Putnam City - Public Schools Foundation

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the Putnam City Foundation hosted it's 20th annual "Celebration of Excellence" banquet at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.  Over 400 people attended as the Foundation recognized School Site Grant recipients, Scholarship winners, Excellent Educators, and the 5th inductee to the Wall of Fame, Rhonda Roby, a forensic scientist and 1981 graduate of Putnam City North High School.

Schools receiving grants were:

Central Intermediate School-$3,100 "Amped for Learning"

Putnam City Academy-$3,000 "Boys to Men and Women to Be"

Western Oaks Elementary School-$2,500 "Cool Clickers for Captivating Kids' Comprehension in the Classroom"

Wiley Post Elementary School-$1,500 "eDUCATION with eBOOKS and Playaways

Ralph Downs Elementary School-$1,500 "Hearing Each Lesson:  All Ears Aboard"

James L. Dennis Elementary School-$1,000 "Walk the Talk"

Lake Park Elementary School-$2,758 "We're In It To Win It from Start-to-Finish"

Scholarship Winners were:

Kirk Gibbons, 3rd grade teacher at Hilldale Elementary-Ralph Downs Memorial Scholarship ($500)

Joanne Peterson, biology teacher at Putnam City High School-Roberta Jo Lowe Memorial Scholarship ($500)

Charissa Parker, senior at Putnam City North High School-Carol Casey Memorial Scholarship ($1,500)

Excellent Educators were:

Christine Clay, 5th grade teacher at Hilldale Elementary School

Michele Hart, art teacher at Overholser Elementary School

James Pratt, 5th grade teacher at Central Intermediate School

Joann Rogers, 5th grade teacher at Tulakes Elementary School

Each of the above teachers received a check for $1,000 and $500 for their school.

The Wall of Fame honoree for 2008 is Ms. Rhonda Roby.  A 1981 graduate of Putnam City North High School, Ms. Roby received her bachelor of arts degree in biology and French from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1985.  She obtained her masters of Public Health in forensic biochemistry and behavioral and environmental health sciences from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989.  Ms. Roby has worked on numerous homicide and rape investigations, has contributed to the development of the Department of Defense's efforts to use Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for remains identification of missing servicemen and servicewomen in Southeast Asia, Korean War, and World War II.  She has assisted in identification of numerous victims of airline disasters, identification of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, and the identification of Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family.  Ms. Roby led the mtDNA efforts to assist the City of New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner in the identifications of the remains of decedents in response to the terrorists' attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  Currently, Ms. Roby conducts research and development of methods at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for the Center's Missing Persons Program.  Ms. Roby was honored with a portrait that will be hung in the administration building alongside the four previous recipients:  Mr. Leo Mayfield, past superintendent for Putnam City Schools; Dr. Kenneth Cooper, 1949 graduate of Putnam City High School; Commander Neil Woodward, 1980 graduate of Putnam City High School; and Dr. Carlan Yates, 1973 graduate of Putnam City High School.

Foundation president Ken Whittington also thanked Dr. Jim Capps, Putnam City Schools Superintendent, for his 31 years of service to the district,  and presented him with a Greg Burns print.  Dr. Capps announced that he will be retiring in June of this year.

Thanks to Wes as our talented master of ceremonies again this year, the volunteer students from all three high schools, Silver Strings orchestra for the wonderful music they provided for the evening, Aunt Pittypat's catering, and the countless others who volunteered their time and talents to ensure the success of Putnam City Foundation's Celebration of Excellence Banquet.