Back to School: Time to Meet Teacher Florence "Liz" E. Stafford

Florence "Liz" E. Stafford, Mississippi University for Women Class of 1976 teaches High School Special Education (9th-12th grade), math, reading, inclusion at West Harrison High School.  At the W she was a D'Belle and enjoyed her studies because "I had really great teachers."  She remembers going to many schools in Columbus for practice/tutoring, observation, etc.

When asked what she enjoyed most about teaching, she replied:  "I like everything about teaching.  If  I could start all over again in college, I would choose teaching again as my major."

Though she finds working with students that don't have a very good home life to be the most challenging part of her job, she realizes that "at school they can at least see that someone cares for them and can give them good direction in life."  About the rewards of teaching, Liz tells us "It is really worth it when you run into your old students at Walmart and they tell you how much they learned and appreciated your teaching and guidance."

Common Reading Initiative: Alum Version

Eight Habits of the Heart: Embracing the Values that Build Strong Families and Communities (African American History (Penguin)) is the book chosen for MUW's Common Reading Initiative this year.  Written by Clifton Taulbert, an African-American man raised on the Mississippi Delta in the early 1960's, during the segregation era, it gives eight habits Taulbert thinks we all need to adopt to create happy homes and families and to raise successful children.  In a short narrative, he recalls how friends and neighbors taught him these habits as much by action as by words.

The second and third habits about which Taulbert writes are dependability and responsibility.  About them he writes "While previous generations took it for granted that these habits were worth cultivating, in many places they have all but disappeared--and community has vanished with them".

Question:  Do you agree with Taulbert's statement above?  Why or why not?

Back to School: Teacher Profile--Leta DiGiuseppe Palmiter

Leta DiGiuseppe Palmiter, Mississippi University for Women, class of 1997, is from Meridian.  While at The W, she was a Reveler #13, and Masker #3.  She was a member of  Lantern, Torch, and Hottentots and was a Centennial Scholar.  She now teaches Special Education Inclusion 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades at Southeast Lauderdale Elementary School and will soon receive her Master's degree in Dyslexia Therapy.

When asked how her W education prepared her for her career, Leta told us "The W prepared me to be a leader, to ask the hard questions, and to demand more of myself, my school, and my students.  It gave me the tools to think around problems and be creative in solutions.  The W led me to strive for excellence, and never accept the status quo."

"I love the challenge of working with the "difficult" child:  the child who needs more love, understanding, patience, and effort.  I love learning how to best meet their needs and working with other teachers to ensure quality education for all." describes what Leta likes about her job.   "I also enjoy coteaching in the inclusion classroom. Working with peers, teaming up to meet the challenges, makes work more fun.  This environment gives us someone to laugh with, cry with, commiserate with, and celebrate with.

Regarding her greatest challenges, she said "I find the red tape of education the most frustrating part of teaching.  Sometimes the good intentions of government get in the way of what children really need, and that is challenging."

Leta was recognized as a  National Board Teacher  last year, about which she said "Being recognized for doing what the W prepared me to do was fulfilling."   Leta, we are all proud of you for your achievement and wish  you great success this school year.  

Back to School: Teacher Profile--LouAnn Hays Zoffuto

LouAnn Hays Zoffuto, MUW class of 1966, was from Meridian, MS. At the W she was a member of Lockhearts, Hottentots, and the modeling squad. She was Editor of Dilettanti, on the Spectator staff, and participated in speech and theater activities.

While now retired, LouAnn taught 7th and 8th grade social studies, reading, and some English for five years in Memphis. She then spent twenty years at Cape Girardeau Central High School, Cape Girardeau, MO, where she taught Missouri history, world geography, American history, world history, and psychology. 

She credits Mississippi University for Women with giving her a good background in most of the subjects she taught. LouAnn said "This was before you had to be an education major to teach. We actually took college courses in the subjects we anticipated teaching!!!!!!! I passed my teachers certification exam easily, and was admitted to graduate school with good grades on the entrance exam. I also became an assertive woman as a result of attending the W. I never had a problem being in charge and in high school that is very important. It was not something I had naturally prior to my W experience." 

