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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, June 5, 2009 Utsalady's sock-dancing teacher deserves the attention she's getting By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist Stanwood schools made a wonderful choice for their 2008-09 Teacher of the Year. Utsalady Elementary Reading Specialist Julie Knight received the honor. We wrote about Knight last December in a story headlined "It started when a kid knocked her socks off." Knight offers "sock dances" for accomplishments large and small. It began one day when a student struggled with multiplying by 3. "I can't remember what I did or said, but if real life were like the cartoons, you'd have seen the actual light bulb over his head," Knight said. "I could then throw any 'Three times blank is' at him, and he could give me the answer." The whole class clapped because it was a great moment to celebrate. He looked at his teacher and asked if he knocked off her socks. "I kicked off my shoes," Knight said. "I took off my socks. Luckily I had on regular socks because I was wearing pants." She held the socks and started dancing and singing some silly song. "The class just looked at me like I had gone nuts, but it was something they remembered." Sock dances evolved to note good classroom performance. And the teacher is recognized for good performance, too. * * * We recently wrote about the Monday Study Club in Stanwood. Women meet to discuss a topic, such as religion, courtroom trials or fossil fuels. It's all very organized and informative. Member Nancy Leuschel said the column produced a wonderful gift. Kari Hansen from Granite Falls gave the club a box of ledgers, articles and pamphlets from the earliest days of the club. "Information belonged to her grandmother, Elsa Mathies Lien, a charter member of the group," Leuschel says. "She also brought a wedding dress, some shoes that were her grandmother's, a treasure trove she donated to the Stanwood Area Historical Society." Leuschel said the memorabilia enriched the Stanwood Area Historical Society's collection and added to the study club's archives. * * * When you need card tables, well, have a card party. That's what they're doing at the Camano Senior and Community Center. To raise money for new card tables needed at the center, they are offering a card party at 11 a.m. Thursday at 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. It costs $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers and includes lunch and beverages. And when you have a card party, it's great to have a sponsor who knows the games -- Angel of the Winds casino. * * * This is the place for proud mothers to talk about their wonderful children. Gretchen Wilson of Monroe is happy her son, Peter Wilson, and his family are coming home for a visit. The music major graduated from Seattle Pacific University, married his college sweetheart, raised organic eggs in Sultan, and then taught in Snohomish, Monroe and China. He now teaches in a Montana town with 200 residents. His wife, Molly, teaches violin and voice. The couple have a new baby boy. The couple has recorded two compact discs and will entertain at 7 p.m. Monday at Fern Bluff Grange, 32401 Cemetery Road, Sultan. Sultan High School graduates Brandon Olson and Ben Rud will join the concert. After the show, the couple has to scoot back home. He drives a combine for a Montana wheat farmer in the summer. Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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