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Women in the News
The Crawley family poses for a photo before the beginning of their nine-day hike on the Foothills Trail. From left to right is Ryan, Jenna and Ayla Crawley. Photo submitted
Valle Crucis 8-year-old Hikes 76-mile Foothills Trail
After a cross-country trip and a vacation to Australia and New Thermarests, a water fi lter, a backpacking stove, minimal clothing, Zealand were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemrain gear, trail guides, a fi rst aid kit, a tarp, a tent, headlamps and ic, rising fourth-grader Ayla Crawley, age 8, took to the 76-mile snacks. Foothills Trail to have a summer adven“Luxury items” included a small jourture with her parents, Ryan and Jenna nal with a pen, books, waterproof camerCrawley. as, a small football and two hammocks.
Ayla’s mother, Jenna, said that the Food drops were planned ahead of 8-year-old has “hiking in her genetics,” time and stored off of the trail’s parking as both Jenna and Ryan have several lot areas in buckets so that the family years’ experience working at a wilderonly had to carry 3-4 days’ worth of food ness school and are experienced hikers. at a time.
While the trip took months to plan, Upon the completion of the nine-day Jenna said that planning ahead for hike, Ayla was awarded the Peregrine the time they would spend on the trail, Award for successfully hiking the entire which included storing food drops and trail. The Peregrine Award was started hiking before the summer sun got too in 2011 and is awarded by the Foothills hot, made the trip better. Through the Ayla Crawley holds an iron-on patch provided by the Foothills Trail Conservancy and her Peregrine Award certifi cate. Trail Conservancy to hikers who comprocess of planning the trip and being Photo submitted plete the trail, in either sessions or all at on the trail, Ayla, who is also a student once. at Valle Crucis School, learned to read trail maps, how to calculate Ayla said that while she didn’t understand just how long 77 daily mileage and about necessary hiking gear. miles was at the beginning of the journey, “it was actually really
Jenna said that she and Ryan carried packs weighing 40-45 fun, especially because it was eight-mile days.” pounds, with Ayla’s being lighter at 13-14 pounds. My trail name was ‘Skittles,’ mom’s was ‘Chipmunk’ and
“We wanted this trip to be fun and relaxing, as well, so we dad’s was ‘Storyteller’ because he tells a lot of stories while we’re took an approach that included bringing things that were going hiking,” Ayla said. “Mine was ‘Skittles’ because when we were to provide comfort,” said Ryan. “Our (Jenna’s and Ryan’s) packs going up hills I would eat Skittles and Twix because they give you were heavier as a result, but it was totally worth it. Our motto was motivation.” ‘smiles, not miles.’”
The Crawleys’ backpack supplies included sleeping bags, - Abby Whitt
Yates’ Career Celebrated with Drive-Through Ceremony
Phyllis Yates has been Yates’ family were present to involved with Ashe partake in this special ceremoCounty Schools for more than ny and wave at the cars that 40 years and retired eff ective drove by. July 1. She has served in her A school bus was parked current position as superinwithin view with a large bantendent of schools since the ner made by Callie Lewis, art 2015-16 school year. teacher at Westwood Elemen
A drive-through celebratary School that read “Contion sponsored by the board gratulations, Mrs. Yates!” of education was held on June Yates said the ceremony 25 to allow the community to fi lled her heart and the school celebrate with Yates. system has been great and has
Current and previous Superintendent Phyllis Yates was celebrated for her service to Ashe County Schools been like family to her over students, staff , parents and members of the Ashe County with a drive-through retirement ceremony on June 25. Pictured is Yates and her husband, Joel, with their grandchildren Trey, John Emory and Kathryn Grace Yates. the years. “I’ve been very blessed and community were invited to drive by and Ivy Street. I’m honored to have had this job,” Yates honk their horns or bid Yates farewell. Tents were set up in the parking lot said following the celebration.
The route began at the intersections in front of the Central Support Services of Main Street and South Street and conoffi ce located at 320 South Street in - Bailey Little tinued past Fletcher Memorial Church to Jeff erson. 320 South Street before exiting left on CSS staff along several members of
Lindsay Masland, an associate professor in Appalachian State University’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology, was recently recognized nationally for her excellence as an early career psychologist.
The award was conferred by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology — Division 2 of the American Psychological Association. Each year, the STP awards six individuals nationally for their excellence in psychological teachings. The organization’s Jane S. Halonen Teaching Excellence Award specifi cally recognizes the excellence of early career psychologists.
In her nomination letter for Masland, Jordan D. Troisi — associate professor of psychology at the University of the South — wrote that while there are many great teachers in STP, Masland is the person she goes to when she needs teaching advice.
Since joining Appalachian’s faculty in 2011, Masland, who received her Ph.D.
Lindsay Masland, associate professor in Appalachian’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology, is named the 2020 recipient of the Jane S. Halonen Teaching Excellence Award. Photo courtesy Appalachian State University
from the University of Georgia and her M.A. and B.A. from Wake Forest University, has been a keynote speaker at the annual Eastern Teaching of Psychology Conference — held in Staunton, Va., and for the STP’s Annual Conference on Teaching. She is the 2020 recipient of the App State Excellence in Teaching Award, and was recently named as incoming assistant director for faculty professional development in Appalachian’s Center for Academic Excellence.
She also serves as a consulting editor for the journals Teaching of Psychology and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, both of which focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Masland currently serves on 10 of Appalachian’s departmental committees committed to teaching excellence, and her research focuses include student engagement, eff ective teaching practices and inclusive excellence in the classroom.
“My passion is to help educators make sound instructional choices that lead to transformative educational experiences for the many types of students they have in their classrooms,” Masland said. “I try to bring my background of educational psychology and knowledge of the science behind teaching/learning to bear on every aspect of my teaching, research and service.”
