HOME | 2008 SUMMER PROGRAM CLASSES | REGISTRATION | LOCATION LETTER | FAQ

2008 Theme - DREAMERS, GOAL SETTERS, AND VISIONARIES

"Vision reaches beyond the thing that is, into the conception of what can be. Imagination gives you the picture. Vision gives you the impulse to make the picture your own.” Robert Collier

Education Soaring 2008 Academic Summer Program
For Capable, Motivated Students

VIEW 2008 CLASSES

Sample 2008 Summer Program Class Descriptions - WEEK 2

Pre-First Program
Entering Grades PreK-1st
TOY TESTERS, INCORPORATED

What is a toy? Does every child have toys? Why are toys so much fun to play with? Which toys are the most fun? How do different toys work? Do great toys always cost a lot of money? Can you make toys? Director Kristine Fosback has purchased some new toys and materials that need scientific testing by expert toy testers and inventors. That tester and inventor could be you!

Accelerated Program
Entering Grades 2-5
GREEN POWER

There aren't many topics more newsworthy than our need for and use of power. Learn about clean energy solutions while conducting investigations using solar, wind, and water power. In discussions about conservation, take an objective look at both the history and future of energy usage around the world.

Advanced Program
Entering Grades 6-9
LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION

There is no Ithaca, only the journey. For each of us, and in much of literature, what’s most important is not the destination, but the journey. Looking at classic short stories and classic folk and fairy tales, prepare to explore the hero’s journey while at the same time exploring patterns in literature and enhancing analytical skills in discussion and composition.

WEEK 1 July 7-11
Location Change to
Davis Elementary School
19501 NE Davis St. Portland, OR 97230
LOCATION INFORMATION

WEEK 2 July 14-18
Location
Davis Elementary School
19501 NE Davis St. Portland, OR 97230
WEEK 3 July 21-25
Location
Davis Elementary School
19501 NE Davis St. Portland, OR 97230

Education Soaring is presenting a Summer Program of excellence for capable, motivated children from the ages of four to fifteen.  For the sixth consecutive year, Director Kristine Fosback will offer this program to all capable, motivated children who desire to participate.

An expert faculty skilled in tailoring classes to the specific interests and academic levels of students using state-of-the-art equipment will allow students to learn not just by listening and observing, but by engaging in hands-on exploration, development and creation.

The eagerness of Education Soaring students to learn and perform far above age level expectations in a wide variety of disciplines, staff's keen ability to direct them in this way, and the friendships that develop among students, parents, and faculty will amaze all who participate and visit the program during the upcoming sessions.

"We recognize that highly capable children often do not have academic peers in the regular classroom and that most school instruction is not geared to their needs.  We are dedicated to providing students with experiences that they will long remember as intellectually stimulating, socially satisfying, and fabulously fun! Our Summer Program is rich with opportunity and personal attention in an atmosphere where children create satisfying relationships with new friends throughout the week. Our program is immersion in gifted education and socialization. It's personal. It's unique."
Kristine Fosback

Education Soaring welcomes your questions regarding its program. Please direct your communication to Kristine Fosback at kfosback@educationsoaring.com or call (503) 255-SOAR (7627).


EDUCATION SOARING classes are right for your child if . . .

  • He or she is a capable, motivated student who requires stimulating classroom environments in order to achieve at a level commensurate with his or her ability.

  • Or your child is drifting in the crosswinds of an educational system that may not be serving his or her needs. You desire a supplementary environment that will rekindle your child's passion for learning and raise academic achievement to match intellectual ability.

  • Perhaps your child has been identified as "Gifted and Talented" and thrives when allowed to pursue passionate interests, collaborate with intellectual peers, take advantage of every learning opportunity, and utilize his or her abilities to the fullest.

  • Or he or she is at the beginning of the formal school years and is excited about learning. You desire positive, nurturing classes where your child can explore new ideas, acquire important skills, and build lasting friendships.

Our Mission

We provide children with educational experiences designed to extend academic achievement beyond national, state and community norms. Education Soaring expands children's interests and knowledge, increases confidence and self-esteem, and promotes independence.

We connect parents to resources that meet their children's immediate and long-term educational needs at school, at home and in the community. We help parents make the intricate and crucial decisions necessary to place their children on the best educational paths.

We share current research and developments in education so that teachers can address children's needs using the most advanced educational tools and support systems.

Our Instructional Vision

Education Soaring classes offer private school benefits at affordable costs. Class size does not usually exceed ten students and is sometimes as low as six or seven students. Small classes ensure that all students have multiple opportunities to use materials and interact directly with instructors.

Acceleration is provided through course content that stretches two to six years beyond grade level making classes ideal for exceptionally gifted children. Course topics are selected for relevancy and interesting content and are continually molded to fit the needs of students. Maximum time is devoted to discussion, reflection, and collaboration. Emphasis is placed on conceptual learning, hands-on activities, and exploration.

Experienced, dedicated teachers bring a love of teaching and learning, superior knowledge, and passionate interests to their courses. Education Soaring teachers become advocates for students they come to know well over time.