Like most teachers, she didn't like dealing with the mountains of paperwork and some of the "personalities" in students, parents and other educators. Her colleagues at Central awarded her Faculty Achievement Award. Twice the senior class and their officers asked her to be the graduation speaker, and four times they asked her to read the names of the graduates. She was also selected by the students to read the names and speak at National Honor Society induction five times. She was a class sponsor seven times. She was selected by the football team as a sponsor six or seven years. About these awards, LouAnn remarked "These were not given to me because I was an easy A teacher. It was a great time to be with teenagers."

Photos of the Week: Hearin Leaders Play Mud Volleyball

Thanks to Katelyn Calvert for the photos

Calling Business Owners

If you are an MUW alumna or alumnus and you own your own business, this is your shot at some free advertising.  The next group of people to be profiled here on our blog will be business owners.  Whether you sell cosmetics to a few friends for pocket money or are the owner of a large company that serves Fortune 500 companies, whether you own your own professional practice or are a self-employed artist, we want YOU.  Fill out our form at https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE4zUFgtZUY1NHdlRjlUanE0czRqS1E6MQ and we'll get in touch for photos, logos, etc.  We want to learn about you and about your business and to give alums a chance to support other alums.  Please participate.  Thanks!

Common Reading Initiative: Alum Version

Eight Habits of the Heart: Embracing the Values that Build Strong Families and Communities (African American History (Penguin)) is the book chosen for MUW's Common Reading Initiative this year.  Written by Clifton Taulbert, an African-American man raised on the Mississippi Delta in the early 1960's, during the segregation era, it gives eight habits Taulbert thinks we all need to adopt to create happy homes and families and to raise successful children.  In a short narrative, he recalls how friends and neighbors taught him these habits as much by action as by words.

As I stated a couple of weeks ago, we are going to have an alumna/us discussion about this book here.  I'm going to post a discussion question (and it is a general enough question that you really don't have to have read the book in order to answer--though I do encourage you to get the book, it is a quick and easy but worthwhile read) and I really do want YOU to respond.

The first habit about which Taulbert writes is a Nurturing Attitude.  He said "Most of the adults I knew lived their lives in such a way that we as children sensed their unity--a necessity, if they were going to provide a caring and supportive environment for their children.  Today I call their collective activity 'nurturing attitude'".  He goes on to list problems children face today like guns in schools, drugs and intolerance and then states "Each problem cries out for us to practice what my elders knew--this first habit of the heart, a nurturing attitude."  This section of the book is filled with vignettes of how people in the community looked out for each other.

Question:  How can we in our busy, commuting, two-career families create this nurturing attitude in our communities and families?

Back to School: Teacher Profile--Lynne Lott Schneider

The W has always been known for producing superior teachers.  One of them is Lynne Lott Schneider, Class of 1991, from New Hebron, MS.  While at MUW, Lynn was involved with Silhouettes, Jesters, SGA, SAA Ambassadors, Hottentots, and Spectator

Lynne is now teaching high school English and Journalism,  and acting as advisor to the school newspaper at Murrah High School in Jackson.  While she was not an education major, Lynne believes her degree in Journalism has gone a long way in helping her to teach writing and advise publication staffs.  All of the activities and organizations at the W helped her be able to lead and to communicate with students effectively. Also, said Lynne, "Pledging both a 4-year and a 2-year helps with being cool under pressure. Those mean paddle line faces we used come in handy with unruly students, too!"

According to Lynne, "The best part of teaching is running into former students and hearing about their successes, or having them tell me that something I told them made a difference in their lives.  The time spent with current students is also rewarding, but nothing beats having proof that your job has made a difference in someone's life."  However, she complains "I have a real hard time with the bureacracy and 'red tape' of working for a large public school district. The wheels sometimes just move too slowly, and teachers have very little power to make them move any faster.  That gets pretty frustrating at times."

Photo of the Week

Dr. Bridget Pieschel welcomes students back to campus and to

 the Center for Women's Research and Public Policy

MFAeA Chattanooga Area Alumnae/i Meeting

Chattanooga, TN Area MFAeA Meeting

for the Alumnae/i of Mississippi University for Women
Atlanta - Birmingham - Chattanooga - Knoxville - Nashville – & Surrounding Areas 

All MUW Alums and friends are invited to attend

August 28, 2010 at Noon
Hamilton Place Hilton Garden Inn
2343 Shallowford Village Drive, Chattanooga, TN

Registration begins at 11:30. Event will include lunch, entertainment, and door prizes. Cost of registration is $12.00 per person.

