Amazing MEA-MFT members!

A jolly good Fellow: R. Wade Nelson

Dec. 2003
Twenty-year MEA-MFT member R. Wade Nelson received two major fellowships this year.

Nelson, an art teacher in Thompson Falls, attended the Teacher Institute on Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago during June and July. Through this program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, he learned from master instructors and contemporary artists from New York and Chicago.

Nelson also traveled to Japan as one of 200 teachers chosen for the Fulbright Memorial Fund. In Japan, he studied the culture, art education, and educational reform of that nation.

The three-week "people to people" experience, funded by the government of Japan, requires Nelson to create lessons integrating his new experience and knowledge. He also will make presentations to other staff and work with them in cross-content lessons.

"I am overwhelmed by the generosity of these organizations that aim to improve the quality of education for rural students in Montana by supporting these learning opportunities for teachers," Nelson said.

"They truly believe that excellence in learning starts with motivated, experienced teachers."

Nelson has taught art at Thompson Falls High School for 18 years. He received National Board Certification in 1999.

Going national: Laura Walter
Student MEA-MFT member Laura Walter has been appointed to the National Education Association's Student Advisory Committee.

Walter is state chair of Student MEA-MFT, our program for college students preparing to become teachers. She also serves as president of her Student MEA-MFT chapter at Montana State University-Bozeman. Student members statewide elected Walter to represent Montana at the 2002 NEA Representative Assembly in Dallas.

As a member of the Advisory Committee, Walter will attend several national meetings and help design national conferences for the NEA Student Program.

"This shows how far our student members can go when they get involved in their local chapters," said Sanna Porte, MEA-MFT student program coordinator. "The sky is the limit."

Reaching the summit: Steve Gardiner
Some MEA-MFT members will go to any heights for excellence. For Steve Gardiner, a National Board Certified English teacher in Billings, the quest led to two mountain climbing expeditions in Greenland.

Gardiner recently finished a book about his expeditions, published by StarsEnd Creations. His book, Under The Midnight Sun, includes over a hundred color photos.

"I think it gives a good account of our search for the northernmost land on earth, the northernmost mountain on earth, the first ascents of 17 mountains, and the first crossing of four magnificent glaciers," Gardiner said.

"It was a long haul to get it published, but now it feels like it was worth it."

You can find the book listed under authors John Jancik, Steve Gardiner, and Javana Richardson. The web page is www.starsend.com. The book is available at Amazon.com and through Barnes and Noble stores.

Read about other Amazing MEA-MFT members.