
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 8, 1993                   TAG: 9309080187
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BRINGING GILBERT LINKOUS TOGETHER

Change is coming to Gilbert Linkous Elementary School, and Robert W. Duckworth believes that his appointment as principal gives him the opportunity to provide a natural transition for the students.

"The school is physically fragmented now, with pupils in mobile units and classes of the same grades meeting in different areas," he said of the crowded school.

When a couple of hundred students are transferred next fall to the new Blacksburg elementary school being built next to Hethwood off Prices Fork Road, Gilbert Linkous will be in good shape.

In the meantime, Duckworth has some significant work to carry on and new ideas to introduce.

Duckworth is sharing his post this year as a co-principal with Ray Van Dyke, Gilbert Linkous' principal for five years who has been named principal for the new elementary school.

"I have a strong commitment to the special education inclusion program for handicapped students," said Duckworth.

The school's project of accommodating handicapped pupils in regular classrooms was documented in the Academy Award-winning movie "Educating Peter."

The school's pupils are diverse in background, too, a reflection of Virginia Tech's international student population.

One of the challenges confronting Duckworth is maintaining a child-centered academic environment.

"We take each child seriously," said the 31-year-old educator. "Each pupil is evaluated individually for how they learn and respond. We examine each teacher's methods and make an appropriate match for the most positive experience."

Duckworth believes that classroom presentation techniques can be improved. "We need to spend more time on whole language-speaking, listening, literature. More hands-on, problem-solving, purposeful math skills should be developed."

Duckworth, who has master's and bachelor's degrees from Radford University in elementary education and administration, has served as assistant principal at the school the past two years.

Of Duckworth, Van Dyke said, "I couldn't be more pleased" that he is the new principal. "He is well-known and respected by parents, in the school and community."

by CNB