TIP’s 2013 Spring Gathering

TIP’s 2013 program year wrapped up on Tuesday, May 28th with the annual Spring Gathering in Houston Hall on Penn’s campus. The event was a chance for participants of TIP’s four seminars to come together once more and celebrate the end of another successful year.

After refreshments and conversation, TIP’s director Alan Lee welcomed the Fellows and Seminar Leaders. The program then turned over to speakers, each of whom represented one of this year’s four seminars. The Fellows shared reflections on their experiences and what they gained from TIP this year.

The speakers were:

Bernadette McHenry (Bartram High School) – From Slavery to Civil Rights

Sharon Mastrobuoni (Sheppard Elementary School) – Understanding the Process of Science and Evaluation of Evidence

Kathleen McCollough (Tilden Middle School) – Painless Statistics for Teachers and for Teaching

Julie Mikolajewski (Penn Alexander School) and Michelle Todd (Wagner Middle School) – Modern and Contemporary American Poetry

The speakers paid tribute to the Seminar Leaders, the collegial atmosphere of the seminars, and the resulting intellectual growth and improved practice.

TIP also commemorated the retirement of two longtime TIPsters, Deb Smithey and Rita Sorrentino. Deb has taught high school science in the school district for 38 years, ending her teaching career at the Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds. She served the TIP program in many capacities, as a Seminar Coordinator, Teacher Representative, and Yale National Fellow. Rita taught in district schools for 35 years, and finished her career as the computer and technology teacher at Overbrook Elementary School. She was a founding member of TIP and also served in leadership roles within the program, as a Seminar Coordinator, Teacher Representative, and Yale National Fellow.

TIP is grateful for Deb and Rita’s service and dedication to the program, as well as for touching countless students’ lives through their teaching. We wish them the best in their future endeavors!

Thank you to all Fellows, Seminar Coordinators, Teacher Representatives, and Seminar Leaders for making this year a great success!