Anthony Wayne Schools Receive Excellent Rating
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
For the sixth consecutive year, Anthony Wayne Local Schools received an excellent rating on its report card from the Ohio Department of Education, and two schools – Fallen Timbers Middle School and Whitehouse Primary School – were named excellent with distinction.
Excellent with distinction is the state’s newest and highest rating – the equivalent of earning an A+ grade.
The district earned its excellent ranking by showing adequate yearly progress, meeting 29 of the state’s 30 indicators and achieving a performance index score of 104.4 out of a possible 120.
Over 90 percent of Anthony Wayne students tested proficient, and many scored at accelerated and advanced levels in reading, writing, math, science and social studies – the main reason that the district received the excellent rating.
“A huge proportion of our kids are scoring at accelerated or advanced levels,” explained Dr. Jim Fritz, director of curriculum for Anthony Wayne schools.
The ODE now also measures how well a student scores compared to previous years, and that figure – value-added improvement – determines which schools earn the A+ ranking.
Fallen Timbers principal Gary Gardner and Whitehouse Primary principal Brad Rhodes credit teachers, staff, parents and students for bringing scores up beyond expectation.
Teachers used every staff meeting and spare moment to collaborate, Rhodes said. A district-wide professional development program begun last year will continue with two additional days of meetings this year, allowing teachers to share lesson plans and ideas with peers both in-house and in other buildings.
“We want to make sure there are no gaps in our curriculum,” Fritz said.
The A+ rankings and the number of students achieving at advanced and accelerated levels raises the bar for next year, Fritz said.
Anthony Wayne parents expect the district to achieve excellent ratings, Fritz believes. Getting that result will be a little harder, he said, because the district is down 52 employees.
While the ODE pushes schools to meet indicators and improve on tests, Fritz said the district continues to offer other earning experiences, such as character education in the primary schools or electives at the high school.
“We go above and beyond just teaching to the test. We try to develop skills and life lessons that will follow students for the rest of their lives,” he said.
To see the Anthony Local Wayne Schools report card, go to www.reportcard.ohio.gov.
Anthony Wayne Hall Of Fame Recognizes New Inductees
BY BECKY JACOBS — MIRROR REPORTER
The Anthony Wayne Alumni Association inducted six new members into its hall of fame at its annual luncheon August 23.
Their photos will be added to the growing number of hall of fame plaques hanging adjacent to the school gymnasium.
The master of ceremonies, alumni association president Ken Gottschalk, Anthony Wayne Class of 1990, along with Larry Morrison, Class of 1954, gave a warm welcome to inductees, family, friends and faculty.
An invocation was given by Vicky Ryan, Class of 1964.
Following lunch, guest speaker Dr. John Granger, superintendent of Anthony Wayne Local Schools, told of the schools’ strong academic progress. He also complimented the sports and music programs.
Granger proudly told of the school’s excellent rating on the Ohio Department of Education’s annual report card.
Kip Greenhill, Class of 1969, introduced the new hall of fame inductees, who each gave a short acceptance speech.
• James Flynn, Class of 1957, excelled in basketball and baseball throughout his high school years.
Flynn went on to obtain Major League Baseball contracts with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in 1961-66.
During spring training, Flynn, a left-handed pitcher, had the opportunity to pitch to some of the greats, such as Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Pete Rose.
He said he would not have had the opportunity without the many mentors from Anthony Wayne High School.
Flynn was also a former trustee of Boilermakers Union Local 85 and is now owner of Corporate Constructors, Inc. He serves on the board of trustees of Walbridge Park and the Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He lives with wife, Donna, in Toledo.
• Barbara Lewis Smigelski, Class of 1959, was employed by Anthony Wayne Local Schools throughout her 31-year teaching career.
She was nominated as Ohio Teacher of the Year and was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar. She is also recognized as a founding trustee of the Whitehouse Library.
Smigelski gave credit to the Anthony Wayne schools for the formation of her values, beliefs and education.
“This is where I grew up, married my high school sweetheart and raised our children,” she said.
She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Bowling Green State University.
She and her husband, Rich, live in Whitehouse.
• C. Edward Winzeler, Class of 1969, thanked both his wife, Kathy, and his mother, Florence, for their influence.
Winzeler, an Ohio State University graduate in pharmacy, is a registered pharmacist and area coordinator for Kmart pharmacies in Northwest Ohio and the downriver Detroit area.
He has also been active in local politics, serving for 20 years as a Waterville Village Council member. During that time he chaired many committees and served as vice mayor twice.
“I am very proud of our school, its excellent reputation and the quality of recipients of this award,” Winzeler said. “I am proud to be considered part of this group.”
• Arlen G. Tipping, Class of 1975, was honored posthumously. His wife, Ellen, accepted the honor on his behalf.
Tipping was the owner of Complete Auto Detailing in Whitehouse and founder of Anthony Wayne Area Helping Hands.
Tipping was also active in baseball during high school.
“He was proud of his alma mater,” Ellen said.
She said he attended every home football game until his health worsened.
Most of his good works within the community were unknown to others. He worked with high school counselors to help provide local families with much needed food and clothing.
• Kenneth W. Fallows, faculty member, taught high school French and English from 1966 to 2001. He was chair of the AWHS English and modern languages departments for 21 of those years.
He graduated cum laude from Bowling Green State University and completed graduate studies in theater, English grammar and composition, and education at BGSU and the University of Toledo.
Fallows was twice recognized as a Jennings Scholar and received the Excellence in Education Award from Dennison University. He was named a Lucas County Educational Services Center Teacher of the Month, AW Teacher of the Year in 1998, and was a nine-time recipient of the LCESC’s “I Make a Difference” award.
He was also mayor of the village of Haskins for 20 years and has chaired other government committees.
“I’m very proud – proud to have been a teacher, a noble profession,” Fallows said.
He said he set high expectations for students so they might demand much of themselves.
“Love what you do and expect much of yourself,” he added.
Fallows remains active in governmental and environmental affairs.
“There truly is life after teaching,” he said.
• Todd R. Frendt, honorary inductee, said his passion lies with the youth in the Anthony Wayne community.
He and his family moved to the area 10 years ago.
“It’s all about the kids,” he said.
Frendt is the founder and president of the Anthony Wayne Youth Foundation, which has combined the community’s recreational sports programs.
The AWYF is currently developing property in Whitehouse for all types of recreational activities for youth and adults.
He also serves as a board member, coach and member of many organizations, including the AW United Soccer Club, the AW Youth Soccer League, the AW Junior Generals Basketball program, Citizens for AW Schools, Big Brother-Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio, the World Congress of Amateur Athletes, the Waterville and Whitehouse chambers of commerce, the National Park and Recreation Association, the National Alliance for Youth Sports and CedarCreek Church.
Frendt is a graduate of the University of Toledo and Spring Arbor College. He is employed by the Canberra Corporation of Toledo.
He said his family “lives, eats and bleeds blue and white.”
Closing remarks were given by Ron Richards, retired AWHS faculty member.
He compared the Anthony Wayne Alumni Hall of Fame to the Northern Lakes League Hall of Fame.
Speaking of his teaching and coaching career at AWHS, Richards said, “It was the best 30 years of my life.”
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