A few notes and items regarding education in the area:

Members of the Lawrence school board thanked teachers marking their 25th years of service — or more — as educators this year, during Monday night’s board meeting.

The teachers:

• Janice Fullerton, a gifted education teacher at South Junior High School.

• Teresa Grieb, a physical education teacher at Central junior High School. She’s been teaching for 27 years.

• Gary Hall, physical education teacher for Pinckney and Wakarusa Valley schools — among the 11 elementary schools where he’s worked as a teacher. He’s also taught at South and West junior high schools.

• Jan Mahlios, who teaches sixth grade at Deerfield School.

• Lisa Melton, who teaches fifth grade at Sunflower School.

Bob Arevalo, the district’s division director for human resources, presented the teachers with certificates provided by Kansas University before they accepted congratulations from and shook hands with each member of the board.

“It’s a real pleasure and a privilege to be in a district with such fine educators,” said Rich Minder, board president.

•••

In this file photo from 2001, former Kansas University All-American Paul Pierce greets youths at his basketball camp. Pierce, now captain of the Boston Celtics, drew 200-plus campers to that camp at Allen Fieldhouse, and continues his advocacy for youth fitness today.

Many folks around these parts remember Paul Pierce sinking shot after shot after shot inside Allen Fieldhouse, but — according to an article I came across in the Wall Street Journal — the former Jayhawk is also quite the fitness advocate for young people.

Pierce, a star player for the Boston Celtics, founded the Truth Fund in 2002, to help underserved youth. And his latest program is FitClub34, a fan-and-fitness club that helps motivate kids and counts on them to commit to doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

You can read all about it — and learn plenty about Pierce’s own seemingly tireless workout regimen — in the Journal story.

Some things I didn’t know: Pierce didn’t start playing hoops until he was 12, and he was cut from his high school’s varsity team his freshman year.

Guess things have a way of working out, eh?

•••

When Frank Harwood interviews today for the superintendent’s job in the Bellevue school district at the edge of Omaha, it won’t be a one-on-one situation.

Interviews are being conducted by members of the Bellevue school board, and the interviews are being conducted in open, public meetings.

“That will probably be the difference maker,” said Ed Rastovski, representing the search firm that identified candidates and helped the board choose finalists from among 37 applicants.

The interviews started Monday, with one scheduled each day with the board’s five finalists for superintendent. Harwood’s turn is today, during a 6 p.m. board meeting.

The board plans to announce its decision following a special board meeting scheduled for Saturday.

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