Latest news with #ElizabethForwardHighSchool
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New program helping area teachers implement AI as a learning tool
With artificial intelligence tools now easily accessible on smartphones, students can ask AI to write a book report or solve math problems, sometimes letting the technology do the work for them. That growing concern is one of the reasons behind the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) launching an Artificial Intelligence Fellow program, aimed at helping educators learn how to guide students in using AI as a tool for learning rather than a shortcut. Dr. Jennifer Spiegel, an English teacher at Elizabeth Forward High School, recently completed her fellowship through the program. 'I started 26 years ago with a paper grade book,' Spiegel said. 'Now, grades are online 24/7 and accessible to teachers, parents and students at any time.' As technology evolves, so does the need for educators to adapt, said Brian Stamford, an educational technology specialist with the AIU. 'If you talk to CEOs and CTOs of Fortune 500 companies, there's an expectation that new hires are fluent in using AI as a co-pilot in their work,' Stamford said. The AI Fellow program brought together 20 educators from 20 different school districts. Over several months, they developed projects and lesson plans to help integrate AI tools into their classrooms. Spiegel created a professional development course using the school's learning management system to help fellow teachers explore AI platforms and design lessons incorporating those tools. Other fellows used chatbots to build coursework or provide tutoring support to students. The success of the program is already evident — Spiegel is now training other teachers in her district, which plans to implement AI tools in classrooms this fall. 'As educators, we have a responsibility to our kids to make sure the technology they use in the classroom is appropriate,' she said. 'If we don't teach them how to use it responsibly, where will they learn it?' The AIU hopes to continue the fellowship program and expand it to more school districts, pending future funding. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Walter Taylor Strotman Jr., Boardman, Ohio
BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Walter Taylor Strotman Jr., 70, of Boardman, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 2, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Walter will always be remembered as a hardworking, kind and generous man with a great sense of humor. Find obituaries from your high school He was born on June 25, 1954, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, the son of Walter Taylor Sr. and Mary Victoria (Hunt) Strotman. Walter was born and raised and spent most of his life in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and graduated from Elizabeth Forward High School. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh in Titusville, majoring in pre-medicine. Walter was an electrician by trade and was employed at GM Fisher Body in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Upon its closing, he transferred to GM Lordstown and moved to Boardman, Ohio in 1992. He retired after 38 years of service. He was a member of St. Charles Church and the UAW Local 1112. Walter had many passions throughout his life. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting and especially loved taking care of his lawn. It gave him great joy to host his annual 4th of July pool party and traveling with his family. Walter was a true patriarch and the best husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and adored time with his grandsons. Walter leaves behind the love of his life, his wife of over 47 years the former Monica Kieffer whom he married on May 7, 1977; his beloved daughter, Darris (Ian) Klasovsky; his two grandsons who were the apple of his eye, Brennen and Blake; his three brothers, Greg (Sandy) Strotman, Eric (Krissy) Strotman and Kirk (Kristy) Strotman; and his grand-dog, Lily along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Walter was preceded in death by his parents. Per the family's request, there will be no calling hours or services at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi and Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman. Family and friends may visit to view this obituary and send condolences to Walter's family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter Taylor Strotman Jr., please visit our floral 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
The show must go on: Elizabeth Forward's Performing Arts program returns to the stage after fire
It has been two years since flames and smoke caused significant damage to Elizabeth Forward High School and that created challenges for the school's musical program. Through community and support, they were able to preserve and now they're overjoyed to welcome this year's spring musical back home. Construction of Elizabeth Forward High School's new auditorium is coming along, and it has a completion date of next summer, but in the meantime, the show must go on. It will go on and return home, just to the middle school. It's been two years since Elizabeth Forward's award-winning performing arts program graced the stage in front of a home crowd. Performances were held at Thomas Jefferson High School after a fire in the high school auditorium forced them to find a new space. "It's great to be back with our community," said James Benedek, the Musical Director. "It was great to be at Thomas Jefferson, we love those folks up there, but it's just nice to be back on home turf." After the fire, it seemed that all hope was lost, but thanks to an overwhelming amount of community support, the shows went on and the district began to rebuild. "They immediately answered the call by renovating the middle school by getting new seats, putting in the proper lighting, getting the proper sound, so that we could bring the musical back while having our auditorium," said Kelly Garlow, the principal. Last night was opening night of Hadestown: Teen Edition, and it was the culmination of two years of grit and determination. Talking to the student-actors, you'd never even know what they went through to get to this point. "After that first number, the roar of the crowd, it was just not what we were expecting," said senior Abigail Ross. "All that hard work, it really does reward you." "I'm excited to be back home, these past couple of years, not being home, you miss your space, so being home again feels so comforting," added Sydney Thomas, senior. "Being home with our admin and our friends and our families is nice, and not having a long commute is also very nice," said junior Edward Denney. For Ross and Thomas, this is their last high school performance and when asked if they were sad that they couldn't perform on the stage where it all started, surprisingly, they said a great show can be performed anywhere. "I had a picture in my head freshman year of being on stage and singing in the bright lights of the old auditorium," said Ross. "I do get to end my night and my last show on my home turf." "Although it's not the exact same space as it once was our freshman year, it's definitely worth the while," added Thomas. Elizabeth Forward's spring musical runs through the weekend and ends with a matinee on Sunday. The opening night was a sellout, so leaders are encouraging people to purchase tickets online if they want to see this year's production.
