Nathan Hale Weekly
January 4th, 2016
Happy New Year!
C. Starr
Vision Statement
Coming Attractions
- January 4,5, & 6: Teacher Grade Entry
- January 5: Faculty Meeting
Mrs. Duncan
They say that the average time a teacher stays in education is 5 years. Here at Hale we are fortunate to have many teachers who far exceed that statistic. Among those is Mrs. Patty Duncan with total years experience of 38 years.
Mrs. Duncan has attend NSU, OSU, and TU Receiving a Bachelors of Music Education, Mater of Music Education and an English certification and Masters+60.
Mrs. Duncan is a life long TPS employee. She has worked at several locations including
Nimitz/Wright Jr. Highs (one-half day each school) Tulsa Public Schools, Nimitz/Thoreau Jr. Highs (one-half day each school), Nimitz Middle School (Taught Vocal music, English and French), Thoreau (Vocal music, Guitar teacher), Wright ( Vocal music, English teacher), and Nathan Hale HS ( Vocal music, French AP, French I, II, III, English, Drama,
Music Theory AP, Music of Global Cultures, Music History, Musical Theater, Music Appreciation).
She holds and has held many Special Assignments:
Red Cross Sponsor – Thoreau Jr. High
Student Council Sponsor – Nimitz Middle School Team Leader – Nimitz Middle School Assembly Coordinator – Nimitz Middle School and Nathan Hale High School Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Class Sponsors – Nathan Hale High School Stagecraft Director – Nathan Hale High School Fine Arts Department Chairman – Nathan Hale High School
Mrs. Duncan also has a beautiful family. Her husband, Bill Duncan, a retired school administrator and children: Lindsay Smith -28, a vocal music teacher at Union, has a master's degree in school administration, Billy Duncan - 26 Will graduate Dec. 18th with a law degree from the Univ of Tulsa and Blake Duncan - 25 Teacher and coach at NHHS, working on his master's.
Mrs. Duncan's achievements continue with receiving several honors and awards. These include:
National Board Early Adolescent Young Adult EAYA Music Certification in 2004.
National Board renewal in 2013
Nathan Hale High School Teacher of the Year 2003-2004
2012 Nimitz Middle School Teacher of the Year 1984-1985
TPS District Vocal Music Department Chairman 2011
Present Professional Learning Community facilitator of the Fine Arts
PLC National Board Assessor for several summers
Chairman of the Hyechka Scholarship Committee 2009-Present
Hyechka Civic Committee 2009 – Present
Chosen to represent TPS at the Metropolitan Opera HD Live in the Schools Conference 2012 - present
AdvancED Accreditation Team Member
AdvancED Accreditation Lead Assessor
2015 Judge for OSSAA vocal music solo and ensemble contests
Received a grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to study Mozart in Vienna summer of 2014
Oklahoma Fine Arts Teacher of the Year 2015
First Inductee to the TPS Fine Arts Hall of Fame 2015
Began singing in the Tulsa Opera Chorus when she was 16 years old.
Sang in the chorus for 25 years.
I think it is fair to say that Mrs. Duncan has given her life to education. We here at Nathan Hale are fortunate to call her ours. The experience and wisdom she brings to her students is top rated.
Thank you for all you do Mrs. Duncan.
Counselor's Corner
Teachers as we enter the spring semester there is a huge new addition to the Testing / Accountability realm of Education in Oklahoma. With the purchase of statewide ACT testing for juniors the State Department of Education is opening a door for future Accountability / Testing changes. The best part for most of our students is that they will receive the ACT Test at no charge and for many of them this will add a third free opportunity to take the exam. We will be giving the ACT Paper and Pencil test on March 29th to our Juniors.
There are many resources available to help them and our other students prepare for this exam and push your curriculum in your classroom.
https://www.act.org/aap/resources/preparing.html
The ACT website has many resources to help students practice and prepare for this Test. Also you and your students can find free apps for your phones that will deliver practice questions you can use in your classroom. We all know that there is too much emphasis on testing. With preparation and practice though we can help our students’ performance and alleviate some of the stress associated with this test.
The scores generated from this State administration of the ACT are college reportable. They will also be used as alternate scores to cover Biology, Algebra I &II, Geometry, English II & III, EOIs. The scores can now even exempt students from Geometry, English III, and Algebra II EOIs. We need to encourage and prepare all of our students to do their best on this test.
Ranger of the Month-Yakelyn Alvarado
What a great student!!!
Best in Show
These are a few of her favorite things.
Social Studies Department
Durbin
I am a native Tulsan. I attended MacArthur Elementary and Edison Middle and High School. I studied Secondary Education at Oklahoma State University and graduated in May 2014. This is my second year teaching at Nathan Hale High School and I am proud to teach in the high school located in the neighborhood I grew up in. Aside from teaching U.S History I am the assistant girls soccer coach and I assist with the Academic Bowl team. When I am not teaching my favorite thing to do is go to concerts and music festivals. I have seen over 100 bands live and my favorite place to be is Cain’s Ballroom. My favorite bands are Grizzly Bear, Born Ruffians, Fleet Foxes, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin.
Reins
Graduate of Bishop Kelley High School and Oklahoma State University, Major in History, Minor in Political Science
Teaches World History and coaches cheer and pom
Taught at McLain 2001-2007…Hale 2011-Present
Loves photography, horses, dogs, and books. NOTHING ELSE. I am a fun-hater and NEVER dress up for spirit week or Halloween, much to the chagrin of Keri Bates.
Mcfail
Robert McFail Jr.
Robert teaches Oklahoma History and U.S. Government (you know….up in the tower). He is
also the sponsor for the class of 2019. His favorite sports teams are the Dallas Cowboys, the
San Antonio Spurs, the Texas Rangers, and the Kansas Jayhawks. He only roots for the
Longhorns when they play OU. Hook em!!!!
Gray
I graduated from Memorial High School in 1997. I attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University my freshmen year on a football scholarship, I finished at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah with my B.S. in Criminal Justice, I played football there also. I gained my teaching credentials from Northeastern State University, I have a Master’s in school Administration from Southern Nazarene University, I will finish my second Master’s in Sports Administration from Southern Nazarene University in December of 2016.I was the Offensive Line Coach at Hominy High School for 2 years. I have taught at Woodland Public Schools where I was the Offensive Coordinator, Head Wrestling coach, and assistant A.D. for two years, I was the Head Football coach at Copan High School for one year, I was the Head Football Coach, and A.D. at Gilcrease Middle School, and the offensive line coach for McLain for one year. This is my 9th year at Hale High School, I have been the Assistant Head Football Coach for seven of those years, and I am the Head Wrestling and Golf Coach currently. I teach World History, AP Gov., and OK History. I love to hunt and fish, and spending time with my wife and 6 soon to be 7 kids.
Wishing You A Happy January Birthday!
WENDY THOMPSON-9TH
LEONARD HOPE– 11TH
ROBERT MCFAIL– 18TH
ASHYLN METCALF– 23RD
BLANCA GUERRERO– 27TH
Nathan Hale High School
Website: http://hale.tulsaschools.org
Location: 6929 East 21 Street, Tulsa, OK, United States
Phone: (918) 925-1200
Twitter: @NathahHaleHigh