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Show i J. Townsend rules at VHS Viewmont High School boasts of a teacher who is a self-taught student stu-dent of art, anthropology, comparative com-parative religion, the Victorian era and music. This is in addition to her unique ability to inspire writing skills. Jo Townsend, with a keen sensitivity sen-sitivity to people and problems, has helped numerous students develop their own sensitivity to literature. Townsend' s teaching skills challenge her students to stretch their imaginations through writing. The students excel because she demands their best. Creative projects have prompted creative ideas from her students. Townsend has her students write a letter to themselves to be read five years in the future. They place the letters in a stamped, sealed, self-addressed self-addressed envelope which they place in her keeping. The teacher keeps the letters on file for five years and then mails them. Often, the students have forgotten the project pro-ject and are surprised, not only to receive a letter from themselves, but at what they had to say. Emphasis is placed on publishing original work which entails individualized in-dividualized training for each student. stu-dent. Students are required to submit sub-mit work for publication on a regular basis which has resulted in many contest prizes. Colleagues are quick to point out that a great accomplishment of Townsend's is her ability to make each student understand that she sees their importance and value. Townsend has been a tutor of non-English speaking students at the Guadalupe Early Learning Center. She has also taught in-service in-service classes on the writing process. pro-cess. Considered a role model for the department, Townsend has shared her teaching files with all those interested. in-terested. At the same time, she has been cooperating teacher to nine student teach, as well as mentor by choice and by assignment to nearly every English teacher at Viewmont since she began her career 25 years ago. Under her guidance students have attained extensive recognition by winning Salt Lake Tribune, Utah State Poetry Society poetry contests, con-tests, patriotic essay contests, haiku poetry contests, awards in the Cora Hayward and Danegeld Christmas writing contests and scholastic poetry contests. This well-traveled teacher has studied the writings and times of Shakespeare while at Stratford on Avon, and has visited the Far East. Townsend has participated in many professional activities in Utah. She was president of the Utah Council of Teachers of English, chairperson of the National Honor Society (Viewmont Chapter), member of the United Profession, officer of the Alpha Gamma Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member of the Honor Society for Women Teachers of Distinguished Service. Townsend also helped in the development de-velopment of the core curriculum for Davis District and in the selection selec-tion of the literature anthology in use at Viewmont. |