2/1/2010

By John Verhoff, Staff Writer

Many critics would argue that West End school system is in need a physical and structural overhaul. Last week city officials were able to counter the claim as not one, but two West End teachers received the State Excellence in Education for their efforts in and out of the classroom.

The first award recipient is Anne Harville of Harrison Elementary. The young teacher made a name for herself by creating after school glee club to entertain latch-key students. The mini-club soon expanded and began to show joinable performances for those waiting for the bus or for their parents to arrive. The Harrison music club bloomed, attracting students from all backgrounds and forming partnerships with the school band and orchestra.

“Before I used to just go home and be alone,” said Amber Terrace, fourth grader and student of Ms. Harville. “But now I have a place to go where I know everybody and we all have fun.”

The young teacher’s efforts culminated this year in the organization of entire musicals by grade level. Offering them to the public every day for a week, performances included Oklahoma!, Cats, and a rousing 1st grade rendition of Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Harville wasn’t the only superstar to be recognized by the Indiana State Department of Education during Friday’s awards presentation in the capital. The state also recognized history teacher Richard R. Redgrave of Slope Slope Schools in the Heart of West End.

In an unprecedented event, Redgrave became the first teacher ever to win the award a second time in his teaching career. Redgrave first one won the award in 2004, when also he became the second of the only two teachers to win the award after their first year of teaching. Then of teacher of science, he led students in a project which found the source of the pollution of Mandrake pond and devised a cure to clean it. Each student involved in the project was offered a

According to State Department of Education official George Chalmers, these weren’t the only ground-breaking events achieved by the teacher. Now a teacher of history, Mr. Redgrave was reconsidered for a second after a campaign of write-in votes from his students.  According to them, Mr. Redgrave’s loyalty to them goes beyond the classroom.

“I’ve presented this award for the last 23 years,” said Chalmers, “and Richard Redgrave is the only teacher to ever have students show and cheer at this presentation.”

While Chalmers added he didn’t approve of the students skipping school to see the reception, held last Friday afternoon, he couldn’t help but find their enthusiasm heartening.  

“Everyone knows if you have a problem you go to Mr. Redgrave,” insisted  Slope School junior Scott Smith, one of the students who will be serving detention for attending the presentation. “He’ll find a way to solve it.”

In addition to a plaque, the schools of each winner will received a $20,000 funding award, $5000 of it to be used to finance the program activities of the winning teacher. W-END radio salutes Mrs. Harville and Mr. Redgrave for their dedication and passion in educating the youth of West End.

jverhoff@wendradio.com