It’s Hard to Learn on an Empty Stomach

by Joan Singley Schrysen

Food insecurity plagues one out of every ten Florida households. Studies show that hungry children have impaired learning skills and increased behavioral and emotional problems. Once Forough Hosseini, local businesswoman and philanthropist, learned of the prevalence of hungry children in the Volusia County schools, she set to work crafting a plan to break this cycle of hunger for local students. Working collaboratively with social services and other groups, Mrs. Hosseini’s public charity Food Brings Hope created the afterschool TeenZone to nurture at-risk middle and high school students in body, mind, and spirit. Tutoring, enrichment activities, a nourishing evening meal, and achievement incentives spur students to academic success and enhance their access to higher education. Starting in 2007 at just one middle school, the program blossomed and soon spawned a KidsZone program for elementary students. Last year the two programs served over 1400 students in 24 schools. As the programs spread from one school to another, each site made adaptations to meet its needs. Pierson in rural Volusia County has a large migrant population with all its unique problems. Through Food Brings Hope, the Barbara Bush Family Literacy Program meets three days a week from 4 to 7 pm to break the cycle of intergenerational illiteracy. Parents learn English and reading skills beside their children, and all enjoy a nourishing evening meal. Established in 2016, this family literacy program has experienced enormous growth. Through collaboration with Daytona State College, parents now have the opportunity to explore GED and Adult Education Programs. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy highlighted Food Brings Hope during the 17th Celebration of Reading event showcasing the program at Pierson. Over the years additional programs and refinements have been added to the core program. Families depending on the free school lunch program suffer increased food insecurity on weekends and vacations. Several years ago Food Brings Hope added the Weekend Feed-a-Family program. At the end of the week each family collects enough food to feed a family of four for the weekend. Another initiative is the HOPE (Helping Others Prosper through Education) Project. There is a significant number of unaccompanied homeless high school students in Volusia County. HOPE provides a safe place for them to live. Meals, mentoring, transportation and other services allow them to graduate from high school. For the future, Food Brings Hope set lofty goals. VCan2020 stands for Volusia County CAN wipe out youth hunger and homelessness by 2020. Hopefully Volusia can be the first county in the United States to be homeless-less. To learn more about Food Brings Hope, visit www.foodbringshope.org. 

Learning for a Lifetime

by Dr. Tureka Louis

In education, our most valuable skills are effective assessment and data interpretation. We teach, test mastery, interpret data, then do it again. In the classroom, the most effective educators use these skills expertly to bridge gaps between what a student knows and what he or she needs to know to be successful. We can use these skills beyond academia to create an optimal living environment that connects us to others and helps us to live our best lives. Here are a few tips to help us excel in life’s assessments:

Pay attention. When we assess, we are checking for mastery of what has been taught. To learn what is taught, we have to pay attention. Embrace the habit of being a constantly observant learner. Look for what life is trying to teach you in obscure places. Always remember the best teachers are good students, and our own students can provide us with a wealth of information if we listen. Example: Are you in a situation you’ve been in before? What is the lesson life is trying to teach you? If you don’t know, ask…prayer and meditation work. Take notes. Don’t just let life pass you by, take notes. Pretend every hidden lesson in every moment is going to be “on the test.” What might you do differently? Live every moment like it is the most important moment of your life. Then you won’t waste a single one. Example: Journal your reflections each night. Take notes in meetings. Don’t let important things pass you by without paying attention. Study and review. Remember to reflect on what you’ve learned throughout each day. It will make you a better student in life. Example: Take a moment to meditate and reflect on your day. Your journals or your notes can be quite helpful here. How will you apply what you’ve learned? What worked and what will you do differently tomorrow? Review and properly interpret the data. After you are assessed, take a moment to look at your grade. Make sure you interpret it properly. Example: Evaluate your relationships. Everyone who doesn’t like you isn’t right about you. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean that everything they say is wrong either. What is your truth? What can you learn? 

Being a lifelong learner is about finding the lessons in unusual places and applying them masterfully with love. 

Dr. Tureka Louis is an educator of more than 13 years. She has worked with the Department of Defense, the State of Georgia, and several Fortune 500 businesses. She is currently a math intervention teacher at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, FL.

