North Fork School Teachers2006-2007
Marie Furnary (Writing Workshop, all English Programs) has taught English at The North Fork School since 1996. She taught Writing Workshop techniques to homeschoolers in Oakland, CA in 1994, and to 100 sixth graders at Payette Lakes Middle School in McCall from 1995 to 1996. Volunteering her time two days/week to teach as many as four classes of students for the school year, she and the sixth grade teachers saw phenomenal improvements, both in students' writing, and in their desire to write.
Ms. Furnary is a full member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been a freelance writer for National Geographic WORLD Magazine, and has sold articles to various other publications. Ms. Furnary is presently working on a picture book for young adolescents about costumes in various cultures, and on various pieces about education for the adult market.
As president of the McCall Arts and Humanities Council from 1997-1999, Ms. Furnary helped develop summer arts classes for children. Her press, Radical Publishing, offered an eighteen-hour Kids' Newspaper Workshop, which was tested in Payette Lakes Middle School from January-May of 1996. Aimed at introducing sixth-graders to the processes involved in producing a newspaper, each sixth grade class had the opportunity to write, edit, and publish its own newspaper.
In concert with other community music and art teachers, Ms. Furnary developed the week-long Canterbury Kids' Camp for the summers of 1997 & 1998, offering three hours of integrated arts activities at Ponderosa Park for ages 8-13. Based on a Medieval theme, the daily camp included writing, music, and dancing, as well as art projects in which kids created costumes, weapons, and a decorated cardboard castle, which remained in the Park for several weeks so that visiting children could play at being knights & ladies.
Each year, the camps culminated in a half-day Medieval Fair, which included acrobats, fortunetellers, dance performances, dramatizations of Canterbury Tales, and painting castle decorations & details. This fair has grown into the annual MAHC Kaleidoscope Kids' Festival, which regularly draws hundreds of children and their families to participate in arts projects with local artists.
Expressing a belief that students who have a privileged education have a responsibility to share what they have learned with other students, Ms. Furnary took her NFS classes into the classrooms of younger students one day/month from 1996-1999. There, her NFS students led groups of first, second, or third graders in writing projects that gave the older children teaching skills, while it offered the younger ones writing role-models and a love of new writing techniques & processes.
Having completed her USFS Gold medal test level in ice-dancing, Ms. Furnary is an accredited member of the Professional Skaters' Association. Holding a PSA Master rating in Group Instruction, Certified ratings in Dance and Moves in the Field, and accreditation in Hockey Power Skating, she presently teaches figure skating at The Manchester Ice & Event Centre, and taught previously at The Dartmouth Figure Skating Club, and at The Johnstown Figure Skating Club in Pennsylvania.
Debra Facchin (Writing Workshop Art) has her Masters of Fine Art degree and K-12 teaching certificate from the University of Idaho, and is a long-time resident of McCall. During the past five years, she has been teaching art at McCall-Donnelly High School. She is presently pursuing a full time career in art with a long term goal of teaching at the college level.
While attending school in Moscow, Debra volunteered as a regular guest artist in the elementary schools. During those years, she also participated in the Moscow Junior Art Festival for young people.
In McCall, Debra has taught classes for the McCall Art & Humanities Council summer youth art program. In addition, Debra has been a volunteer artist for the McPawÕs bi-annual fundraiser by donating her artwork and time to paint auctioned pet bowls.
Debra is most committed to educating young people about the importance of gaining the artistic and visual skills to successfully convey their ideas. She teaches students to exercise their critical thinking skills by encouraging them to formulate questions that lead to original thoughts which can ultimately be expressed through visual ideas.
DebraÕs favorite activity is hiking, and uses this time to generate ideas and themes for her artwork. She collects objects and gathers images to integrate with different cultural and animal icons in her art.
Jodie Lea (Drama & Public Speaking) has taught Drama at the North Fork School since 1999, and has been busy teaching creative dramatics privately to 7-14 year olds through the Alpine Playhouse. Jodie also co-taught Broadway Musical Production classes for the McCall Recreation Department in 2000 & 2001.
Jodie teaches creative dramatics each summer for the McCall Arts and
Humanities Council's Summer Kids' Campus, and teaches Shakespeare to 5th graders at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School as part of the Idaho Commission on the Arts Artists-in-the-Schools Grant program, which is sponsored by the McCall Arts & Humanities Council.
As an active volunteer in the community, Jodie served on the Board of Directors for the Alpine Playhouse from 1991-2001, while also acting in and directing both adult and children's theater productions.
Jodie has a passion for working with kids, and has always tried to
integrate her diverse interests in literature, art, music, mythology, and psychology to enrich her teaching in the dramatic arts.
Janet Murphy (1st & 2nd Year Program Art) has been a Consultant Specialist Art Instructor at The North Fork School since 1999. Her own college instructors were all working professionals in the fields of graphic art and illustration. This valuable training, as well as her own professional experience, allow Ms. Murphy to share with her students the importance of hand skills, design in drawing, unity with shapes and values, color harmony, and combining these elements for powerful compositions.
Working as a freelance illustrator and graphic artist since 1980, Ms. Murphy has owned Murphy Designs, in McCall, ID since 1990. Specializing in traditional & digital illustration techniques, as well as offering watercolor originals, acrylic murals, limited-edition prints & cards, Ms. Murphy has an extensive client list, which includes the local, state, and nationally-known accounts at left.
Ms. Murphy creates a broad range of visual communications for a variety of promotional needs, including: illustrated educational posters; product illustration, personal identity packages; brochures, catalogs, and artful design solutions for agencies, organizations, & small businesses.
Ms. Murphy attended the Advertising Art and Communications Program of Seattle Central Community College in Seattle, Washingtonfrom1987-1989. She also attended North Idaho Community College's Advertising Art Program in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, from 1979-1981.
Brigid Wiking (all History programs) has taught history at the NFS since 1998. She taught elementary school in Palmdale, California (1992-1995) after receiving her teaching credential from Chapman University.
In California, Brigid volunteered for many years as a Cub Scout den mother and Cub Scout Pack Treasurer. She volunteered in her sons' elementary classrooms in Palmdale from 1986 through 1993.
In McCall, Brigid has continued to volunteer her time to various community groups. From 1996 to 1999, she was a Girl Scout leader for Daisy & Brownie troops, emphasizing community service and outdoor activities. She also assisted as a group leader at Camp Alice Pittenger (August 1998 & 1999).
Brigid has served as Treasurer of the McCall Ice Skating Association for the past four years, raising funds for the temporary outdoor ice rink. She has also assisted in raising funds for the permanent McCall Ice Rink & Event Center, and is a member of the Heartland Youth Hockey Board of Directors.
Brigid attended the University of San Francisco (1975-76), received an AA degree from Skyline Community College in San Bruno, CA (1973-1975), and has taken various classes at San Francisco Community College and Antelope Valley Community College. Her previous career at Bank of America included working in various offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Palmdale. She worked in many positions until leaving her final position as a Financial Services (lending) officer in 1987, in order to return to college full-time.
Brigid's other interests include historical reading, quiltmaking, and taking advantage of McCall's outdoor activities (skiing, snowshoeing, hiking & just hanging out at the lake during the summer).
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Copyright © 2006 Marie M. Furnary All rights reserved. |