Special Guests: Mississippi's First Alumnae Association President Lillian Harris Wade and Retired Alumni Director Patsy McDaniel.

Entertainment will be music of The W and readings from W authors Bridget Smith Pieschel ’79 and Jimmie Meese Moomaw ’58.

Please RSVP by August 23rd to Mary Helen Hicks at 901-833-0297 or mhhicks@vhghotels.com.

Directions: Interstate 75 to exit 5, Shallowford Road.

For those of you traveling south on I-75, take exit 5 and turn right on Shallowford Road. Then turn right at the Exxon Station on to Shallowford Village Drive. The Hilton will be the second hotel on the left across from O'Charley's and Cracker Barrel.

For those of you traveling north on I-75, take exit 5 and turn left onto Shallowford Road. Then turn right at the Exxon Station onto Shallowford Village Drive. The Hilton will be the second hotel on the left across from O'Charley's and Cracker Barrel. 

 

Hope to see you there!!

May Her Soul Rest In Peace

Linda Partlow

TUPELO – Linda Partlow, 61, MUW Class of 1971, a retired Itawamba Community College mathematics professor, longtime tennis coach and Plantersville native, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center after a long illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors. Burial will be in the Plantersville Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Saturday only.

Moving In Day

Ah, that yearly ritual of moving college students into their dorm rooms....remember the overloaded cars, the tired Dads, the tearful Moms, the excited friends.  This year Move-In Day at The W is August 15.  If you are in the area, Wesley is looking for volunteers, and for water.  The MUW Alumni Association (the official affiliated group) has said it will be helping students and giving out water as well.  The photo is Madeleine Gardiner, who will be a Sophomore this year, on last year's Move-In Day.

I asked for people's memories of Move-In Day when they were students.

 I moved to MUW with a friend from high school - we were roomies in Calloway Hall.  I remember thinking when we packed up a trailer with our stuff that we'd brought far too much, but then was stunned to realize that some girls had brought a trailer full of just their own stuff.


I was an Orientation Leader my Sophomore, Junior & Senior years at The W, and those years, just like my own Freshman Move-In Day were memorable for the constant buzz of excitement across the campus.  Meeting new friends, starting off on new adventures, bridging that gap between childhood and adulthood, created a palpable energy that I always found invigorating.  Neely Woods Hunter, '95



Wow...so long ago yet seems like just yesterday! 


I went to the W in the fall of 1983 with my dear friend from high school. I don't know how I would have made it without her.


It didn't take us long to move our stuff into our room in Calloway on the 3rd floor. Home for us was just up the road in Monroe county so we knew we would be going back almost every weekend.


We were very coordinated with matching bedspreads and curtains. We had a large piece of pink carpeting that was a scrap given to us by our small town flooring guy.  We had a full size refrigerator in our room - an old one my dad repainted. It seems like lots of folks on the hall keep stuff in that refrigerator.  The room was huge.


We got rid of the refrigerator the spring semester so we could move into a small room with a private bath!


I have great memories of those sweet girls from Calloway and the fall of 1983. Michelle Byars Gray '87



My freshmen year I had an entourage come to help me move in: My mom with her Durango loaded down, my grandparents bringing a few things in their pickup, a couple of my guy friends from high school coming to help and me with my car loaded.  My grandparents beat me by about ten minutes and Mom was a little bit behind me.  Since Mom and Grandmother were W girls and I had been there the week before to paint, we had no trouble finding where we needed to be, but the boys got so lost that I had to run out to the car to get my new Columbus map so we could tell them how to get to campus. When we started to unload in front of Callaway, a swarm of Lockharts just descended and started helping take my stuff up to the 3rd floor. Between all the help from campus and my folks, we had everything unloaded in about 30 minutes. After that was the requisite trip to Walmart for groceries and supplies.


