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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, October 8, 2003 - Page 4 SJHS grad named New Mexico Principal of Year It just doesnt get any better. Phil Kasper, principal of Eva B. Stokely Elementary School in Shiprock, NM, began this school year with a New Mexico 2003 Elementary School Principal of the Year Award hanging on his office wall. On receiving the award, the 1973 graduate of San Juan High School in Blanding added, Im rather humbled to tell you the truth. There are not too many opportunities for recognition, particularly in e- lementary schools. Theres hard working principals all over the state very deserving. Kasper has been with the Shiprock school since its incep- tion in 1997. He remains grateful to Linda Paul, now houses, tribal government and culture. We want to instill who they were, where they are from and Nataani Nez Elementary School Principal Roselyn ' Begay. They were both classroom teachers here. He added they are in the curriculums and excellent role models. Im ed teacher. tion flag. That position was principal of both Newcomb and This summers massive expansion project included a new cafeteria, so large the Navajo Council hogan-shape- d Chamber could fit inside of it. It was built to feed 350 pupils and it doubles as a community meeting center. Before the expansion, pupils ate their meals in the gymnasium which doubled as a cafeteria. The additions also included a hogan-shape- d ies classroom at State Fair Area residents do ed over a hallway reads: Through these halls pass great students. Above the banner hangs the Navajo Na- the greatness of the Navajo people, Kasper said. Hogan-shape- d rooms are not new to the school. The front lobby, library and commons area are also hogan-shapeIn addition, 10 other classSagan Shumway shows the Best of Show award her quilt won at rooms were added onto the the Utah State Fair. Sagan is one of a number of San Juan County Courtesy photo schools four wings. Each wing residents who did well at the state fair. has its own distinct colors in the floor tiles, walls, curtains, cabinets and classrooms in keeping with Navajo culture. well I had six classes in porA number of San Juan Arts Department. tables, Kasper said. I had Amanda Hillhouse won $100 three teachers with no class- County residents came home in the Fine Arts Competition, rooms going from class to class. with ribbons and accolades her award for an oil painting. Kasper remembers when from the Utah State Fair. San Juan Countys hiking things were a lot tougher. Like Sagan Shumway, the daughsome of his pupils today, he ter of Shane and Merri photographers, Kay Shumway no of Blanding, and Oliver Harris, each grew up with electricity and Shumway no running water but plenty brought home a Best of Show brought home awards for their of cows to move around. award in the Youth Home Arts photography. Shumway received a Supervisors Choice He lived at his grandfathers and a Directors Chair for her homesteaded ranch near quilt. Shumway tied the quilt award for his photo of smoke on the Blue Mountains during Blanding, surrounded by Na- several years ago and was unvajo reservation and Bureau of able to enter it into the state the Nizhoni fire in 2002. Land Management land. Oliver Harris won $30 and fair until this year. It was a The son of a coal miner, he case of better late than never a Blue Ribbon for a spectacuearned his bachelors degree in as she brought home one of the lar photo of a collared lizard. Other county residents who elementary education in 1977 top awards at the fair. from Southern Utah UniverIn addition, Rodney Vessey did well in the State Fair insity in Cedar City. Utah. He of Monticello earned a Best of clude Fran Nielson, Robin earned his masters degree in Show award for a paper car- Garner, Norma Madden and administration in 1986 from ousel he made for the Creative Merle McDonald. Western State College in Gunnison, Colo. d. pleased Central Consolidated Schools recognized and promoted from within. The school has 28 certified more than staff members half Native American. The 27 staff members are all Native American. The school has great expectations of its pupils. A banner non-certifi- bi- lingual education and studies Mesa Elementary School Pandora Bidtah and well-ground- for on the Navajo Nation chapter staff Aztec Schools superintendent, for giving him his first opportunity to be a school administrator after 17 years as a Naschitti elementary schools. There were 700 kids at both sites. I was green enough and young enough to take that on, Kasper said. Kasper became the principal of Eve B. Stokely school when it opened in the fall of 1997. Today he has 26 years combined teaching and administrative experience plus four years as a teachers aide and two classes at once bus driver. One of the things Im most proud of is we were able to launch two great Native American principals from the from an article in The Daily Times by Brett Butterstein Navajo Studbuilt to hold .sk'v Wood Saturday Oct. 1 Free cord of wood with 1 purchase of Wood Stove o 8 Pellet Free ton of pellets with purchase of Pellet Stove Gas vent Free am - 2 pm Great Prices kit with purchase of Gas Stove - "CM SAN JUAN BUILDING SUPPLY 1050 South Main St 0 Blanding 678-200- 0 |