Students meet and interact with other children with whom they share similar interests and knowledge. Friendships develop and are maintained over time.

Parents meet and support other parents who face similar parenting challenges. Valuable information regarding resources is exchanged.

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About the Director, Students, Executive Board, Teachers

Education Soaring Founder and Director

Kristine Fosback is an education leader in the state of Oregon. A 1977 graduate of Portland State University, Ms. Fosback holds a Masters Degree in Education with special research studies in math education. During her twenty-nine years as a teacher in Portland, Oregon, her contributions have included developing innovative math and general education programs, heightening awareness of the educational needs of highly gifted children, including English Language Learners and children with dual exceptionalities, involving elementary school students in service learning, and more.

With Dr. Donnise Brown, Ms. Fosback developed the curriculum for “Recess Math,” a program that received extensive national recognition in the 1990s. One of fifteen programs selected for a $250,000 grant from RJR Nabisco’s “Next Century Schools Foundation” from among more than 1,000 competitive submissions, the program utilizes innovative concepts to productively restructure how time is used during the school day. An independent research group evaluated the effectiveness of Recess Math and reported that “third, fourth, and fifth graders’ math skills increased at a rate 50 percent higher than students not in the program.”

In 1988, Fosback’s students were chosen as Merit Award Winners in the national “Kids Care Contest” sponsored by Scholastic News for their efforts to assist a classmate who needed a bone marrow transplant. In 1999, Fosback engaged the assistance of a partner school and spearheaded a drive to collect hundreds of pounds of shoes for children in Romania who could not attend school due to lack of footwear.

Fosback has written and received grants on behalf of schools and individual students, awarded from both local school districts and national organizations such as the National Gifted Children’s Fund. A math education grant Ms. Fosback received for an elementary school in 2002, was selected as the single grant awarded in memory of Kathryn Kinen, an outstanding Portland educator.

In 1988, Fosback received special recognition from the Reynolds District School Board for her contributions and “exceptional leadership.” She was honored in 2002 as Employee of the Year by the Reynolds Education Foundation.

On behalf of Education Soaring, Fosback was invited to participate in the development of NOISE, an Oregon network of STEM Educators (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Technology). At its inception in 2007, Fosback temporarily served as a member of its leadership committee and chaired its communications committee.

Kristine Fosback has been a presenter at district inservices, educational conferences, and university seminars. She has served as a consultant with schools to help them provide appropriately leveled educational programming.

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Education Soaring Students

Over the past five years, more than five hundred children ranging from 4 to 14 years of age have participated in Education Soaring classes. Students have attended regular school in more than thirty-five school districts and fifteen private schools in the greater Portland and Vancouver areas, and in places as far away as Kaysville, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Government Camp, Oregon. The vast majority of students are identified as Talented and Gifted. However, Education Soaring educators understand the challenges children can face in securing gifted identification. Therefore, capable students who demonstrate a passionate desire to expand their knowledge and skills in particular domains, or to test the waters of new domains in supportive settings, also attend Education Soaring classes even if they are not formally identified as gifted.

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Executive Board

David Davis is a former Professor and Assistant to the Provost at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his appointment at Vanderbilt University, Rabbi Davis held the position of Associate Vice President at the University of San Francisco, where he helped to create the Center for Pacific Rim and Asian Studies Program. In 1996, after twenty years at the University of San Francisco, Rabbi Davis retired with Professor Emeritus honors. A recognized leader in intellectual, moral and academic issues, Rabbi Davis has a long-standing reputation of working to further understanding among communities and diverse population groups. He established the first Chair in Judaic Studies at an American Catholic University. Rabbi Davis was also a leader in the Civil Rights movement, which led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Patricia Davis has been a prominent community leader for the past twenty years. As Executive Director for the Family Council in California, she developed preschool programs, a Hispanic tutorial program, and a substance abuse assistance program for teens and their families. As Director of the Community Youth Project, also in California, Patricia Davis developed programs for sixth through twelfth graders in a geographically isolated community. Following a move to Tennessee, Ms. Davis successfully raised funds for a HUD/HopeVI grant. Patricia Davis has served on the boards of many worthwhile organizations such as the Occupational Industrialization Center in Tennessee, Principal Library Systems, the Council on Aging, and the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute. Ms. Davis has been honored by several municipalities for her exemplary contributions. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Rabbi David Davis.

Trisha Loitz Fleischman , a graduate of Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, is a Staff Attorney for the Oregon Workers' Compensation Board in Salem, Oregon. She is also the Articles Editor for the Journal of Small and Emerging Business Law. In 1996, Trisha Fleischman received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She currently resides in Sherwood, Oregon.

