Patricia Verdun Brings High-Tech Vocational Programs (and more) to SB

Patricia Verdun, CTE Coordinator and Teacher, is in her third year at South Bend

Patricia Verdun, Career & Technical Education (CTE) teacher at South Bend High School is always looking to provide her students with life-relevant learning opportunities.

And isn't that what education should be about?

Ms. Verdun, who is in her third year at South Bend, provides a multitude of student programs and strives to offer impactful opportunities.

MOS Certification

One of the programs new this school year, Ms. Verdun is preparing South Bend students to test for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification.  A new program supported by Microsoft and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), this multi-month certification process is being taught in Ms. Verdun's 9th grade computer applications class.

"Our students are becoming proficient in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint," says Ms. Verdun.  "Most students use Word and Powerpoint, but in this class they are learning to use all aspects of this software, it is very powerful," she continues.  "Microsoft provides Office 2013 curriculum to us and we teach the lessons here in our labs.  Students can also access the software from home, which allows students to have Office 2013 wherever they need it."  Students often use their own interests as data and content in their class projects.  Doing this allows students to have more ownership in what they are learning, and develops a little bit of pride in the process.  "I enjoy making class fun and relevant to the students so they can be invested," says Ms. Verdun.

Ms. Verdun has made South Bend High School a Microsoft authorized testing center, and South Bend students will complete certification testing on campus.  Microsoft provides the testing free of charge through program vouchers.

One reason I believe CTE classes to be so important is that they give students the chance to learn practical skills which can relate to future opportunities.  School needs to relevant to students, and CTE provides an arena for that relevance to be realized.  It is even better when training can tie directly to future job qualifications that may potentially give students a competitive edge.

Impacting Kids

Ms. Verdun, who has a degree in accounting, a Masters in education, and is endorsed in business marketing and work-based learning, enjoys teaching kids technology business skills.  But, she also involves students in other leadership activities where students learn life skills through service.  Teaching career choices, personal finance, intro to business, and journalism/yearbook, Ms. Verdun is often found working with students outside of school on various projects.  Her FBLA club coordinates school blood drives and various service projects.  Last year her students promoted Bully Prevention Week, and educated students and staff on these important issues.

When I asked what she likes most about teaching in a small school, Ms. Verdun said that she believes we can better impact students.  "Bigger schools may have more resources for a lot of things, but I've found I can really develop good relationships with kids here," she continues.  "I connect well with students and I like being able to help them out."

In these recent days where education is seemingly more about testing and accountability, impactful programs like ones provided by our CTE teachers run the risk of being overlooked.  And CTE are not the only ones left behind.  Art, music, and other subjects not always identified as "core" often take a back seat to the political favorites of the moment.  It is reassuring to have teachers like Ms. Verdun who push forward and continue to innovate in the classroom.  Yet another example of why South Bend is, "A great place for kids."

Great ShakeOut & Tsunami Evacuation Drill

South Bend Public Schools participated in the Great Washington Shake Out on October 15 at 10:15 am.  After the scheduled earthquake drill, the school followed the coordinated tsunami evacuation drill initiated by Pacific County Emergency Management and the City of South Bend.  The entire school district, over 600 students and staff from the pre-school to the high school, made their way up Monroe and over to Cowlitz and Jackson in under 15 minutes.  School busses were waiting at the staging area and transported elementary children back to the South Bend campus.

South Bend Schools have been practicing school-wide tsunami evacuation exercises for years.  We believe this is important to do so that both staff and students experience the process of where to go in the event of an actual emergency.  Practicing this drill allows us to become more efficient and safe as we move six to seven hundred people to elevated safety.  As this process becomes second nature to our students and staff, their confidence and understanding of what to do helps ensure everyone's safety.

It is impossible to anticipate the exact circumstances we will face during and after an earthquake emergency.  However, we have clear procedures of how to react during an earthquake and these procedures are taught to our students on a regular basis.  In the event of an actual tsunami evacuation order, we will evacuate as planned and then coordinate and follow procedures as established by South Bend
City officials and Pacific County Emergency Management.  Student safety is our primary concern, and we will do what it takes to ensure each and every one of our students are accounted for and safe.

Parents should be sure to talk with their children about safety procedures during and after an earthquake, and should have an emergency plan in place at home.  This is good reinforcement of emergency procedures learned at school, and will help ensure families are safe in the event an emergency occurs while at home.   Further information can be found at the Pacific County Emergency Management website.