Thursday, June 9-10, 2011 - Conference Summary

Juanita Harrington - Piedmont, South Dakota

Juanita is the Warehouse Manager at the Douglas School District. She says about herself: “Children have always been a very important part of my life. Growing up I always wanted 13 kids and did not care how I got them. So, it is no surprise to those who know me that after getting married, LeRoy and I started adding to our family rapidly. After our first two were born, we decided to take in foster children. We added one more biological child during this time and continued taking children who needed a home. A very special little boy came into our lives at one and a half years of age. It was never a question, as things fell into place, that he would become part of our family. Over the years three more children were born to this mother who did not have the ability to care for them. As we filled our house with little feet and entered courts to legally adopt them into our family, we also started seeing behaviors unlike any we were used to.

After many years of appointments and physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and many who tested for specific disabilities, we learned our children who were brought to us through adoption, had FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). This is the only disability that is 100% preventable. We have had to learn a whole new parenting style and ways of working with our children so that they can learn and stay safe. I am making it a personal goal to help others understand how this disability affects those who have it, and to help the public understand. Too many children are labeled as misbehaving, when actually it is due to brain damage.

My husband and I have six beautiful children and four grandchildren. LeRoy has been a saint and very patient, and my strongest support. However, he did tell me he would never build me a big house because I would fill it up with more children. After 18 years of caring for children who needed a temporary home, we decided to focus solely on our children. Our children with disabilities will forever need us to be their external brain. They have taught me the importance of patience and acceptance. We were so blessed that they were brought to us, as I would not be where I am today without them. I have learned to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”

We started off Thursday morning with a welcome from Mark Carstensen, Sturgis Mayor. Then Mr. Heinert, Superintendent of Meade School District entertained us with a song he had written for his secretary, Carol. It was wonderful!

Allie Faye Matthews welcomed all of us with some introductory remarks. She is currently the sole Risk Management Specialist for Sunnyside Unified School District and has served as the Liability/Worker Compensation manager for 24 years. During her tenure, the district has received numerous awards recognizing their achievement in safety. Employed in various positions throughout her 36 years at Sunnyside, some of her positions have included office assistant, clerk typist and administrative secretary.

Allis is the Immediate Past President of the Sunnyside Educational Office Professionals Association. She is also a member of the Arizona Educational Office Professionals Association, serving two terms as President. Allie has been a member of the National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) for 29 years, serving on numerous committees. In NAEOP elected capacities, she has served as the Southwest Area Director and Vice President. Presently, Allie is the President-Elect of NAEOP, and has earned the distinction of Certified Educational Office Employee (CEOE), by completing college required courses.

Loving volunteer services, she also serves as the corresponding secretary to the Tuscon Chapter of Compassionate Friends, an organization who works with grieving parents after the death of their child. She has two children, one grandchild and a devoted husband of 36 years. Allie enjoys traveling, movies, reading, and anything chocolate!

Our next speaker was Helen Usera of Rapid City, SD. Dr. Usera is currently the President/CEO of the Chiesman Center for Democracy. She also holds the rank of Adjunct Professor at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. She has her doctorate in educational administration from University of Kansas and has extensive experience in program and curriculum development, strategic planning, program evaluation, institutional research, and education research.

Dr. Usera has provided evaluation services and training and technical assistance for numerous faith-based and community organizations in the Black Hills and surrounding areas, including Youth and Family Services, Rapid City YMCA, United Way, ASAP (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention), Rapid City Public Schools, and many others. Dr. Usera had a ten-year career in the United States Army Reserves which allowed her the opportunity to complete her education. She has been an elementary teacher and principal prior to her current position.

She resides in Rapid City, South Dakota, and has two sons and one granddaughter.

Scottie Bruch - Yoga Instructor

Scottie Bruch has been teaching yoga in Sturgis and the surrounding area since 2006. She is a former librarian and middle school teacher who found a passion for teaching yoga while offering yoga story hours at local libraries. Upon the birth of her second child in 2008, Scottie resigned her position at the Sturgis Public Library to become a stay-at-home mom and “inadvertently” started down the path to become a certified yoga teacher. After years of teaching yoga in random locations throughout Sturgis, in January 2011, Scottie opened a yoga studio on Main Street, Sturgis, where she loves welcoming new people through her doors and introducing them to the benefits of yoga. Scottie firmly believes that yoga is for every body and that overcoming challenges on the mat can lead to overcoming challenges in life.

Marilyn Bates - Educator / Quilter

Marilyn Bates, Sturgis, SD, is a retired Meade School District Educator and expert quilting artist. She says about herself:

“I was born in Sioux Falls, SD, obtained my B.A. from Augustana College, majoring in English, and went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Arkansas, also in English. In 1974 I moved to Sturgis and began teaching high school English. I retired from Meade School District after 36 years of teaching high school Engish. I learned to sew when I was in junior high, and I made most of my clothes from that point on. In 1996 I learned to quilt. In December of 2000 I purchased a Gammill longarm quilting machine, and I have quilted a BUNCH of quilts since that time.”

Dr. Michael Fellner - Sturgis, SD

Dr. Fellner is an assistant professor at SDSU and holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas. he is a licensed psychologist in the state of South Dakota and has been teaching at SDSU for twelve years. He has thirty one years of counseling experience including both teaching and counseling. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, and the West River Counseling Association. In addition he is the Chief Executive Officer of the VA Black Hills Research and Education Foundation. He has received two outstanding faculty awards from the Higher Education Center.

He has also received the following awards: Division 18 of APA Award for Public Service (1979), Special Achievement Award for Contributions of Management of Violence (2003), Award of Merit for Dedicated Service to Rural Health Education and Excellence in Education (1988), Award for Outstanding Service and Support to Readjustment Counseling Services, and various other awards for outstanding performance (1985-1997).

Dr. Elaine Doll-Dunn - Spearfish, SD

Ranch girls learn early that they can do anything. From topping a horse to turning a cow--then helping put dinner on the table when the cowboying is done. From the background the passion for living every moment, and for sharing the power within, has grown a career in education and a mission of empowerment for women of all ages.

Privileged to live in the shadow of that great shrine of democracy - Mount Rushmore - on the plains and hills where Captain Dunbar danced with his wolf. I was born seventy two years ago in a small town in Nebraska and moved very shortly to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation near Wakapala, SD. I spent my elementary school years in a one-room country school five miles from our ranch, rode my buckskin pony to and from school every day, and yes, it was uphill into the wind.

The boundless prairie is a good place to get to know yourself; there I herded sheep, rounded up cattle, and basked in the South Dakota sun until I graduated from Buffalo High School and subsequently Black Hills Teacher’s College.

Education and adventure have been my life; my passion for fitness has taken me on some interesting journeys; Panama, Kilmanjaro, Siberia and Devil’s Tower to name a few. I have taught for 32 years; every age group, every subject, from elementary to university.... and still get the biggest thrill out of the “Ah ha!” response from any age student.

I have happily accumulated 7 children, 3 advanced degrees, 118 marathons, 42,000 career-running miles and the authorship of 4 books. In 2005 I launched an all women’s marathon; one of only two in the nation, a challenging vehicle for self discovery. I have work I love, the opportunity to share with others, and so many projects begun I can’t die for another 30 years....life is gooood!

Here is a poem Allie shared with us.

Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager to do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming of the day he'll be like you.
You're the little fellow's idol, you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you no suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devoutly, holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way when he's grown up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened, and he watches day and night.
You are setting an example every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting to grow up to be like you.

...Author Unknown

Don’t Limit Your Challenges, Challenge Your Limits!