Doris Zinck Prays for Strength Until He Calls

by Debbie Keith

Doris and Brian Zinck had agreed that when they retired from Volusia County Schools, they would do shortterm mission work. So when God opened doors to a city in China, they crossed the ocean in January 2018. They were barely there for a week preparing to teach when on their first Sunday in the country, Doris suffered a seizure. Her diagnosis was "brain tumor.” The prognosis—terminal. An operation was imperative, but experienced doctors were not immediately available. Brian called his daughter, Jessica, who lived 7,500 miles away. She and her husband are both in the medical field. They in turn contacted an accomplished brain surgeon friend at Duke University, who generously offered, "Come to North Carolina, and I will operate!" The surgery was scheduled. Watching God work in all of this has been a miraculous thing. Detail after detail fell into place as they feared blocks in insurance; there were none. They feared blocks in air flight scheduling; there were none. They feared another seizure; there was none! A slot a week earlier than the scheduled surgery became available, so five days after the seizure, Dr. Allan Friedman was able to operate successfully. Doris underwent six weeks of radiation and oral chemo. Currently the MRI shows the silver-dollar sized tumor has shrunk to the size of a pea, and meds have helped a bit with her speech. Although Doris tires easily and her speech is slightly impaired, her love for the Lord has grown immeasurably. As soon as Doris was well enough to travel, the Zinck’s checked off her number one bucket list item: seeing the tulips in the Netherlands! Welcoming their eighth grandchild just a few months ago was such a joy, and they anticipate grandchild number nine’s arrival in March 2019. Doris’ prayer is to continue to have strength until the very end. It warms her heart knowing Brian will then resume their original plan to serve in China. Through it all, her faith has been made stronger in the showering of God's fullness. Doris smiled holding Brian’s hand: "Our hearts have been split open in praise to God. Through all of this, I have become braver as a witness with the freedom to advocate for the love of Christ, and I will do so until the day He calls me home."

One Quick Moment

by Ardyth Stanley

After thirty-two years of teaching, it was all over so fast. We were leaving the cafeteria after saying so-long to staff and teachers. Five of us were retiring, and I found myself surveying my cleaned-out office. Friends dropped by with hugs and well wishes. I felt butterflies in my stomach thinking about leaving never to return. Why are endings so painful while openings are full of hopeful anticipation? I remembered countless school openings. New shoes, shorts, shirts, school supplies, name tags. I would greet the children at the door, fussing over each one with a compliment and a question, “How does it feel to be in first grade?” After ushering each child to his seat and showing him how to put away his supplies, we were all ready to go. It was so exciting. Closings were different. At the end of the year as the children lined up at the door, I would tell each child how proud I was of him and his progress over the year and how I hoped he would have a good year in second grade. Once all the children left for the last time, I would go inside and weep. I couldn’t help it. I loved them all so much. I never had a child I didn’t love – even the “pistols.” I would give them choices, asking what I could do to help them, and they became my buddies. In time, as they got it together, they earned special responsibilities like returning a book to the library or delivering a note to the office. Now suddenly it was my last end-of-theyear. The door was closing on thirty-two wonderful years of teaching. They had all gone so fast. It is said that God never closes one door but that He opens a window. Now retirement was opening before me. My husband Doug and I had long dreamed of building a cabin in the North Carolina mountains. The fresh air, the change of seasons, dramatic winter storms and breathtaking springs. Now the cabin was finished. Doug was already there, waiting for me to complete these final days. On this painful last day, our daughter Mindi met me at school, the U-Haul already hooked up to the car. I spied the school in the rearview mirror and it was all over in a moment. We loaded the final things from the condo and were on our way – to another new and exciting opening.

ARDYTH STANLEY taught at Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach, FL. She and her late husband Doug have three daughters, Meridyth, Maret, and Mindi.

This article is reprinted from the February 28, 2013 issue of Waves in honor of the 2018 retirees. Best wishes to all of you!

Gratitude

by Peromnia Grant

The Living Waters Board thanks you for generously supporting our ministry of prayer for the education community. With your contributions we are able to reach out to your school and staff through the quarterly newsletter, monthly Time of Prayer, and the letters of encouragement to those who are hurting. We appreciate your commitment to keeping our ministry of prayer active in this community. If you know someone who would benefit from an extra measure of prayer, please pass along this issue of Waves. Our contact information is listed on page 4, and we welcome prayer requests throughout the summer, as well.

