Issued by: Kathy Quirk
414-229-3144
kquirk@uwm.edu
Date: Sept. 16, 2002
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Issued by: Kathy Quirk Date: Sept. 16, 2002 |
MILWAUKEE - Teachers aren't just the people at the front of the classroom.
And what they teach isn't just the subject matter listed in the curriculum.
"I don't think I can remember how to spell trigonometry or even how to do a trig problem, but I learned so much more about life from Mr. Marita than from any other teacher," says Neil Willenson, founder and CEO of Camp Heartland. John Marita was Willenson's math teacher at Homestead High School. "He is a caring and compassionate human being. If I could choose someone I would like to emulate, it would be him."
"I didn't realize that I was learning from her at the time, but she teaches by her presence and example," says Ferne Caulker, founder and executive director of the Ko-Thi Dance Company of her mentor, Cynthia Bryant Pitts. Pitts, president of Cynthia Bryant Pitts & Associates organization development and training consulting firm, is a founder and former executive director of the Inner City Arts Council.
Marita and Pitts are among the five teachers and mentors the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education will honor at the 17th annual Gala Tribute to Teaching Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Italian Community Center. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m.; dinner is at 6:30 p.m. (For information, call 414-229-6554).
Other teachers honored this year are:
Hudson nominated Duginkski, her son's former teacher and basketball coach, because she was impressed with the example he set for both students and players. "He puts his heart and soul into teaching."
Many of the teachers and mentors nominated continue to influence their students and others.
"More than the practical side of business, I learned the values side of business from Pete Danner," says Stollenwerk. "Pete always made the Judeo-Christian values of life part of everything he taught. He has been, and continues to be a mentor to me."
Lee, who has directed the art museum's education programs for many years, worked with Broderick in the Art Satellite program for high school students. She describes Broderick as a "master teacher."
"He has this wonderful way of explaining things that connects with what's important to aspiring artists."
All the teachers honored at the Gala Tribute made a lasting impression.
Willenson says he rarely sees Marita these days, "but I think about him and the things he taught me almost every day."
CONTACT: Polly Scott, 414-229-5816)
Mike Broderick, who teaches at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, is both an artist and a teacher. He regularly exhibits his work individually and in group showings.
"I think because I'm a working artist and always have some of my own work around, that has a certain credibility with the kids," says Broderick, who has taught art since 1970 and been with MPS since 1978. Broderick received his BFA in art education and his M.S. in printmaking and drawing from UWM. He is married to Judy Broderick, and has three grown children and a grandson.
"The most rewarding thing for me about teaching is working with kids, even the ones who aren't interested in the arts as a career," says Broderick. Although few students choose to pursue art as a profession, Broderick says he likes to encourage students to continue art as an avocation and become "informed art consumers." His goal is to hook students on the arts by introducing them to different materials, ideas and ways of looking at the world around them as they learn to express ideas visually, he says. Broderick taught at the Museum's Art Satellite Program with Barbara Brown Lee for five years. "Milwaukee Public School teachers aren't always given the credit they've earned and deserve," says Lee. "I nominated Mike to draw attention to the great master teachers who are out there in the public schools. He works magic with the students."
Peter Danner, Marquette University economics professor emeritus, says dryly that he chose teaching as a profession because of the "great salaries." Despite those salaries, the West Virginia native and his wife of 50 years, Kathleen, raised their six children while balancing a life of academic study and teaching. His focus in teaching, research and writing is on economic morality.
He views teaching as the process of helping human beings improve themselves. As a result, he has tried to instill in his students that economics and business are about more than making money. "It isn't just material things and grabbing a lot for yourself."
