PROJECT IDEA EXCHANGE
"PIE"
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 1: NO. 7
www.mcvts.net/pie
http://pie:mcvts.net

PROGRAM OF THE MONTH
Usually the "Program of the Month" reports about a particularly
interesting educational effort being used by a PIE member. This month's topic
will be a bit different. Instead, I am requesting you assistance and input,
especially with data related to your geographic area. I am working on
creating a plan to address the issue of "teacher retention" for the state of
New Jersey, USA. My goal is to design a teacher support system that, when
implemented, will provide teachers with an instrument that will afford them
with better professional support. Therefore, I am asking you to please share
with me programs that are conducted in your school, your area and your
country that assist and support teachers, encouraging them to continue their
teaching career year after year. All programs will be also be posted on the
PIE MESSAGE FORUM under GENERAL TOPICS/EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD. Postings
may also be found PROFESSIONAL DEVLOPMENT/EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD. If you
have ideas concerning efforts that can and should be used to retain and
support teachers, please share them with me. You can email me at
erreadiii@aol.com or reade@mail.mcvts.net. Please take a few minutes to share
with others with your knowledge and your positive educational experiences.
In advance, THANK YOU!

MEMBER NEWS
Project Idea Exchange is proud to welcome the following new members to
its steady growing worldwide membership:

Rob Allen: Teacher of Commercial Foods
East Brunswick Campus: MCVTHS: East Brunswick, NJ, USA

John Allison: Building Trades Teacher
New Brunswick Campus: MCVTHS: New Brunswick, NJ, USA

Senovia Robles Cruz: Elementary Teacher/Saturday Program Director Edward J. Patten School: Perth Amboy, NJ, USA

Elaine Friedman: Student Assistance Counselor
Woodbridge Campus: MCVTHS: Woodbridge, NJ, USA

Michael Hamill: Teacher of Computer Assisted Drafting Piscataway Campus: MCVTHS: Piscataway, NJ, USA

Gina Kabak: Teacher of Hospitality Services
Piscataway Campus: MCVTHS: Piscataway, NJ, USA

Scott Katora: Teacher of Electrical Trades/Technology
Perth Amboy Campus: MCVTHS: Perth Amboy, NJ, USA

John Lee: Job Development, Apprentice Training
New Brunswick Campus: MCVTHS: New Brunswick, NJ, USA

Estelle Lux: Teacher of the Handicapped
East Brunswick Campus: MCVTHS: East Brunswick, NJ, USA

Larry Martin: Teacher of Machine Tool Technology
East Brunswick Campus: MCVTHS: East Brunswick, NJ, USA

Mark Mastrolia: Teacher of Automotive Technology
Perth Amboy Campus: MCVTHS: Perth Amboy, NJ, USA

PIE "TIP OF THE MONTH"
Know any good websites? Take a few minutes and explore the various pages
of the PIE MESSAGE FORUM and try out some of the sites suggested by PIE
members. Please post sites that you find helpful and interesting. For
example, if you are interested in Solar Energy, go to www.siemenssolar.com
and read all about Photovoltaics, especially the section on Solar Schools.
This site comes highly recommended by PIE member Scott Katora.
Also, a brief reminder. I am creating a list of the websites addresses
for each school and/or organization that is a member of Project Idea
Exchange. To join the list, simply email me your website (not email) address
so that I can add it to the MESSAGE FORUM/SCHOOL ACTIVITIES and GENERAL
TOPICS pages under SCHOOL & ORGANIZATION WEBSITE LISTINGS. Your assistance is
needed and deeply appreciated. Thank you!

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
Just a brief reminder for all PIE members, and, especially their
students. A WRITING CONTEST has been created and posted on the PIE Website
(http://pie.mcvts.net) MESSAGE FORUM under WRITTEN ARTS. This writing contest
is open to all grades and ages. The contest will be conducted during the
month of May 2002. All teachers will have the opportunity to post poetry
and/or short stories that have been written by the students. Each entry will
be read and evaluated by a panel of judges. The three top entries in each
category will be honored. I am also asking for volunteers to judge the
student writings. If you are interested in entering the writings of your
students, serving as a contest judge, have questions or need any assistance,
please contact Isabel DaSilva (bella9971@aol.com, dasilva@mail.mcvts.net) at
the Perth Amboy Campus of the Middlesex County Vocational/Technical Schools.
If need technical assistance with taking part in the contest, be contact the
PIE Director at reade@mail.mcvts.net or erreadiii@aol.com. Please remember
that the end of May is quickly approaching and please do not miss out on this
opportunity.

UNTIL NEXT MONTH, BE WELL, HAPPY AND SAFE!