Maumee Senior Center Achieves National Accreditation
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
The Maumee Senior Center has reason to celebrate.
Last week the center received full accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers – making it one of only nine in the state to achieve such status.
“I think it’s an amazing feat to be a nationally recognized senior center,” executive director Stefanie Woolford said.
Of the 15,000 senior centers in the United States, only about 160 are accredited.
“By completing the accreditation process, they feel you are at the pinnacle of your success,” Woolford said.
The process began in October 2006 when Woolford undertook the arduous task of assessing the thick binder that lists numerous accreditation requirements.
For approximately one year, she focused solely on the work needed to achieve accreditation, which meant rewriting the five-year strategic plan and completing a self-assessment.
Woolford, who has been the center’s executive director since November 2005, ultimately credits the staff, especially outreach coordinator Sande Klepzig and program director Mary Beth Danford, with making it happen.
“They run tight ships and they know the programs and how they run. I didn’t have to re-invent the wheel,” she said. “Everybody pitched in to help.”
In February of this year, a member of the National Accreditation Review Board visited the center for an onsite evaluation. In addition, an offsite reviewer also completed an evaluation, and both recommended that full accreditation be awarded to the center.
It’s not the first time Woolford has been involved in the process. In 2000, the Wood County Senior Center also received accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers. At that time, Woolford served as assistant activity director and volunteer coordinator for the center.
In Maumee, she said the board of trustees – which is comprised of 10 citizens responsible for overseeing the center – fully cooperated in the process.
“The board really supported my work,” she said.
Board president Ardis Dardenne credits the staff with making a positive impact on the center.
“The Maumee Senior Center is blessed in many ways. We have a capable and loving staff that is always looking to provide for the needs of senior citizens,” Dardenne said.
She also cited support from the mayor, city administration, volunteers and members.
“With the efforts of these groups as well as the Area Office on Aging and Stefanie Woolford, our outstanding director, the National Institute of Senior Centers recognized the excellence of the Maumee Senior Center,” she said.
The Maumee Senior Center offers several daily educational and recreational programs, and the nutrition program offers low-cost lunches. The center also hosts special event dinners along with a monthly pancake breakfast.
Angel Food Ministries recently began offering groceries at reduced rates through the center.
Woolford says the center has an “open door policy” and a wide variety of innovative programs, such as a Wii bowling league.
“We make it fun and we want a friendly atmosphere so that everyone feels welcome,” she said.
For the 100 members it serves each day, the center has become a focal point of daily life.
“My wife passed away three years ago and one of the first things I did is start coming here, and it’s one of the best things I did,” said Maumee resident Wesley Ellis.
He volunteers each week at the center and participates in several activities.
“Right now I’m learning how to play bridge. It’s very informal; we lay our cards and that’s OK with me,” he said. “There’s always something going on.”
Many members enjoy the camaraderie, including volunteer Leoma Lohman who also takes exercise classes three times a week.
“We always laugh and have a good time,” she said. “That’s what everybody needs.”
A majority of funding for the center comes from the city of Maumee and fund-raising events. Support also comes from program fees, private donations, the Area Office of Aging and the Lucas County Senior Services levy.
Located at 2430 South Detroit Ave., the Maumee Senior Center opened in 1994. The 15,000-square-foot facility serves approximately 2,000 people each month. The center has five part-time employees, plus Woolford, who works full time.
For more information, call (419) 893-1994 or visit www.maumeeseniorcenter.com.
Electronic Boards Bring Interactive Technology Into Maumee Classrooms
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
At his teacher’s request, first-grader Jarret Baril walked up to the large screen, touched it with his forefinger and moved a block image from one side to the other to put it in its proper place.
It was morning work, and Wayne Trail Elementary teacher Stacy Snyder was using the SMART Board to review place value with her students.
“I use it all the time,” she said of the interactive whiteboard she now uses to teach.
“It’s nice because younger kids can touch it and move things on their own,” she said.
By touching the screen with his finger, the student was able to effortlessly manipulate the image, making chalkboards and overhead projectors a thing of the past.
The SMART Board is Maumee school district’s latest teaching tool that has brought 21st-century technology into the classrooms.
“It’s one more tool in the learning process,” said Jan Metzger, director of district technology and operations, adding that its purpose is to allow students and teachers to use it interactively.
Implemented at the beginning of this year, 13 teachers in grades kindergarten through 12 have the system installed in their classrooms.
“It really has changed my teaching,” said Jennifer Baker, a seventh-grade language arts teacher.
Manufactured by SMART Technologies, the SMART Board system is a 77-inch screen mounted on a wall and connected to a computer. A digital projector, mounted to the ceiling, shows the computer image, and speakers mounted adjacent to the screen provide sound.
In addition, users can write on the screen with a special marker and save their work for later.
The system allows teachers to have immediate computer access – getting information essentially from the click of a mouse right onto the large screen in front of the class.
“It’s instantaneous,” Baker said. “If they ask me a question and I don’t know the answer, I have them Google it and it’s right there. The resources are infinite.”
In addition, she can scan materials from textbooks and other resources and add sound as well.
“It has changed the way I teach forever,” she said. “It brings education in a multimedia world and makes everything accessible.”
Students use the SMART Boards for podcasts, PowerPoint presentations and many research topics.
Although it’s too early to say whether it has an impact on test scores, Baker said the technology has increased student participation.
“I’ve definitely noticed more hands going up since I’ve been using it. They’re more engaged in the learning process and they stay on task,” she said.
At a cost of $3,000 per system, 10 of the SMART Boards were purchased using funds from the school district’s 2007-08 technology budget.
Three additional boards were purchased through a BP grant program.
Maumee City Schools teachers interested in acquiring SMART Boards for their classrooms were required to apply and were selected by a committee.
Teachers who received the boards were required to take six hours of training and must maintain a portfolio to keep track of daily use. In addition, they must also share the boards with their fellow teachers.
Currently the four buildings in the district with one SMART Board include Union Elementary, Wayne Trail Elementary, Fort Miami Elementary and Maumee High School.
Fairfield Elementary has five SMART Boards and Gateway Middle School has four.
Metzger said the district would like to acquire more boards.
“We’d like to purchase as much as the budget will allow,” she said, adding that many teachers are applying for BP grants.