Danner grew up in West Allis, and graduated from Marquette High School. After attending Marquette University, he transferred to St. Louis University where he received his bachelor's degree, a licentiate in philosophy and a master's degree in economics. He taught economics at the University of Iowa, LeMoyne College, and St. Ambrose College, while working toward his doctorate from Syracuse University. After receiving a grant from the Society for Values in Higher Education, he and his family spent a year in France before Danner started his teaching career at Marquette. Before retiring in 1986, he was a professor and department chair in Economics. He is the author of three books, "Getting and Spending," and "The Economic Person: Acting and Analyzing." He is currently working on his fourth book, "The Allen-Edmonds Story."
"His concern for others is part of who is," says Stollenwerk of Danner. "The way he has lived his life is an example to me. "
Joseph Duginski teaches 7th and 8th grade science and 7th grade religion at Sts. Cecilia & James School in Mequon. He also coaches 8th grade basketball. A 1995 graduate of Cardinal Stritch College, he says he's always enjoyed working with young people, and is particularly committed to religious education. Those factors influenced his decision to become a teacher, even though no one in his immediate family was in the profession. He enjoys working with the students and parents at Sts. Cecilia & James, says Duginski. "It's a good school, and I feel I've developed a real rapport with the students." Katherine Hudson got to know Duginski when her son had him for 7th and 8th grade classes, as well as playing for him on the basketball team. Duginski inspired her son, Robert, now a freshman at Marquette High School, as well as the other students, says Hudson. "If you asked the students who their favorite teacher was, two-thirds of them would say ‘Mr. D.'"
"He is clearly someone the students respect and like," she adds. "He's just a great teacher for students that age." Hudson was also impressed that he managed to get the students so excited about the subjects he teaches. "You've got to love a teacher who puts cartoons in the science tests," she says.
John Marita taught mathematics at Homestead High School in Mequon for 27 years, and chaired the mathematics department for 25 years. He retired 13 years ago, and still substitute teaches in the district. (In fact, he recalls, he once subbed in the class of one of his nine grandchildren.)
Marita grew up in northern Wisconsin, attending school in a one-room schoolhouse. "I had some very good teachers, and they inspired my interest in teaching," he says. "I always pretty much wanted to be a teacher." After graduating from Northland College in Ashland, he began his teaching career in Mosinee. After serving in the Korean War, he earned his master's degree at Colorado State. He then moved to the Madison area, where he taught at Monona Grove. He and his wife, Mary, and their four sons moved to Mequon when an opening in the math department occurred just as Marita was looking for better teaching opportunities. Their two daughters were born in Mequon.
When he first started teaching, says Marita, many schools didn't have regular guidance counselors, and he often found himself helping students with more than their math problems. "I've always enjoyed the students, and like to listen to what they're thinking. I like to develop a relationship with them." Over the years, students began sharing their problems and telling Marita about their successes. "I can't say I reached every student, but I reached out to every one of them," he says. He's still in touch with Neil Willenson. "I loved all my students, but I'm exceedingly proud of Neil. He has a genuine concern for his fellow human beings."
Cynthia Bryant Pitts is president of Cynthia Bryant Pitts and Associates, a consulting firm focusing on organization development and training. She is also a founding member and former executive director of the Milwaukee Inner City Arts Council. Pitts was a pivotal and influential figure in Milwaukee's African American arts community, says Ferne Caulker who nominated Pitts. When she first met Pitts in the 1960s, many African Americans were just beginning to find ways to celebrate their own rich culture and history. Pitts hired her for her first job in the arts in Milwaukee, says Caulker, and helped reinforce her own passion for African and African American culture and history. "She has been a constant presence in the arts that reflect people of color," says Caulker. Pitts is also a role model as an African American woman, she adds. "She is always very grounded, very centered. She is simultaneously very strong and very dignified. I've never seen her lose her temper."
In addition to her current work consulting with corporate and nonprofit clients, and her work with the Inner City Arts Council, Pitts was a founding member of the Midwest African American Theater Alliance and director of the Milwaukee Black Arts Theater. She has also served as a member of the Wisconsin Arts Board and director of the department of human resource development at the Social Development Commission. She received her B.S. in Sociology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and her M.S. in Human Resource development from American University.
Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker is founder and artistic director of the internationally known Ko-Thi Dance Company and professor of dance at UWM's Department of Theatre and Dance in the Peck School of the Arts. Caulker, who was born in Sierra Leone to an African father and African-American mother, founded Ko-Thi in 1969 as a way of developing and showcasing African, African-American and Caribbean music and dance. Ko-Thi's touring ensemble has performed in Japan, Canada and throughout the United States. In addition to the touring schedule, the company includes a children's performing ensemble, an annual home production series each summer and fall, community studio classes in drumming and dance for children and adults and the Drum Talk program for schools. Caulker has received numerous awards and honors from national and local arts and community organizations for her work. She developed UWM's first for-credit course in African and Caribbean Dance, and was a 1994 Fulbright Scholar, conducting research in Tanzania. She serves on a number of community advisory committees and has served on national and local arts groups.
Barbara Brown Lee is chief educator at the Milwaukee Art Museum. She is responsible for the teaching and training of all museum docents as well as training of volunteers, staff and guards. She also is involved in leading study tours to major museums in the U.S. and abroad, collaborates with the curatorial staff on exhibits and programs, and helps plan education gallery exhibitions. Lee has been with the Milwaukee Art Museum since 1963, and is the most-often requested speaker from the Museum. She received her B.A. in art history from the University of Tucson, and took part in the graduate art history program at the University of Guadalajara. She has also studied at the Henry Francis duPont Winthur Museum Summer Institute in Delaware and the Attingham Summer School sponsored by the Shropshire Adult College in England.
Katherine Hudson, president and chief executive officer of the Brady Corporation, was the first female president and chief executive officer of a major public company in Wisconsin. She joined Brady in 1994 after serving as corporate vice president and general manager at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y. As a top female executive at Kodak, she was a leader in raising corporate awareness of women's issues, diversity and work/family balance. She also made major performance improvements in the business units she managed. She has received national recognition for her corporate leadership, her work in information technology research, and as a pioneering woman executive. Hudson earned her B.S. in business management from Indiana University, and has done graduate work economics at Cornell University. She serves on a number of community, education and organization boards. She and her family live in Mequon.
John Stollenwerk is president and chief executive officer of Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation, an 80-year-old company hailed by Fortune Magazine as "the Last of the Big Shoemakers." The magazine credited Stollenwerk with saving the company from oblivion. Allen-Edmonds continues to not only make shoes in Wisconsin, but export them as well. Stollenwerk, who was born in Wauwatosa, received his bachelor's and master's degrees in communication arts, then joined the papal peace corps in Latin America. After returning to the U.S. and acquiring an export consulting practice, he became involved with Allen Edmonds, taking over management of the company in 1980. Allen-Edmonds now employs more than 800 workers in Wisconsin and Maine. Stollenwerk has received numerous awards for his business and charitable work. He also serves as the director of a number of companies and volunteers with more than a dozen local organizations. He and his wife, JoEllen are the parents of five and live in Mequon. Neil Willenson is the founder and CEO of Camp Heartland, the largest camping and care program for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Willenson, who became friends with a five-year-old boy with HIV/AIDS, started the camp in 1993 as a safe haven for children who faced mistreatment after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Since then, thousands of children have participated in sessions at the camp, where they can have fun, make friends and feel accepted. Under Willenson's leadership, Camp Heartland has raised more than $13 million to support children with HIV/AIDs and has become the largest organization of its kind. Willenson is also the co-creator of the Journey of Hope AIDS Awareness program. Willenson and Camp Heartland have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show, in a CBS Movie of the Week, a Disney film and in numerous publications. He received the first Aetna Voice of Conscience Award (given in honor of Arthur Ashe) and Oprah Winfrey's "Use Your Life" Award, donating the financial part of both prizes to Camp Heartland. Willenson, who was featured in People Magazine's 2001 most eligible bachelors' issue, recently became engaged. Camp Heartland's offices are in Milwaukee.