THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605230173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 54 lines
Jon Cookson said he was having a strange day.
``We had a small incident with a student about 1,'' said Cookson, a welding instructor at the school system's Career Development Center. ``Now I come here and win this.''
``Here'' was the Rufus Beamer Excellence Awards for Technical and Career Education held at Sentara Bayside Hospital.
``This'' was a first place win in the region for an individual project. The recent ceremony was the inaugural Rufus Beamer event for the city's public schools. The awards are given to those teachers who apply innovative technological approaches to classroom teaching. Cookson won for individual project.
He went to the head of the class for combining two seemingly disparate subjects: math and welding.
``I tell my students that welding is about angles - geometry,'' said Cookson, who holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He also graduated from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard's apprenticeship program.
When Rufus Beamer retired from Virginia Tech in 1981, an endowment was set up in his name to honor those teachers who make significant contributions in vocational-technical education.
Beamer spent more than 20 years teaching vocational education at Virginia Tech and served as associate dean of the school's College of Education.
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, School Superintendent Timothy Jenney and Patrick Konopnicki, director of career and technical education for the city schools, were among those on hand.
There were other winners.
Karen Simmons and Carolyn Wilson of Great Neck Middle School and Barbara Hartin, Nancy Jenkins and Susan O'Donnell of Dey Elementary School won for their group project, GEMS - Gulls Empowering Motivational Skills at the kindergarten level.
A regional winner, Cookson will travel to Richmond on June 20 for the statewide competition. He was a group winner in 1992-93.
``I'm shocked,'' he said, as he held his plaque in one hand. ``I'm given a lot of latitude in the classroom.
``I try to lead the kids, direct them with skills in the class and help them in working with others.
``I seek guidance and feedback from my students, too.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
``I tell my students that welding is about angles - geometry,'' said
Jon Cookson, a welding instructor at the school system's Career
Development Center. He won an inaugural Rufus Beamer award for
employing innovative technological approaches to classroom teaching. by CNB