Although Oklahoma educators John and Caryl Jobe retired a few years ago, they didn’t want to leave teaching altogether.
After learning that Oklahoma State University needed to improve the quality of its undergraduate teaching, the couple volunteered their services.
Mr. Jobe is a former professor of mathematics who taught at the university for 35 years. Ms. Jobe taught at the elementary level in the Stillwater public schools for 20 years. Both now work in the math department at Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
“We wanted to be professionally active without the commitment of a full-time profession,” Mr. Jobe said recently.
The couple have designed a teacher education program for graduate students who plan to teach undergraduates. The program, scheduled to begin this spring, will give students a chance to learn by experience and practice, not just from textbooks, Mr. Jobe said.
The couple’s main focus at the university will be their new program, although Mr. Jobe intends to teach an undergraduate algebra class.
They have decided to donate their combined salary--$20,000--to establish a fund that would give a $1,000 fellowship to an outstanding graduate student in math each year.
Music teacher Stephen Dankner will have more than one reason to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington this month. He was one of 25 composers from around the country asked to create a short composition for the celebration.
The National Symphony Orchestra will perform his three-minute “Fanfare for String Quartet” at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 15, 16, 17, and 20.
Mr. Dankner a teacher for 26 years, teaches music composition at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, a public high school. He said he plans to take time off to attend each of the performances of his work. ... Edward Duprez has been appointed the chief business officer of the Educational Alliance of Pueblo, a partnership between the University of Southern Colorado and the Pueblo school district. He is the former senior vice president and chief financial officer for Emmanuel College in Boston.