Norman Fosback is president of Fosback Investment Management in Boca Raton, Florida, and publisher of Fosback's Fund Forecaster, an investment advisory newsletter. A graduate of Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, in 1971, Mr. Fosback co-founded The Institute for Econometric Research, a quantitatively-oriented research organization that pioneered sophisticated techniques for financial market forecasting. As President of The Institute, Mr. Fosback created and edited twelve investment newsletters with a combined circulation of approximately 300,000. In 1993, Fosback created Mutual Funds Magazine, a leading consumer finance publication that grew to a paid circulation of 800,000. All of the publications were acquired by Time Inc. in 1998. Mr. Fosback is also the author of four books, including the best-selling Stock Market Logic (more than 1.1 million copies in print). Mr. Fosback's credits include a nationally-syndicated investment column. He has been widely sought as an international lecturer on investment management for individuals.

Christy Hillman is a fund raising specialist with Legacy Health System, focusing on developing the retail spaces with the hospital setting. Currently the stores she manages generate over $1.25 million in sales per year. These programs donated over $1.5 million back to the hospital over the last 5 years. She is in the process of creating a "Mom and Me" boutique, expected to gross over $60,000 during its first year of operation. She is also the "Bank Day" coordinator, which is a savings incentive program, operated in cooperation with Washington Mutual Bank. Over 125 children are enrolled in this very successful program (the best in the region). A 1991 graduate of the University of Oregon in journalism and public relations, Christy Hillman has traveled around the world, with extended stays in France and Nepal. Christy Hillman is a mother of three children.

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Summer Program Instructors

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Jim Anderson
Middle school science teacher .
Steve Anderson
Middle school science teacher .
Becky Annus
Elementary school classroom teacher.
   
Amy Anselmo, B.A., Ed., Washington State University; Pullman, Washington, 1997.
Elementary school classroom teacher.
 
       
Allan Berry, MA, Ed, Concordia University, 2003.
Licensed Civil and Environmental Engineer. Middle and high school classroom teacher.
 
Michelle Bounds
Middle school teacher. Elementary school classroom teacher.
   

Dalaine Bowen, B.S. Psychology, Portland State University; Portland, Oregon.
Human Resources Generalist, Freightliner. Owner Sunoutlet, Internet business, 2002-present.

     
 
Mark Bowman, B.S., Ed.
Middle school mathematics teacher.
 
Mary Butler Brown
Elementary school classroom teacher. Former Beaverton School District teacher (Elmonica Elementary School).
       
Kevin Braker
Portland artist, sculptor
         
Lisa Calcagno, B.A., Ed., Concordia University; Portland, Oregon, 2001. M.A., Ed., 2004.
Elementary school classroom teacher. Reading First Literacy Coach.
   
Joyce Case, B.A., Ed, Oregon State University; Corvallis, Oregon, 1973.
Elementary school teacher. Public school art enrichment teacher. Portland Parks and Recreation teacher.
 
Kristine Fosback, M.S., Ed. Portland State University; Portland, Oregon, 1988. B.S., Ed. Portland State University; Portland, Oregon, 1977.
Elementary school classroom teacher. President, Education Soaring, Inc.
Elizabeth Hamill, M.A. Ed., Lewis and Clark College; Portland, Oregon, 1978. B.A. Ed., Portland State University; Portland, Oregon, 1970.
Former elementary school classroom teacher.
     
   
Andy Johnson
Owner, Cosmic Monkey Comics
       
Joni Jones
OMSI Outreach Coordinator. Officer, Northwest Herptile Keepers Association.
Michael Jordan
Elementary school classroom teacher.
     
Amanda Lindley
Elementary School classroom teacher
       
Jonathan Lindley
Elementary School Instructional Assistant and Elementary Education university student.
       
Carolyn Kardinal, B.A. Music Ed., University of Kansas.
Elementary school music teacher. High school voice coach. Private music teacher, composer, published writer and poet.
   
Sheryl Lindley
Elementary school classroom teacher.
 
Renee Malanaphy
Elementary school cook.
 
 
Donna McCrary
Elementary school classroom teacher.
   
Travis McDonald, B.A. Ed., Concordia University; Portland, Oregon.
Elementary school classroom teacher. Mr. McDonald is a past coordinator for the International Groundhog Project for Hood River Schools.
 
Marsha Mollering
Elementary school teacher.
     
 
 
Mary Olczak
Elementary school physical education teacher.
   
Elizabeth Pemberton
Elementary school classroom teacher.
   
Aimee Pfenning
Elementary school classroom teacher.
         
Malinda Pollard
Elementary school classroom teacher.
 
 
Charlie Stanley
Owner, Fierce Thought Technologies. Website designer.
   
Carolyn Strong
Elementary school physical education teacher.
   
Karen Tomlinson
Elementary school classroom teacher.
   
Chrystie Voreas
Elementary school ELL (English Language Learner) teacher.
James Wise, M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon, 2003; B.A., Latin American Studies, The Evergreen State College; Olympia, Washington, 1996. Bilingual Job Services Specialist. Volunteer Outreach Legal Interpreter.
   
Sally Wells
Elemenenatary school classroom teacher.
         

HOME | 2008 SUMMER PROGRAM CLASSES | REGISTRATION | LOCATION INFORMATION | FAQ