I was in SAA every year I was at the W which came with the perk that I got to move in early so we could help with official Move In Day. I think we got more organized as time went on with unloading zones around the buildings so we could keep things moving.   Erin Gioia 2007


The big thing was that it was beastly hot and I had to move to the second floor of Peyton. My dad and mom came to help, and I was afraid my dad was going to have a heart attack from carrying all my heavy stuff since there wasn't an elevator. I was happy to be coming to school, but it was much harder on my parents. They had collected all my stuff for months in the "room that was too good for anybody except company." My dad called it "the staging area." I think it was difficult for them because I was only 16 at the time. My 17th birthday was in a week. Part of the reason they wanted me to come to the W was to keep me away from boys . (They weren't counting on Sandra Day O'Connor!)Laura Amundson 1984


When I think of Move-In Day, I remember two in particular.  My Freshman year my dad brought me and my stuff up from Long Beach.  No one I knew was going to The W and while in some ways I liked the idea of a new start, it was kind of scary once he left me alone--but it didn't take long for me to realize that there were people who cared. Before dinner than night I had messages from my admissions rep and from Marian Lion, who had been my Beta Club sponsor in junior high, and who was then working in the Alumnae Office.  Linda Elliott, who I did not know, but whose mom was friends with my parents, banged on my door and told me to call her if I needed anything.  Shortly thereafter, my SIA big sister showed up.  


The next year I volunteered to be a big sister and was given the name of Laura Amundson from Brandon Mississippi.  I sent her a letter during the summer, and then on Move-In day, dropped by to see her.  As she said, both her parents were there and they were all talking.  They seemed nice enough, but they sure didn't sound like they were from Brandon, Mississippi, and I told them so.  They said they were from a small town in Wisconsin, a small town just down the road from the small town in which my Mom was raised, and where I'm related to half the town.  I told them that my mother was from Durand, and Laura mentioned that her uncle married a woman from Durand.  It turns out that woman  was my mother's first cousin and one of the few whose name I'd know.  Ruth Wilz Curcuru '83

Photo of the Week

Aren't they beautiful??

Bragging rights to the first person to identify these two ladies by leaving a comment.

They were enjoying Homecoming, 2010.

MUW Common Reading Initiative

Every year lately MUW has had a common reading initiative.  All students and faculty members are asked to read the same book.  Various classes and venues on campus include discussions of the book and there is an essay contest.  You can read more on their webpage.

Eight Habits of the Heart: Embracing the Values that Build Strong Families and Communities (African American History (Penguin)) is the chosen book this year.

From Amazon.com:

Nationally acclaimed speaker and memoir writer Clifton Taulbert presents eight habits that build the essence of social stability. His habits, which are broken down into brief chapters--"A Nurturing Attitude," "Dependability," "Responsibility," "Friendship," "Brotherhood," "High Expectations," "Courage," and "Hope"--may not be stunningly original, yet they reflect a kind of plainspoken "front-porch wisdom" rooted in Taulbert's Southern upbringing. His elders ignored the boundaries of legal segregation and embarked on a campaign to offer a community that embraced the dreams and successes of each child and family. This is an excellent book for young-adult readers who will appreciate the rich, memoir-style storytelling and the simple but genuine lessons of how to be a good person in order to build a more spiritually evolved world. --Gail Hudson

Product Description

Clifton L. Taulbert is renowned for his poignant memoirs about growing up in the segregated South and for his lectures and programs in schools, businesses, and communities throughout the world. In this inspiring handbook he lays out eight basic principles he learned from his elders: a nurturing attitude, dependability, responsibility, friendship, brotherhood, high expectations, courage, and hope. With a new Introduction and exercises for reflection and practice, Taulbert shows how the Eight Habits can be utilized today to help strengthen relationships, families, and communities everywhere. This inspirational book stands alongside The Book of Virtues and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families as a refreshing and meaningful guide to the spiritual core we, as a society, always seem to be seeking.

Alumna/i Component:  

Starting two weeks from today, on August 23, I'll be posting a question relating to one of the Eight Habits, and we will try to get an alum discussion going--we can pretend we are back in English class trying to impress our professor with our brilliance.  Of course now we have the wisdom that comes with age so we really will be brilliant!  So, your assignment is to obtain a copy of the book either from your local library, your local bookstore or even Amazon (I gave you a handy link above) and read the first chapter by August 23.

Fur Baby Friday

Anne Swearingen, class of 1973, sent us these photos of her fur babies.

Her granddaughter Elizabeth loves Oreo.

Granddaughter Grace and Molly were both camera-shy that day.

    

Lefty competes with the newspaper for the attention of Carla Brangenberg, MUW class of '87.  

