Teaching Over 30 Years and Counting

How can a person know what they want to be in life by 4th grade? It was then, that I knew I would be a teacher. The summer after 4th grade I volunteered at an art camp at Upper Nyack Elementary School. I helped the teacher set up materials, assisted the kids during projects, and cleaned up after projects. It was a perfect match for me to combine my love of art and teaching at this tender young age of 10. I know this was a blessing and have never forgotten that blessing, especially when so many kids have no clue what they want to be even while in college.


Before graduating college, I was offered a position in the Dunkirk School System, a tiny farm town near my college. I was fortunate enough to have student taught in grades K and 4th, while in college.

It takes a special person to teach grade K. I know it wasn't my cup of tea, but 4th was divine. I will always remember my master teacher Jeanne. She was a very positive force in my life. She exuded a love of teaching that was infectious and I was bit by her bug.


After graduation, I worked as a GED Teacher for 16-22 year olds at Cassadaga Job Corps, after being their summer camp art coordinator and a life guard there. I was all of 23 at the time.


I will always remember commuting to work with The World's Strongest Man Dan Reinhoudt, a world record power lifter. I still tell my students about the time Don and I ran off the road into a snowbank, and how he just got out of the car and pulled in back into the road. He was the Driver's Ed teacher there at Job Corps. Don later became the mayor of his home town. I miss our days together. He was a great coworker and friend for many years afterwards.


My memories are clear and fond. I learned a lot about classroom management during my time at Job Corps. The children were learning to read at age 16-22 and were on self paced programs. Some read at primary grade levels, but advanced quickly through the levels in order to earn their diplomas.


I can recall a time when Job Corps needed a bus driver to take the kids to their graduation tests in Erie, PA. I volunteered on one account. As long as the roads were clear. I had no experience ever driving in snow before that time. The drive there was clear. Four hours later after tests were done, there was snow and black ice on the roads. I was following another Job Corp's bus and ended up slipping on black ice and hitting the bus in front of me. We weren't going fast, but black ice speeds you up and there is no way to stop. Needless to say, my bus fender dug into the front tire and we all had to be picked up in another bus for the long ride home.