Spartan Scuttlebutt: October Spartans of the Month are students and teachers
By Greg Smith OAKMONT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

The Spartan of the Month honor is actually shared by two students for October. Christian Kinsley and Chris Streeks both gave up a day off and a chance to sleep late to offer their computer expertise to their teachers during the recent professional development day.

With Technology Education teacher Dave Lantry, they taught a short course on how to use advanced computer presentation techniques in the classroom. Oakmont teachers gave the course and its instructors very high marks. Some even said that it was the best professional development class.

This week's "Scuttlebutt" will profile Kinsley and next week's "Scuttlebutt" will focus on Streeks.

"It was pretty weird to be one of the only two students in the classroom," is how Oakmont junior Kinsley describes his initial reaction to teaching his teachers. "But it was really an honor to be able to help my teachers learn something new."

Lantry asked them to ask to help out with professional development because he led the PowerPoint project in Lantry's Communications Technology class. "From the time I was three my father taught me all about computers. Now I can teach him a few new tricks, and he's a computer engineer," he said.

Kinsley's relationship with his father is a special part of his life.

"I work with my father on everything, from yard work to programming computers," he said. "He's definitely a big part of my life."

Kinsley, who is the son of Peter and Tammy Kinsley of Ashburnham, hopes to eventually pursue a career in architecture or automobile design. His career choices have been influenced by another important person in his life - his Technology Education teacher at Oakmont.

"Mr. Lantry has been a role model to me." Kinsley explained. "I can talk to him, learn from him, and even teach him new things that he's not too proud to learn. Before I took Mr. Lantry's classes I knew how to make things go, but now I know how to drive them."

Other than working with computers, Kinsley enjoys all types of sports.

"I love dek hockey, basketball, football, and anything competitive," he said.

He also found time in his busy schedule to serve as the DJ for the Oakmont Alumni Association Sock Hop at Homecoming.

When asked what he likes best about Oakmont, he replied, "It's the atmosphere. We learn, but we have our fun, too. It's a warm, friendly, enjoyable place to be."

Oakmont's great atmosphere is due to the special relationship between teachers and students, and that is due, in part, to the contributions Spartan of the Month Christian Kinsley.