Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. O'Shell

Doing the best job that you can doesn't always mean doing it alone. Some professions, especially in the educational field, require a team to be the most effectual. Two teachers from the Freeport School District have teamed up to provide the best to students at the South Buffalo Elementary School. Lorie O'Shell and Cathi Cooper are in their fourth school year working together teaching the third grade. They teach their own classes but do much of their planning as well as activities together. And does this work? Well, lets take a look at their records thus far. The third grade as a whole received excellent scores on the PSSA's last year.

Modestly, Mrs. O'Shell tells us that all of the grades are doing similar things. She says it takes a lot to be successful. " We try to integrate the format the children will be tested on into their daily routine." She also believes that by her and Mrs. Cooper collaborating together that they have and will continue to make their assessment scores better.

Some of the activities that they do together would be related to science and social studies. For example, they bring someone in from the community to talk about careers. They also utilize social events with the help of community members. The two even have big school projects that help with creativity in the students while at the same time gets the parents involved. Other things include the entire school working together.

Another type of teaching that Mrs. O'Shell and Mrs. Cooper have involved with their class is "inclusion teaching". This is where they work with other teachers getting learning support from other departments.

Both teachers take pride in their community and are happy that they get to live and teach in the same district. Each have children that attend the Freeport School District. They believe they are accountable more so because they are in the community.

Mrs. O'Shell comes from a family with a line of teachers. Her mother and sister are early childhood educators. She knew she always wanted to be a teacher. She graduated from IUP and has been teaching elementary school for 10 years teaching grades 2, 5 and 3. She says, "assessment is important. It is exciting to watch the kids develop" and she "loves to watch the kids succeed."

Starting out as a physical education teacher, Mrs. Cooper, later attended IUP to get certification for elementary education. For the last 10 years, she has been an elementary teacher. She believes that "education is to be fun and challenging at the same time." "Even though the government passed 'no child left behind', we never leave a child behind," she proudly says. "I like to see growth of students from the beginning of the year. I also enjoy teaching students who are not able to write and then be writers and critical thinkers." She is very proud of South Buffalo elementary school. "Even though we are a small school, we do very well." No matter what she, "wants the best for her students."

Another great thing going on at the Freeport Area School district is their new kindergarten center. Kindergarten has been combined in the whole district to one building, which gives the teachers more opportunity for team teaching as well as a new option of full day kindergarten, or an extended day added to the regular half-day session. There is a larger social group for the children as well.

The great things about Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. O'Shell is that they "pull off each others strengths". When they accomplish something, they accomplish it together as a team.