Dr. Kersey’s “101s” working out well in kindergarten class
I teach half-day kindergarten at Fairfield Elementary School in Virginia Beach, where I have 24 adorable kids and great parental support. I have been using Katharine Kersey’s “101s” and class meetings as my discipline plan, and it is working out phenomenally.

I even gave parents handouts at our open house with articles about class meetings and, of course, her “101s,” and they just can’t stop raving about this “new” approach to discipline. I thank Dr. Kersey for all the support and the great background she gave me in early childhood education.

I could go on and on raving about ODU’s early childhood education program in general and Dr. Kersey specifically.
– Kim Morgan ’04
Virginia Beach

Running photo of Bush before election a “poor decision”
I would like to ask if it was a conscious decision to place a prominent picture of President Bush in an issue that was widely distributed one week before a highly contested election.

It was most definitely a newsworthy photo that celebrated the well-deserved recognition of Ms. Jennie Matthews serving our country. Indeed, many alumni serve our great country on a regular basis inside and out of the military. But I would hope an alumni association I will one day support on a regular basis would take necessary steps to not appear partisan. I see no problem in placing pictures of elected officials in a publication. However, I feel it was a very poor decision to include the picture with the timing of this issue.

I believe when dealing with delivering messages to a mass audience we all need to give careful consideration to both intended and possibly unintended inferences that can be made. As the executive director of a not-for-profit organization, there are actions my organization wanted to take but held back because of a need to be extra careful during a time of a very highly publicized and media-heavy campaign.

I realize you and the entire editorial staff do a commendable job every day delivering important news to alumni and celebrating our accomplishments. I was simply sorry to see the choice was made to run the photograph given the nature and topics of the political posturing taking place on both sides of the spectrum.
– Steve Lesky ’92
St. Petersburg, Fla.
steve1041@earthlink.net

Thanks for the bib
We sent an e-mail a few months ago to announce the birth of our son, Ryan. We just wanted to thank the Alumni Association for the cute card and bib that we received. What a neat idea! The handwritten note was also appreciated. Keep up the good work!
– Todd ’96 (M.S. ’97) and Suzy Lindley (M.S.Ed. ’97)
Williamsburg

Back to the future

My connection with Old Dominion over nearly a half-century has been Monarch-size and wonderfully rewarding. The journey began as a part-time night school student.

Nearly 20 years after graduation, I discovered the great fun of the Alumni Association and served as the quintessential volunteer. For 10 years, alumni activities were the most fun I ever had in any organization.

Now that my career as a businessman is nearing its end, I have once again looked to Old Dominion to plan for the future. Last June, I discussed the prospects of finding a job as a public school teacher with Bill Graves, dean of the Darden College of Education. He encouraged me and set up a meeting with Leigh Butler.

In short order, Dr. Butler proposed a plan for me to follow. Her encouragement and counsel motivated me. If she had not proposed a hopeful plan, I never would have enrolled in school that day last summer – after a 40-year hiatus from the classroom.

I encountered another wonderful faculty member when I registered for Peter Stewart’s Virginia History class. It was nothing short of thrilling for me to be back in school, writing papers, taking tests, reading textbooks, interacting with the students in class and attending lectures. We are lucky to still have Dr. Stewart teaching 12 years after his retirement.

Last semester, I enrolled in a graduate course in educational technology. I looked forward to every Thursday night class with Dr. John Hollenbeck who, like Dr. Stewart, is an entertaining bright light in the classroom.

I am very pleased to have been welcomed back to Old Dominion after all of the years out of school and to find such a high caliber of faculty. I have spent many years promoting Old Dominion as one of Hampton Roads’ finest assets, but now I have experienced it – again – firsthand. Thanks to Drs. Graves, Butler, Stewart and Hollenbeck, I am on my way to a new career in a few months.
– Bernie Kirsch ’64
Virginia Beach


To send a letter to the editor, an update for the Class News section or a change-of-address notice, you may contact us via e-mail, sdaniel@odu.edu; fax, 757-683-5501; or by regular mail, Editor, Old Dominion University magazine, 100 Koch Hall, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529.

You may reach us by phone at:
Alumni Association and Alumni Relations Office: 757-683-3097 or 888-ODU-3435
Old Dominion University magazine: 757-683-3093