News Briefs

EHS sophomore Molly Milbourn wins 4A cross country championship
EHS sophomore Molly Milbourn won the Class 4A Cross Country Individual championship at Wamego Saturday, November 1 with a time of 15 minutes, 7.25 seconds. She finished 15 seconds ahead of the second place runner. Milbourn is the first individual girls state champion in school history.

The EHS girls cross country team finished seventh at the state meet. Competing at state were: Milbourn, Kelly Nuckolls, Kay Riedl, Tessa Heslop, Kayla Joyce, Samantha Mulvaney, Alley Nolan and Laura Haines (alternate).

The EHS girls cross country team won the 4A Regional Championship October 25 qualifying for the state tournament for the 21st year in a row.

EHS boys cross country team member Casey Nightengale qualified for the state meet by placing 10th at Regionals.

Earning First Team All-League honors are: Molly Milbourn, Kelly Nuckolls and Casey Nightengale. Earning Second Team All-League honors are: Kay Riedl, Tessa Heslop, Kayla Joyce, Ben Jiles, Seth Hadley and Dawson Brush.

District awarded Perkins Grant
A $23,406.30 Carl Perkins Grant has been awarded to El Dorado USD 490. This grant will allow El Dorado High School to purchase the following items for CTE (Career and Technical Education) courses:

•1 Craftsman CompuCarve Computer Controlled Compact Woodworking Machine—for the Woods & Manufacturing Technology Department
•6 iMac Computers and 1 Color Laserjet Printer—for the Business Department
•6 Flat Files with 3 bases—for the Drafting Department
•24 Adobe CS3 Design Software Licenses—for the Desktop and Web Design Department
•70 Microsoft Office 08 Academic Software Licenses—for the Business & Journalism Department.

Good named finalist for 2009 Kansas Teacher of the Year
Mary Martha Good, kindergarten teacher at Skelly Elementary School, was named the Region 4 primary finalist for the 2009 Kansas Teacher of the Year award.

The announcement was made during ceremonies at the Wichita Marriott Hotel on Saturday, September 13th. As finalist for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Good received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit Group of Companies, a major partner in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program.

The state winner will be selected from among eight regional finalists during a ceremony November 22 in Wichita.

Butler Community College President Jackie Vietti wrote: “Upon meeting Mary Martha almost 13 years ago, I quickly noted her authentic, remarkable passion for bringing out the best in each and every one of her students. The first impression has been validated time and time again inside and outside her classroom setting. She continually seeks out teachable moments and it is heart-warming to watch her students’ eyes light up when they encounter this human dynamo, who enables them to believe they can achieve great things.

"While I have met a handful of individuals who are as talented as Mary Martha, perhaps it is her extraordinary interpersonal skills that places her in a league all her own. She is articulate and poised in any setting, but most of all, people find themselves becoming actively engaged in the conversation at hand, primarily because of Mary Martha's initiative to set the stage for a nurturing environment of inclusion rather than exclusion."

A parent wrote: "If you asked me to list just some of the characteristics that Mrs. Good possesses this is what I would tell you: she is warm, caring, giving, clever, dedicated, honest, courageous, hard working, conscientious, compassionate, fair, enthusiastic, sensitive, encouraging, special, inventive, creative and a woman of strong faith. She looks at your child and sees their true potential and strives to help your child achieve it. Because of her and the positive influence she has had in my son's life he has overcome many obstacles. I believe she helped mold my son into the responsible person he is today. I feel blessed knowing she has been a part of his life."

The Kansas Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Education. As a regional finalist, Good will join the Kansas Teacher of the Year Team which travels the state advocating for education and the teaching profession.