The SAA Archaeological Record March 2011 : Page 17
CAREERS IN ARCHAEOLOGY Awe, Director of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, and I asked him if it would be possible to bring a group of my high school students to participate in BVAR, which he directed. His initial response was similar to mine, but after a little dis-cussion, he decided to give the students a chance. The kids performed extremely well and, thanks to the response of f those four pioneering students, Dr. Awe opened his arms to our high school program. Our program received a lot of praise and media attention. I knew my students were doing great work, but I was con-cerned about the qualified and deserving students who had to stay behind because of financial reasons. I decided to create a not-for-profit corpora-tion that could generate schol-arship funds and funds for site preservation. This was no simple task, but with the help of Alan Douglas, the vice-president of a local Florida bank, we got American For-eign Academic Research, Inc., (AFAR) up and running in time to provide financial aid for all of the applicants who needed it for the next field season. feared the students might not be attracted to the traditional delivery of the class, so I figured I would get them out into the 1,500-acre playground surrounding the classroom. I con-tacted Sarah Miller, Director of the Florida Public Archaeol-ogy Network’s Regional Center in St. Augustine and asked if f she would consider doing some Phase One testing where local residents claimed an early homestead had once stood. Sarah graciously agreed to undertake the survey. After rigor-ous classroom instruction, the kids were thrown into the field and immediately made a connection with the past. Although we never found the first evidence of a homestead, we did find pre-Columbian pottery during our second day of shovel testing. During the three years of archaeological testing, the site at Princess Place provided copious amounts of prehistoric data for Flagler County. Students who could barely pull a pass-ing grade in any class were able to see an archaeology y project through from research to report, and their work was good. This experience helped mature my love of teaching and made me realize what an Caption: Working with the gifted 3rd and 4th grade students in our dig sim-impact archaeology could have As a way for AFAR to ulation. (photo by Diane Tomko). on individuals. While at t fundraise and reach a wider Princess Place, my students audience with educational and I created an outreach proj-outreach, we created the Maya at the Playa. This four-day ect by building a 3,500-cubic foot archaeological dig box sim-conference, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this ulation, where we trained students from throughout the year, is a way to deliver the highest-level professional archae-county as part of my class. ologists to a very hungry general public and my students. The conference has connected hundreds of people through In the fall of 2008, I received a call from President C. Brian the years. Many public-professional relationships have been Rose of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), solic-initiated that have led to project funding and support. Anoth-iting my involvement with the organization at the governing er great dividend is the opportunity the conference gives board level. Honored, shocked, and extremely intimidated, I scholars to enjoy a well-deserved vacation at the beach! accepted the nomination for the position of Vice President of f Education and Outreach. A few months later, I was elected! I With the success of the high school course, conference, and have spent the last three years working on all things involv-field school, my bosses within the Flagler County School ing education, outreach, and archaeology with some of the District threw another challenge my way. I was asked to take most qualified national and international professionals. over a small dropout prevention program, housed in an old caretaker’s cabin in the middle of 1,500 acres of wilderness My experiences with the AIA have been priceless. They have along a remote Florida estuary. I took my anthropology and helped diversify my work and my archaeological awareness, archaeology course to the Princess Place Legacy program, which had been primarily New World. They also have helped but I wasn’t sure if the students would bite on the material. I me carry my New World flag into an Old World-focused March 2011 • The SAA Archaeological Record 17
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