Buckner students create artwork for charity

Twenty-two fifth-grade students at Buckner Performing Arts Magnet were selected to work with artist Ron Steven. During the two-day workshop, the students created artwork of marine animals, like fish, turtles, seahorses, sea stars and eels. Steven worked with students to use his dot style of painting, which he calls Rogest style. Students use small dots of paint to create the details of the artwork.
Steven also used different teaching techniques to keep the students engaged in their artwork, including having the students lie on the floor and making loud noises.
The artwork will be auctioned and the proceeds will be donated to a charity of the students’ choosing. 

Liz Roberts named Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist

Liz Roberts, language arts, AVID and Future Educators teacher at North High School, has been named a finalist for 2012 Kansas Teacher of the Year Award.
“I am extremely humbled to be recognized,” Roberts said. “To be in the company of other amazing teachers across the state is an honor.”
“When people come into my classroom, they can see that I love to teach. I enjoy working with students and being a role model for them and making that positive connection,” she said.
As a finalist, Roberts is automatically a member of the Kansas Teacher of the Year team, which will travel the state promoting and advocating for education, education funding and the teaching profession. Roberts says she is anxious to learn from the other teachers and use some of their strategies in her classroom.
The Kansas Teacher of the Year will be named during a ceremony on November 19.