Blast From the Past

Today I started my NAU/CAC cohort class. I rushed home only to find my grandsons at their Auntie G's house. I miss the days that I don't see them.

WOW, what a class! Before I left school (knew I had limited time when I got home)I printed my class list. I like to look at names and see if any names are names of my students' names. I saw this name today Starkey (last name). I thought wouldn't it be funny if she is related to Robert(Bob) Starkey who was a teacher at AJJHS when I was Secretary to Students Services. (I think you know where this is going) When I was calling roll today I stopped at her name and very sarcasticly said, "Your dad's name isn't Bob is it?" She looked up and said, "No, please don't tell me you know him." I stopped and started laughing. I asked her if he taught at AJJHS once and was told yes. I told her to text her dad and tell him if he remembered Pito Perez. She did and he said WHAT? Then she asked him if he remembered Lydia Henry. He said, "OMG!"

Bob Starkey was the Spanish teacher at AJJHS the last few years I was there before I started ASU. I did attendance by hand, and the teachers would send the attendance every hour to me to input in my register (I did ADM and ADA by hand-we had no computer program for this yet). Bob would send the attendance and Pito Perez would appear absent everyday and sometimes for a treat he would send this Mexican woman (me)a message in Spanish for me to translate. He was real disappointed in me that I didn't know Spanish being the daughter of two fluent-speaking parents. I always was close to the correct translation. What a wonderful teacher he was! We were lucky to have Bob as a teacher.

"The circle of life" does exist. If I can touch his daughter's life the way that he touched my life I will feel that I have been a success.

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of "the circle of life" and being able to impact the students that I teach to be educators. I know that you have placed me here with someone that long ago talked to me about me going on to pursue the educational field. I wasn't sure at that time if this was something that I could do. So thank you, Lord for this opportunity to let Bob Starkey know how much I appreciate the confidence he had in me when I wasn't sure I had that confidence in myself. I will work hard to help Bob's daughter and the rest of her class be the best they can be.

Lord, I have had three surprises today when I know that my friend, Eric is preparing for his entry into your Heavenly Kingdom. Thank you for them. Today, I heard that Troy Gingrich's wife gave birth today to twins. Then Jessica and Jamie (Samuels) stopped by today. They were looking for Jenna who was visiting her 6th grade teachers. She took off so they came and found me (I think my heart stopped for a split second-knew they wouldn't be here for that) for me to find her. I did. I did an "all call." I think they needed to see me as much as I needed to see them. You knew I needed to be reminded of your love. Thank you so much for this part of the Samuels' love that will be remembered. And third, You gave me Jennifer Christine Starkey to remind me of "The Circle of Life." Please Lord, bless these families with your undying love. Let them feel your strength and love. I ask this in the Name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

"The Wheels of the Bus go Round and Round....."

As the year approaches, I am always excited to see what the new year brings. Monday was the official end of "Grammy Daycare" and what a sad day for me that was. I feel so fortunate to have my grandkids here so summers with my grandboys are very special to me. Wednesday was the first full day that I was gone from the boys since the beginning of the summer.

For the first time in all the years that I have been teaching in Apache Junction, I was so sad and frustrated that I was beginning a new school year. When I got home I really didn't want to dwell on this but I knew I had to get it out. I talked to Cy, and he wouldn't let me have a pity party for myself. He said that I could let it ruin my beginning of the year or just put it down to inexperience. I laid awake most of the night thinking of how I was going to get through this year. Do I really need to be teaching anymore? Do I want to? Do I make a difference? Will I miss what I do?

So, after thinking about what was said on Wednesday this is what I don't like:
1. I don't like someone telling me that there is no way that I can be evaluated with all commendables (proficiency is the new word) even if I am.
2. I don't like "Gloomy Gus" approach to the first day of all teacher reporting.
3. I don't like negatives because I am always a positive person.

I feel that motivating me in a small way will go further to getting me to be the best I can be. I am on campus before 6 most mornings, I work hard to find ways to motivate my students, I listen to their problems when I see something is not right with them, I do whatever duties that I have to do as assigned, I help others, I am a good listener, I am a nurse when the nurse can't help them, I am parent when a parent is lacking and discipline is needed, I try to be at events that are important to my students, etc., etc. So when I get the negative side on a day when we should be pepped up since we are frozen on the salary schedule, insurance is high, class sizes are growing, duties are increased, activities decreased, and all the gloom and doom has been delivered I have a tendency to want to rethink what I am doing here. I gave up that day with my grandkids to listen to this? So not worth it. What a sad day Wendesday was.

So wondering how I was going to look forward to the start of the school year I had choices to make. Do I allow this to ruin my year or do I move on and hope that Friday's "Welcome Back" will help me to be energized?

Thank You! Thank you! Thank you, Jim Lockwood and Chad Wilson. Jim Lockwood was hysterical in a very dry way and Chad you lead in an incredible heartfelt way. I truly felt moved that I can put Wednesday behind me and hope that was how it was planned that my principal needed to be tough because he was rebuilding after our other principal left midyear last school year. I can do most things if I am appreciated for the job I do. With so much budget cuts, I am not a stupid person that I don't know that is school year will be tough but don't kill the people that have been your soldiers when times are bad. Pump up you soldiers, and they will do anything for you or die trying.

When those first busses wheel to a stop in front of Thunder Mountain Middle School I will be ready for my first set of classes of the school year. I know I will be ready for them because I have the ability to make a successful year or not. I will be the best worker bee that I can. All that I am asking in return is to tell me occasionally that I am valued. Also encourage me to be "proficient" in all areas of my evaluation. I know I can but someone else has got to believe that I can. I would never tell any student on the first day of school that students couldn't get an A because I have high expectations so why tell me that. I refuse to accept that I am not "proficient" in all areas.

Dear Lord, guide our administrators, principals, board members and parents to be kind to the people that have an impact on the students' lives. Have them remember that compliments and encouragement go a long way to making someone feel valued. And Dear Lord, I will need your abundance strength and love to make sure I am everything to those students that I teach. Keep me strong and positive so I will remember that they are just kids. Never let me forget this. Please Lord, make sure all teachers are reminded to treat kids kindly and love them for being who they are.

The wheels of the bus go round and round.......Welcome to Thunder Mountain Middle School and Mrs. Henry's class. Let's make this year spectacular!