| Three’s Company |
06.21.12 |
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As a principal of a small elementary school with fewer than 30 teachers, the educators you hire must be multi-talented and able to fill multiple roles for their students. That may be why the Northern Potter School District in Ulysses, Pa., has hired three LVC graduates to join their community four hours north of Annville in Potter County along the N.Y. state border. Hired over an almost 30-year span, Darlene Sitler ’81, Cindy Watson Cowburn ’90, and Lisa Yingst ’99 each hold several responsibilities in their daily duties as educators.
Sitler was the first Dutchman to hit the radar at Northern Potter when she was hired in 1982 as the elementary music teacher. Versatile by nature and training, Sitler now teaches K–6 music classes, instrumental/band, vocal/chorus, and music technology. She has earned certificates in three levels of Orff Schulwerk, a total approach to fostering creativity and conveying musical knowledge and skills, and received her master’s degree in elementary education. Sitler also serves as the District 2 East Elementary Festival Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
This versatility was apparent while Sitler was a music education major at LVC. She was a member of the Girls’ Band, Symphony Orchestra, Chapel Choir, College Choir, and the Symphonic, Marching, and Concert Bands. And, she was an accompanist for campus recitals and an active member of the LVC student MENC chapter. Today, she remains just as active in her academic and personal lives. “Music is such an important part of my life. Whether inspiring my students to be creative and try new things, playing the horn in the Wellsville (N.Y.) Performing Arts Orchestra, or serving as organist and choir director for my church, music is the central theme.” Sitler’s dedication was recently recognized by her colleagues when they nominated her as a Yale Distinguished Music Educator in 2011. Fortunately for two of her fellow Valley graduates, these colleagues also recognized the value of an LVC education degree.
Eight years after Sitler’s hiring and through a lead from LVC’s Career Services Office, Cowburn arrived in town as the school’s newest third-grade teacher and the two actually car-pooled that first year. Being versatile as well, Cowburn soon moved closer to the school after adding girls’ high school basketball coach to her duties. She had played basketball and field hockey at LVC and was a member of the latter’s 1988 team that was the first in school history to earn a spot in the NCAA playoffs.
Today, Cowburn teaches sixth grade, is a Smart Certified Trainer, and coaches girls’ developmental basketball for the fifth and sixth grades. “In the classroom, I enjoy teaching and seeing the excitement on their faces when they accomplish something that they thought they would never be able to accomplish,” she said. “On the court, I really enjoy coaching girls at this level because they are playing for the love of the game. I am able to teach them basketball skills and, more importantly, skills they will use for life such as confidence, teamwork, and pride.”
In 2005, Cowburn was one of just 100 teachers to be named a Keystone Technology Integrator and attend the Keystone Summit where she was immersed into the newest ways to use technology in the classroom. She continues to use these skills to train her colleagues in the most efficient and engaging ways to incorporate technology into their classrooms.
When asked about her time at LVC, Cowburn admitted that when she visited campus after her senior year in high school she had already registered to attend another school. As fate would have it, she took a tour with legendary education professor emerita, the late June Herr, and quickly fell in love with the school and education program. “I have never regretted that decision. I received an outstanding education, made many wonderful friends, and have great memories of my time at LVC.”
Another technology minded Valley graduate, Yingst became Northern Potter’s most recent addition when she was hired as the Physical Education Federal Program Grant Coordinator in 2010. The next year, she became the K–6 librarian/media specialist/technology teacher for the district. This year, Yingst served as a member of the Leadership Team, Technology Committee, Positive Behavior Support Team, and continued to assist in the area of physical education.
Jumping from physical education to technology specialist and leadership professional to positive behavior advocate in a three-year period would be difficult for most people. However, Yingst’s career path perfectly parallels these multiple areas of expertise and interest. She moved to Potter County after serving as the elementary principal and a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher in the Northern Lebanon School District and serving her country for eight years as a member of the United States Army.
The fact that Yingst ended up with two other LVC graduates at Northern was pure chance she noted. “I didn’t know that Darlene and Cindy were LVC graduates until I was hired. We were talking one day and found that we were all proud alumnae and ‘love’ LVC!” Now finishing her second master’s degree and exploring Ph.D. programs, Yingst often reminisces about LVC and Annville where she grew up. “Having grown up in Annville with a father who worked at the College [Al Yingst, former longtime director of public safety at LVC], the Valley will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Ironically, Cowburn and Yingst were crucial in helping Sitler implement and maintain the curricular addition of music technology into the elementary music classes. According to Sitler, “Their knowledge and support was key when I was awarded two technology grants. I can only aspire to their level!”
Unlike in 1982, when people asked Sitler “Where’s Lebanon Valley College?”, these three graduates have put LVC on the education map in north central Pennsylvania!
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