Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 21, 1993 TAG: 9305210289
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Margaret Duncan, the school's director, matched 68 students with mentors throughout the region served by the school.
Students and mentors will be recognized at a banquet Tuesday night. Charles Bird, with Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corp., was surprised to see students who still wanted to come to work and learn at his plant even when school was closed on their scheduled day.
"We actually had that happen when school was out due to snow," he told the Pulaski County School Board during a presentation on the Governor's School internships earlier this month.
Students stayed three hours a week with their mentors, practicing professionals in areas ranging from engineering to medicine.
"It's a real-life experience for them. They don't get that in college," Bird said. "We want to continue with this program and, more than likely, expand it in the future."
"We enjoyed having them," said Katie Kirk of Pulaski Community Hospital. "We look forward to having them again at some future time,"
Becki Gunn, with the Pulaski office of Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, said she was impressed with the sensitivity shown by the students in dealing with congressional constituents who called with problems.
She said the two Governor's School students performed with as much maturity as three university interns and were offered the chance to continue working at the congressional office during the summer.
"Several of the students have gotten jobs," Duncan said. "They're everywhere."
Some of the students told the School Board about internship experiences ranging from vaccinating cows at the Virginia Tech veterinarian school to passing out during the first visit to a hospital operating room while surgery was in progress.
One student wanted to see if she had the stomach to follow through with studies to become an anesthesiologist. Later, she told Duncan, "I have seen everything from a hysterectomy to a mastectomy. Yes, I do have the stomach."
Parents interviewed by a state Department of Education evaluation team that visited the Governor's School in April liked the mentorship program. Some said it gave a realistic view of what the work place is like.
The school, winding up its third year, got a good report card from the team. The evaluators had interviewed students, parents, staff and others to assess the school's performance.
In its draft report, the team commended Duncan, the director, as "responsive to students, faculty, parents, and business and industry; skilled in working with all participating school divisions; and dedicated to building a strong, responsive and comprehensive Governor's School."
The faculty "is committed to the mission of the Governor's School and functions cohesively to provide quality instructional experiences in a nurturing environment," the report said, and their teaching enthusiasm "is not dampened by the obvious inadequacy of the physical environment."
The school is housed in a single building on the Pulaski County High School campus. One team recommendation was to look for other possible sites as the Governor's School continues to grow.
Students interviewed told the evaluators they liked the smaller classes, increased exposure to technology and how teachers work with students to make sure they understand and learn what is presented. They also felt better prepared for college.
They sometimes had scheduling problems with classes at their home schools. If Pulaski County High School goes to four 90-minute periods a day, which is being explored, this could cause further problems for students from that school.
The evaluation also commended the school on its staff development program, comprehensive recruiting effort, annual four-day field study for incoming juniors, flexible scheduling, state-of-the-art computer facilities and putting together the mentorship program.
The school has 69 students, but at least 85 applications have been received for next year. It has had students from the counties of Pulaski, Giles, Floyd, Wythe, Carroll, Grayson, Bland and Smyth and the city of Galax.
by CNB