families in need. However, Liz and Bev were recognized for their extraordinary efforts with the Conners’ family when they lost their house and all belongings in a tragic house fire about a year ago. In addition to what Bev and the other members of the Elk Association collected for the Conners’ family, read on to get the first hand account from Mrs. Conners. “The next day happened to be my daughter’s birthday.
Not only were our house and possessions gone, but all of her presents as well. I was consumed with grief and could not wrap my head around the image of watching my life burn down around me. I’ve always heard that during a crisis you find strength and love through the character of other people. Perhaps the one person who stood out the most to me was my daughter’s 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Liz Allen. The night of the fire, I was sitting in my mother’s kitchen, literally dazed and confused. A knock on the door brought the familiar face of my daughter’s teacher. She sat at the table with us for a while, listening with care. She remembered that it my daughter’s birthday the next day. She grabbed my arm as she was about to leave and told me that if it was okay, she would like to throw a birthday party for my daughter at her house. She would use her class list to throw a birthday party for my daughter at her house, make a cake, blow up balloons, and even buy her a gift. Out of all the generosity we were shown that night, this was perhaps the greatest gift of kindness we could have received….the ability to provide a small sense of normalcy for my daughter and to give her a proper birthday celebration. I will be eternally grateful to Mrs. Allen who is a teacher that went above and beyond the classroom to care for one of her students.” Bev is the school nurse who has spent her last 16 years at Elk. She is a member of the community and all of her children went through the Aura School. Bev does so much more than tend to the medical needs of Aura’s children and staff. Since the first year that she was employed there, she has organized and spearheaded assistance to families and children in the areas of clothing and even food- all done in a confidential and dignified manner. During the winter holiday season, there is a ‘Giving Tree’ where all of the staff brings a set of clothing in for children in need – just one example of her philanthropic efforts. More than that, Bev has established a community and family feeling in the building which she feels distinguishes Aura School from the larger districts in this county. Prior to working full time as the school nurse, Bev was the Home and School Past President, and she continues to be an active member.

Vice President Joyce Sherwood, ETTEA (left)
Florence Hoffman (right)

Vice President Joyce Sherwood, ETTEA, is an exceptional classroom assistant. Not only does she do extraordinary work with our students, but her artistic ability is an eye-catching vision of delight! Standing beside Joyce is Janet Hill, another classroom assistant extraordinaire, is a well respected employee and more than that, a member of our educational family. Both professionals are standing in front of a 3-D full scale bulletin board on the hall wall which Joyce has designed and created on the cinder block wall.

Florence Hoffman, a 36 year veteran career teacher at Aura School, is also the President of the Association. She has five grandchildren and she spends as much time as she can when she is not teaching and tending to the needs of her members!

Logan Township Education Association President Greg Yordy

Logan Township Education Association President Greg Yordy is no stranger to teaching and representing our members. It is 'in the blood' as the saying goes. Greg comes from a full family of teachers which includes his wife Brooke who is a teacher in Mays Landing, his sister, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and last but not least, his aunt who is none other than Former NJEA President Betty Kraemer! Mr. Yordy teaches math to grades 7 and 8, and he has been in Logan Township for the past 10 years. Anyone entering his class sees posters exclaiming high expectations and feels at the same time his warmth and enthusiasm for the subject. Mr. Yordy came to Logan Township with a wealth of experience having taught in Mays Landing and Philadelphia schools. In between his professional teaching career, he managed to secure a master's degree in School Leadership. Greg also has served NJEA as a committee person on the Pension Policy Committee, and he was also a building representative during his tenure at Mays Landing. Besides Greg's wife, his family includes three children and two dogs residing in Pitman. If that were not enough, Greg also works part-time building swimming pools.

Introducing Westville Education Association Co-Presidents

Knaul and Yearicks

Christopher Yearicks is a 6th grade Language Arts Literacy and Social Studies Teacher who is an avid fan of the Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies. He loves summers at the Jersey shore and looks forward to the summer months.

Karen Knaul is a 5th and 6th grade science teacher who enjoys Marco Island, Florida, with her husband Pete. They have two children. Their son Karl is a sales representative and their daughter Tiffany is a speech specialist.

We welcome both Chris and Karen as new presidents in our GCEA family, and we wish them a wonderful school year!

Corendia Tinsley and Joan Killian
Co-Presidents
Gloucester County Special Services

Joan B. Killian – Gloucester County Special Services Education Association

Joan is a High School Teacher in the Alternative Program with the Gloucester County Special Services School District. She has taught for a total of fifteen (15) years, five (5) years at Camden County Technical School and ten (10) years with her current district.

Currently, Joan is the Co-President of Gloucester County Special Services Education Association and had served last year as the Vice President, and Building Representative.
She is also serving on the Negotiations Committee and any committee that needs additional hands to reach their goal.

Joan received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the College of New Jersey and has earned a School to Work Certificate from Widener University. In 2004, Joan was appointed Gloucester County Special Services Alternative School Teacher of the Year.

After 36 years of marriage to the same man, Joan would like for all to know that her husband is a “very patient man”. They have two adult children. She comes from a family of Educators; both sisters, a niece and a nephew are also in the teaching profession. Joan’s hobbies include reading, hiking, and bird watching.

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