A Teacher Can Make All the Difference

by Angela Grant

My all-time favorite teacher was my fifth grade teacher at Tomoka Elementary, Ms. Margaret Wyland. Like a typical kid my age, fifth grade, for me, was an awkward time. Besides being a super-skinny girl who was taller than most of the boys in her class, I was also being bussed to a school where no one lived in my neighborhood, and I didn’t have classes with many of the students on the bus. The icing on my cake of quirkiness was that I was in the gifted program, so I was teased and taunted very often. But in Ms. Wyland’s class I was made to feel like a queen…Cleopatra in particular. You see I wore my hair in a braided style that Ms. Wyland thought was reminiscent of the Queen of the Nile. So once I entered her classroom, I forgot the jeering I had experienced shortly before walking through the door, and I embodied the presence of a queen. All the things that made me different and were often targeted by bullies, Ms. Wyland taught me to embrace. She even nicknamed me Cleo, and I wrote countless short stories about my adventures as Queen Cleo navigating the difficulties of modern adolescent life. Over time, I wasn’t embodying queendom just when I walked through the door of her classroom, but all of the time. I even went on to bravely audition for a solo in our school Christmas program and got it! Evolving into a more confident and self-assured girl was all because of the encouragement I received from Ms. Wyland. She made a huge impact on my life by teaching me to look at the things about me that were different and odd as unique and valuable. I left Ms. Wyland’s fifth grade class unsure of exactly what my future would hold, but knowing it would be bright, because I would be bringing all of my unique and valuable talents to the table. Because of her influence, it has been a wonderful journey. 

ANGELA RUBIANNA GRANT is Senior Event Planner for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). She is a graduate of Spruce Creek High School, the University of Florida, and holds an MBA from UMUC.

Of Love and Life

by Sue Fitton

Who would ever think that a fifth grader’s declaration of intent would materialize? But such is Brandy Gibson’s story of love and life. She was in fifth grade when she informed folks that she was going to marry Jay Gibson, but it was November 19, 1998 before they had their first date, and November 20, 1999 that they were married. Both dates are especially remembered as Clemson game dates, yet November 20, 1999, their wedding day took precedence, and Jay promised not to wear an earpiece to hear the game. Brandy wears two hats in daily living. One is in the mission field, as she refers to it, at Creekside Middle School. She is the Individualized Education Program Facilitator and Chair for the Special Education Department. Her second hat is as a pastor’s wife to Jay, the Connections Pastor at First Baptist Daytona Beach and mother to two, Kaitlyn and Gracie, students at Atlantic High School. Due to her brother’s disabilities, Brandy knew early that she wanted to be a teacher—a Special Education teacher. Born in Cheraw, South Carolina, Brandy graduated from Winthrop University in 1997. She has taught in South Carolina, North Carolina, and now, Florida since 2008, when husband Jay was called to be the Youth Pastor of First Baptist Daytona. Of all the demands on Brandy’s life as a Special Education Facilitator at Creekside, most rewarding is seeing and hearing of the success and achievements of the students. Most difficult is persevering with students when learning is sporadic: learn today, no recall or application tomorrow. She believes prayer is significant ALL the time! Her position is diverse in responsibility and accountability for the welfare of students. Thus, prayer is paramount to her day. Having grown up in church, it was in 2006 at a revival meeting, that Brandy truly recognized her need to make Jesus LORD of her life. As she expressed: “I got serious about the Lord.” She attributes her faith in the Lord as instrumental to her being a more caring teacher and facilitator, ever cognizant of students’ needs—no doubt a factor in being named Creekside Middle Teacher of the Year. CONGRATULATIONS, Brandy! When time permits, Brandy enjoys photography and sees it as a future endeavor. Currently it is a hobby and ministry to and for her family and friends. 

BRANDY’S INVITATION to all our readers: “If you don’t know Jesus, there is a way to know Him.” Contact her at brandytgibson@me.com. 

Wagging Tongues

by Vickie Presley

People can often be found talking about other people’s personal business or matters in the office, in the hallway, on the phone, or on social media. When chatting with others, it is easy to determine what you might have in common. The tongue, of course! Yes, everyone has a tongue. It is a muscular organ in the mouth that is covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa. The tongue is vital for chewing and swallowing food, as well as for speech. Speech. Oh, yes, we speak much, and sometimes herein lies the problem. Oftentimes, we are inconsiderate of others as we use that powerful organ. That powerful organ can build or destroy. In the book of Proverbs we find some powerful advice: Some of us have stubborn tongues (Proverbs 12:15 - “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”); some of us have sharp tongues (Proverbs 12:18 – “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”); some of us possess trained tongues (Proverbs 16:23 – “A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.”); while some of us have confident tongues (Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow what a day may bring forth.”); yet, some of us have rebellious tongues (Proverbs 30:11 – “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.”). Our goal as Christians should be to have mature tongues (Proverbs 21:23 – “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”). The tongue reflects our true selves. A person with a godly tongue is one with a godly heart. Speak and show kindness to others; for kindness to others is incumbent upon us all. As Leviticus 19:34 explicitly states, “The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.” Also, an unknown author asserts, “A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” Therefore, tame your tongue, and endeavor to speak positively and well about others. I’ve heard people say, “If you cannot say something good, do not say anything at all.” I concur, for the mature tongue is what one desires to represent him or her. As I close, I am reflecting on the hymn, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing…