New Website for CWRPP

Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel, director of the Center for Women's Research and Public Policy at MUW, has been hard at work on the Center's new website, and it is now live! Check it out here.

Through the CWRPP website, current students, faculty, and alumnae can keep up-to-date about the programs and events being sponsored by the Center. An exhaustive list of resource websites is provided and is continually being updated, and the site also contains a list of former and current research projects that have been conducted using archival materials available in the Center.

The website also contains information about the ongoing Golden Girls Oral History project, which recently resulted in the wonderful compilation Golden Days: Reminisces of Alumnae, Mississippi State College for Women, published in fall 2008.

The CWRPP is housed in the historic Orr Chapel Annex, right inside the front gate on campus. On your next visit, make sure you stop by to greet Dr. Pieschel and see everything the Center has to offer!

Photo of the Week--and a Request for help

This photo is from the 1983 Meh Lady Yearbook, and it shows the members of Kappa Pi, the art honorary.  They are:  Kneeling--Kelly Kriszamer; Angie Jones; Gena Freeman, Vice President; Lynn Miller; Becky Smith, President; Standing--Helen Mullen; Dr. Mary Evelyn Stringer, Sponsor; Joyce Baker, Secretary-Treasurer; and Lynnette Tucker.  If you look behind them you'll see the backdrop for the Art Building Fountain, which in my opinion was one of the uglier structures on campus.  The new building looks much nicer.  Seeing these art majors from the 1980's makes you wonder whatever happened to them.  Are they now famous, at least in the art world?  Do those of us who were given gifts by our art major friends have valuable artwork, or sentimental treasures?  What do art majors do after college?  Today's art department wants to know.  So, if you are or if you know one of these ladies, please, let us know about you!

As part of their recruiting efforts, Beverly Joyce, Assistant Professor of Art, wants to know what happened to art majors.  She asks that you email her at bjoyce@as.muw.edu and let her know about your post-college life (and she wants to know about more than just these Kappa Pi folks).  She'd especially like to know about your current art activities (exhibitions, awards, jobs, etc.)  It's so important now to demonstrate to high school students (and their parents) that one can actually do something with an art degree!  If your art degree has been valuable in something other than what one would consider an "art" job, let her know about that too.  If you send a copy of your email to mfaeablog@gmail.com, we'd love to run a feature on you too.  You can showcase your work and give fellow alums a chance to buy it.

Sundaes on Sunday

Current Students (New and Old)

Along with 

Alumnae and Alumni

Parents

Friends

Join us for an Ice Cream Social 

in celebration of your acceptance 

to our alma mater 

Mississippi University for Women 

Sunday, August 8, 2010 

3:00—5:00p.m. 

Sal & Mookie’s Ice Cream Joint 

565 Taylor Street 

Jackson, MS 

Meet Fellow Students and Local Alums! 

Learn about W Life! 

Win Door Prizes! 

rsvp by august 6 to soireems@gmail.com 

Congratulations, Michelle Wescovich Daugherty!

2007 MUW alumna Michelle Wescovich married Charles ("Charlie") Daugherty on July 31, 2010, at the Singing River Yacht Club in Pascagoula, MS.

Michelle was attended by childhood friend Melissa McDonald Coker, who served as matron of honor, and Leigh-Ann Thornhill (also MUW '07), who served as maid of honor. Charlie's groomsmen were his brother, Robin Daugherty, and Michelle's son, Jarod Wescovich, 16, who also walked his mother down the aisle. Michelle's adopted son, Jamie Stumph, 17, served as usher. The flower girl was Bella Kendrick, 2, and the ringbearer was Charlie's nephew, Peyton Daugherty, 4.

The wedding was attended by almost a dozen W girls from Michelle's years at the school, including some of her sisters from the D'Belles social club. From left to right in the photo above: D'Belles Leigh-Ann Thornhill, Megan Roberts Becnel ('09), Michelle, Sanzettra Frazier (attended '06-'07), Jennifer Ford (attended '06-'08), and Katy Gray ('07).

Michelle and Charlie are very grateful to all their family and friends for making their special day as memorable as possible!

Have you recently celebrated a milestone in your life?

The MFAeA Blog would love to publish announcements of your engagement or wedding, the birth of your children or grandchildren, your promotion, new job or retirement, or any other significant event in your life.  Please send information to mfaeablog@gmail.com.