PSU honors local educators for service

The Pittsburg State University College of Education will honor a teacher and an administrator for distinguished service at a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, in McCray Recital Hall. Additionally, the college will recognize two teachers for their achievements in the first years of their careers. These and many student awards will be part of the annual Clyde U. Phillips awards ceremony.

Distinguished Service – Teacher
The 2006 Clyde U. Phillips Award for distinguished service for a teacher goes to Tom Compton, a teacher with St. Mary's Colgan High School in Pittsburg. Compton has been associated with Colgan for 23 years and has taught math, history, geography, economics, government and a number of religion classes. Since receiving his master's degree in secondary school counseling from PSU in 1991, Compton has also served as the school counselor at Colgan.

Compton's co-workers applaud his willingness to serve on numerous committees and his expertise in technology has enabled the district to keep pace with changing computer and information technology.

When he is not in the classroom, Compton is often on the court with the junior high basketball team, where he has coached since 1986.

Distinguished Service – Administrator
The 2006 Clyde U. Phillips Award for distinguished service for an administrator goes to Matthew Wendt, assistant superintendent for Pittsburg Community Schools, USD 250.

Wendt has been with the Pittsburg school district for six years. As assistant superintendent, he focuses on curriculum development and instructional excellence for the district. In the past five years, Wendt has overseen a review of every curricular area to ensure compliance with current State of Kansas Standards.

After completing his bachelor's degree in English from PSU in 1990, Wendt completed a master’s degree in educational administration at Kansas State University. He then received his doctorate in education leadership and administration from the University of Arkansas in 2004.

Wendt spends time volunteering in a variety of community endeavors. He is currently the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is also chairman of the PSU Pittsburg Alumni Chapter.

Outstanding Educators
Each year Pittsburg State University recognizes one elementary school teacher and one secondary school teacher through the Clyde U. Phillips Outstanding Educator Awards. These awards are presented to individuals who have shown, within their first seven years of service, the potential to make significant contributions to education.

The 2006 Clyde U. Phillips Outstanding Educator Award for the elementary level goes to Tim Vesco, a teacher at Frank Layden Elementary School in Frontenac.

After earning his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Pittsburg State in 2001, Vesco began teaching at Frank Layden Elementary School, where he has taught for the past five years.

Vesco’s colleagues say he "generates a positive learning environment throughout his classroom by his contagious enthusiasm. His classroom has many eye-catching displays to encourage his students to learn. Tim has a way of making coming to school an adventure for his students."

The 2006 Clyde U. Phillips Outstanding Educator Award for the secondary level goes to Jamie Reagan, a seventh and eighth grade reading teacher at Frontenac Junior-Senior High School.

Reagan earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education in 2002 and is currently working on her master's degree in reading and a reading specialist degree at PSU. She plans on completing both degrees in the fall of 2008.

Reagan is recognized for her work ethic and her knowledge of her subject matter. She is being recognized for how she uses teaching strategies to reach her students. Reagan's students score extremely well on state assessment tests but learn what is necessary to be well-rounded readers.

The Clyde U. Phillips awards were established in memory of Clyde U. Phillips, a graduate of Pittsburg State University and a well-known Kansas educator. Phillips, who met his wife, Fern Field Phillips when they were both students at Pittsburg State University, known then as Kansas State College of Pittsburg, completed his career in education as the superintendent of schools in Hays. In their will, the Phillips bequeathed a sum of money to support the awards.

---Pitt State---