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The following article was published Sept. 18, 2007, in the Janesville Gazette. It is reproduced in News and Ideas with permission from the Janesville Gazette.

Teacher helps class 1,000 miles away

EVANSVILLE—Teacher Sally Feeney described a two-hour church service she attended and other events of her weekend to her fifth-grade class at Theodore Robinson Intermediate School.

But Feeney did it Monday standing more than 1,000 miles away.

Feeney appeared before the class via videocast from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Students collectively "oohhed" and "wowed" as Feeney told them the church service she'd attended felt shorter than it was because it involved so much singing and dancing.

Monday's videocast was just one example of how Feeney is bringing her experiences into the classroom as the first teacher in the [UW-Extension] Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program. The two-year program brings together people from across the state, challenging them to strengthen their communication and leadership skills. "It's the best thing I've ever done," Feeney said.

A group of 34 participants is in New Orleans this week to explore issues facing the area after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. [WRLP participants visited New Orleans and Baton Rouge Sept. 15-21.] In March, they spent a week in Washington, D.C., where Feeney was able to chat with the CEO of Lockheed Martin during a Senate hearing.

"This program tries to make you stretch where you maybe don't have the same political views," she said.

A small farmer in the group, for example, had to defend large-scale farms during a mock Senate hearing.

In January, Feeney will travel with the group for 2½ weeks from northern to southern India, focusing on land use, technology and energy issues.

Being in the program has been "such an awesome experience," said Feeney, who is grateful the Evansville School District has allowed such a big commitment to the program. Between seminars and trips, Feeney misses about 50 days of school.

"It was a big commitment for the district to buy into," said Feeney, who is in her 19th year of teaching in Evansville.

Filling in for Feeney is substitute teacher Francette Hamilton, an alumna of the leadership program who nominated Feeney for the program.

"Over the years, I have felt there is not much understanding of what goes on in the schools by the general public and even by our elected officials," Hamilton said. "I thought that just because of the structure of our school systems, it is very hard for teachers to get into the program."

When Hamilton became a certified substitute teacher, she sought and found Feeney as a good candidate for the program.

Principal Vicki Lecy-Luebke said Monday's videocast was the first of its kind for the school, and proof that the district's commitment is worth it.

During the videocast, students were able to ask Feeney and her peers questions about the aftermath of the hurricanes and hear first-hand accounts of the devastation.

"It has been a commitment, but it's really going to pay off," Lecy-Luebke said. "I've seen the benefits already."

The women are hoping Feeney is paving the way for other teachers to enroll in the leadership program.

While learning strategies for community building, Feeney also is making connections at the state and federal levels, and "all walks of life," her principal said. Feeney hopes to bring some of those officials and leaders back to her school to speak or help in other ways.

"It's just been such a wonderful exchange of ideas," Lecy-Luebke said. "I think it's just a wonderful way to open up our school to the real world."

By Gina Duwe, reporter, Janesville Gazette

For more information:
www.uwex.edu/ces/wrlp/index.cfm

JoAnn Stormer
Executive Director
Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program
UW-Extension
(608) 263-5024
joann.stormer@ces.uwex.edu

WRLP is accepting nominations through Nov. 1 for the group to begin spring 2008.