Linda Fracek (L) Kristi Wallace — GEFFE President (C) Shaunda Davis (R)
SHAUNDA DAVIS —Shining Star Co-Winner
Shaunda Davis was nominated, along with fellow high school English teacher Linda Fracek, for their“Let’s Hear It! Poetry Out Loud.” The $865 grant enabled Fracek and Davis to promote a poetry recitation contest throughout the high school English classes. Students selected, memorized and then recited a poem in front of their classmates. The winner from each class participated in a school-wide competition at which parents and the public were invited. Prizes were awarded, with the top three winners moving on to a state finals in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Davis currently teaches sophomore and freshman pre-AP (advanced placement) English. Fracek teaches junior and sophomore pre-AP English, along with AP language and composition.
Mrs. Davis received a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Northeastern State University. She taught at Will Rogers Middle School in Miami for five years, before moving to Grove Public Schools three years ago. She had her husband, Jared, have three children, Taylor, Hayden and Kaitlin.
LINDA FRACEK —Shining Star Co-Winner
Linda Fracek received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Master’s degree from the University of Hawaii. She has participated in the Chicago Area Writing Project and the Oklahoma State University Writing Project.
In 2000, Mrs. Fracek received National Board Certification in adolescent and young adult English language arts. The certification process is a school-year long self-analysis in planning, teaching, and evaluation. Mrs. Fracek is also an executive board member of the Grove Community Playmakers. She and her husband, George, have two children.
MARGERY HAYES — Shining Star Nominee
Eighth Grade history teacher Margery Hayes was nominated for her grant “Project 3-H, History Happens Here.” The grant of $2,347.09 enabled Hayes to purchase a variety of enrichment materials for her United States history curriculum, including numerous maps from different time periods. The maps coincide with the Hayes’ history curriculum and are extremely beneficial to visual learners.
Mrs. Hayes received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, health and wellness from the College of the Ozarks. This is Hayes seventh year at Grove Public Schools. She currently teaches 8th grade U.S. history and 6th grade social studies. She has previously received several grants from GEFFE. She is married to Robert Spychalski and she has two children, Morgan and Chat.
JULIE BLOSS — Shining Star Nominee
Early Childhood Center (ECC) Principal Julie Bloss received $239.75 for her grant “Lite” Up Learning. With her GEFFE funds, Bloss purchased a 25 travel size “Lite Brites” which will be used for mathematic instructions in the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes in the ECC. It is anticipated that over 300 students a year will benefit from the grant each year.
Mrs. Bloss has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s in early childhood education. She is a certified elementary school principal and school counselor. She has been employed by her alma mater for 12 years. She has served as a teacher, a counselor and an assistant principal before being named as principal of the ECC 4 years ago. She previously worked at Colcord for 10 years. Mrs. Bloss, and her husband Tracy have one son, Tyler.