Leaguer Conventional Wisdom Asst. academic director comes to League with wealth of experience By BOBBY HAWTHORNE Journalism Director Wk iH i Middle School to become one Ribbon School nominee will help improve UIL academic competitions in the years ahead. The connection: Pat Wisdom, newly-ap­ Amy Etherington gives a pep talk to Lisa May pointed assistant academic director, whose educa­ before an Mayde Creek (Katy) Softball game tion experiences range from assisting in the estab­ last spring. Photo by Kelly Townsend. lishment of a pre-Kindergarten program to direct­ ing high school UIL academic meets. A former middle school English teacher, high school En­ Batter Up! glish and art teacher and district curriculum coor­ dinator, Wisdom comes to the League with a full Girts' fast-pitch softbail range of experience. "I bring a wide range of school information gains SBOE approval into this job," Pat said. "I've coached a number of activities so I understand the program from the Girls' fast-pitch Softball became a reality teacher's perspective, and as an administrator, I IT'S ALL ACADEMIC. Former Anna ISD Director of Instruction Patricia Wisdom has joined the League as last month when the State Board of Educa­ was in charge of the full district academic program assistant academic director. Wisdom, who is finishing her doctorate at The University of Texas at Austin, tion gave its formal approval. A proposal was — from dissemination information to the various will assist Janet Wiman in directing the full academic program. Photo by JOEY UN. passed by the University Interscholastic campuses to selecting campus coordinators to pro­ League's Legislative Council last October to viding judges to running the meet itself." 1,4, 5 and 6. adopt the sport as a championship program As Director of Instruction for Anna ISD, Pat For six years, she taught English at Frisco VITAL STATISTICS under the U1L umbrella. also helped develop plans for gifted & talented Middle School, coached reading writing and spell­ I Directed/Coached UIL Activities for 15 The sport had been played in previous programs, site-based decision-making, at-risk stu­ ing, and directed the one-act play. She then years years at the high school level throughout the dents, technology development, drug-free schools, moved to McKinney, where she taught art in the I Director of Instruction, Anna ISD state, but no post-season playoff structure or and health services, as well as other TEA-ap- junior high and high school. I UIL Spring Meet Academic Director, format was available. With the backing of the proved programs. This range of duties taught her After working on her masters degree at the McKinney HS UlL's Legislative Council, the State Board of an important lesson about UIL academic activi­ University of Virginia, she returned to McKinney, I Coach, Lit. Crit, Editorials, Ready Writing, Education gave its okay and the first state ties. where she taught English, coached ready writing, McKinney HS championship will be crowned the weekend "As an administrator, you're dealing with a journalism and literary criticism, and served as I Coach, ready writing, spelling, one-act of May 21-22 in Austin. lot of society's problems that you'd just as soon district academic meet director. Those years pro­ play coach, Frisco Middle School Two hundred and thirteen (213) schools rather not have, such as at-risk students and drugs," duced a Conference 4A state editorial writing will play softbail this spring and comprise 32 Pat said. "The UIL academic contests are some­ champion in 1988, and two State Meet literary districts. Eight teams from eight regions will thing you get to do — not something you have to criticism qualifiers and one State Meet alternate. decathlon format and the second semester, we advance to the single-elimination state tour­ do. I would love to see these contests more In 1990, she was hired as district director of focused on literary criticism and writing. nament. encouraged because students who can succeed in Instruction for Anna ISD, where she helped imple­ "I was worried that the students would miss In other State Board of Education ac­ UIL activities can succeed in life. It's really a ment such programs as pre-K for disadvantaged something by not taking regular senior English, tion, the minimum penalty for off-season honing of skills, a preparation for the future. four year-olds and helped secure a $26,977 Suc­ that it would hurt their test scores," she said. "In infractions was changed from four games to "And it adds so much excitement to what the cessful School Governor's Grant for Anna Middle fact, their scores were higher than most of the two district games for teams playing double students are doing in school," she added. "Some­ School. While working full-time, she completed students in the regular honors program. This class round robin schedules, and from four games to times, students are so bored, they need something her superintendency certification through doc­ was an interesting blend of students — not just a one district game for teams playing single that is an outlet for academic success. UIL contests toral program in administration and supervision at room full of National Merit scholars—but kids of round robin schedules. are that outlet, and students really can catch on to the University of North Texas. many different skill levels. They had a fervor for Also changed the minimum penalty for them." "It may sound hokey but I wanted to come to learning that was different, not your typical sit in participating in college tryouts from afull year She caught on to them herself. As a student the UIL because I love academic competition," your seat class. They craved information because they wanted to succeed in all endeavors. to two contests; allow high school juniors to at Duncanville High School, she competed in Pat said. "I enjoy watching students succeed, and accept NCAA allowable passes for admission ready writing and spelling, and was a yearbook I'm honored to have an opportunity to be in a "Achievement in UIL builds morale," she to collegiate activities; clarify the legislative editor. position to really have an impact on the success of added. "You know the old statement, 'Success intent that a student may apply for a waiver of "I decided early that I wanted to be a teacher, a large number of students. breeds success.' Much of the academic achieve­ the four year rule only one time; and limit in part because I enjoyed the competitions and in "At McKinney, there was a group of kids that ments in Anna came because teachers and stu­ 'practice and participation during intersessions part because I was so impressed by many of my were fondly called 'Pat's Kids," she added. They dents knew that the administrators cared about for schools that adopt non-traditional school teachers," she said. Her first teaching job came at were in my humanities and creative writing class, them and their success. It's working together that years. a private parochial school in Dallas, where she which took the place of regular senior English. brings this success. To me, that's what the UIL is taught all subjects except science and in grades K, The first semester, we studied along an academic all about." Volume 77 • Number Five • January-February, 1993 • ISSN 0897*4314 etntera Finding victory in defeat friends. How we each respond to these losses Learning to handle disappointment is crucial lesson is a learned behavior. We can learn to show EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was they may compete against someone who has a grace and class or im­ written by Catherine Somers and is a reprint from the natural capacity to excel at that sport. This is an maturity and brood­ Indiana HSAA Newsletter. opportunity to explain to your team that people ing. are given talents in different areas. They should A coach is first Participation in high school sports can be a respect that person's talent and the hard work that and foremost an edu­ wonderful experience. It can build confidence, has developed it. cator. When a loss increase discipline, and teach teamwork. These They also should realize that it took a lot of occurs in sports, there are all positive characteristics that our students courage on their part to compete against that is an opportunity to should develop. person. Knowing the odds going in, facing the teach your athletes a Athletics also can teach another lesson, one adversity head-on, and finishing with their self- great deal. They need that each of us has to face at some point in life. confidence intact are noble accomplishments in guidance as to the ap­ Sometimes you lose. their own right. propriate behavior to No matter how good you are or how hard you They may have lost, but they should know display and the proper try, it's going to happen. that they used their own talent to its maximum. perspective in which For some of your students, losing an athletic They are not defeated, if from the experience, they to view it. contest is their first experience with defeat. You as improve themselves in some way. Will leaving a coaches and administrators will be with them A loss offers the opportunity to teach another loss behind keep them when it happens. What you teach them about lesson as well. from greater achieve­ handling that disappointment will stay with them Sometimes the determination of success or ment? Should they the rest of their lives. failure is made not by our performance, or our keep those painful Most of your student-athletes will not com­ dedication, or even our level of talent.