VICKIE PRESLEY retired in 2016 as Area Superintendent for Volusia County Florida Schools after 36 years as an educator. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University, Stetson University, and Nova Southeastern University. She spent seven years as a teacher, then served as an administrative assistant and assistant principal. She later became principal of Starke Elementary in DeLand, Galaxy Middle in Deltona, and Campbell Middle in Daytona Beach. Vickie is married to Tyrone Presley and has a daughter and granddaughter.

Living Waters Welcomes New Board Member

Our newest Board member is Sue Fitton, recently retired from Spruce Creek High School, Port Orange, FL. Her teaching career spans 40 years, 33 in Culinary Arts including managing a student-operated restaurant. Born in West Virginia, Sue grew up in northeast Ohio. She received a BS from Radford University, an MA from Liberty University, and a diploma from Word of Life Bible Institute. In addition to teaching, since 1985, Sue has conducted a jail ministry providing Bible study and informal counselling for women inmates at the Correctional Facility. Sue attends First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach where she is active in her Sunday School class and missions group. She has been on two mission trips to Brazil and one to Tanzania. In her spare time, Sue enjoys reading, crafts, travel, water aerobics, and anything to do with cooking. She says, “I am blessed to have been able to teach, but forever am learning—and I love learning.”

Giving a Leg Up

by Joan Singley Schrysen

How can children mired in poverty, homeless and chronically hungry ever hope to emerge from their dire situation? Westside Elementary in Daytona Beach FL, where most students are on free or reduced lunch, works hard to give a leg up to their children. Their afterschool program, Westside’s Night Alive, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Copelin, furnishes academic help, enrichment opportunities and three nourishing meals to over 200 students daily and distributes 90 fifty-pound bags of food weekly. A flourishing school garden provides fresh produce regularly. Each day as school dismisses at 3:30, the children and teachers meet in the cafeteria, collect prepared supplies and lesson plans, and proceed to their designated room. Until 5:15 when dinner is served, they work on academics or project-based learning, taking time out for recess on the school’s unique Field of Dreams. The program also operates from 8 to 5 for eight weeks in the summer. It all started eleven years ago when then Principal Judi Winch and Assistant Principal Willie Williams sought to provide a safe place for the Westside children until parents got home from work about 6 PM. With massive fund-raising efforts and a five-year federal 21st Century Community Learning Grant, they transformed an empty lot behind the school into Westside’s Field of Dreams, creating a baseball diamond, a basketball court, child-size tennis courts, and an outdoor theatre. To create a program to go with this fine facility, they partnered with Food Brings Hope, a 401(c)3 charity for children of families in poverty. The program of academics enrichment, and nourishment grew from there. It is currently operating under its third five-year grant, a rare achievement. Enrichment includes field trips (both after and during school hours), the community garden, and motivational speakers. The Honors Program rewards those who maintain a high grade point average and a clean discipline record throughout elementary, middle, and high school. College tuition is assured these elite students. At Christmas, the Hope for the Holidays program puts on a catered dinner, complete with white tablecloths, for those families who are homeless or have been homeless in the past year. Formal invitations are sent. The stage is beautifully decorated. Festive cookies are distributed. A professional photograph of each family is taken and given to them. The children write wish lists that are later filled by staff from an enormous cache of toys donated by a host of volunteer organizations. Does all this massive effort work? Does it change lives? Just one of countless examples: the first Honor student to graduate (sometime next year) was raised by two people suffering addiction who were also homeless. Yet he is now in line to attend college, expenses paid. Without such help, he may not even have reached high school. Westside’s Night Alive takes the initiative to give a leg up to such students, providing extra help and encouragement, and enabling them to rise above their circumstances and eventually become functioning, contributing members of society.