Teresa Scott Retires (from the Dispatch)

by JANET FULLEN

"I'm going to miss the people terribly," said Teresa Scott, pondering retirement at the end of the year after 39 years with the Douglas Water Department.

When she began working on Aug. 1, 1944, the water department was located where the Little Gallery (which has since been torn down--this is not in the article) now on 11th Street and Pan American Avenue.  There were two office workers then and everything was done by hand, even the billing.

The city had abut 2,800 customers back then, compared to the 4,500 they now serve.  The 300 customers in Pirtleville were not mailed bills, she recalls  They just came the 21st of each month and paid their bills.

She has seen the department grow to four office workers and progress from hand billing, to a billing machine, to dual printer, to a mini computer, and now to a computer.

Scott as served as office manager for the past 18 years, working under four superintendents. 

Saying that it has been a "real pleasure" working there and that she has enjoyed the challenges, she is looking forward to the change.

She doesn't intend to spend her retirement years idly, as she has bought a computer and is planning to do things such as billing and payrolls for clients.

There are also plans in her future for some traveling and visiting relatives, particularly her daughter Judy, who lives in Chandler.

Scott is active in Preceptor Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and the Think Douglas Association.  She is also active in St. Luke's Church, having served on the parish council and as past president of the Women's Club.

And we now how this story ended with the many years the had her business, T. E. Scott Computer.

I remember when I was a kid, we would go to the old water department.  It was such a great old building.  The bathroom had the old-fashioned toilet where the water tank was above the toilet and you pulled the chain.

I also remember one of my jobs was to go pay bills.  I would go in after school and Teresa had all of the bills ready and I would walk all around downtown paying various bills.  One of my favorite parts was getting to stop at the Arizona Drug Store and get a soda.  They had a beautiful marble counter/bar and the drinks were in paper cups with the holders on it.  I always knew that was such an important job to be entrusted to do.

Such great memories of a wonderful childhood!!!

Hurtful Tactics

"Never waste your words on those people in your life who only deserve your silence. Because sometimes, the greatest show of strength is to say nothing at all!"

I found this quote today because of a situation that recently happened.  It is something I have always tried to live by.  Throughout my life, there have been people I haven't liked or who have done something to me that I perceived as a wrong.  I have always tried to "turn the other cheek" so to speak.  Not that I haven't complained to friends...I have and still do!

It never ceases to amaze me that people can be so cruel.  I understand a person not liking another person or having a "grudge" against someone.  However, doing something to hurt that other person is generally something that shows a weakness in character, in my opinion.  

Our current national political climate and our president daily demonstrates a lack of character in the way he treats others and the way he makes fun of people.  It is what is being modeled at the national level. I can only hope that many people see this ugliness for just what it is.....

I have dealt with a few instances of ugliness from people who I know don't like me or who at some time in my career I had to do something that was the right thing to do, but it obviously was hurtful to another human.  I made a vow to myself many years ago that if it ever got easy to made some of these very difficult decisions, that I would need to find a new job.  I can honestly say that it never was easy, but I could live with the difficult decision because it was in the best interest of children and the organization.

I think what people who are petty don't realize is that when they do something that is very petty, it causes people to rally around the person that they are trying to harm and that is exactly what the petty person doesn't want to happen!!!

As my incredible cousin, Cecilia, says, "what goes around, comes around."  I absolutely believe this!!!

 

Miner Webster--800 Victories as High School Basketball Coach

Monday night I was able to attend the Highland High School girls' basketball game.   Highland's girls' basketball is one of the top rated programs in the state of Arizona.   This night would be (and was) Coach Miner Webster's 800th win as a girls' basketball coach in Arizona which made him the winningest (is that a word?) girls' coach and second winningest of both boys' and girls' programs.

 

Miner's son, Aaron, was one of my wonderful kiddos at Gilbert El.  When he was in second grade, Highland was in the state championship in about 1994.  I went to the game with Connie Honaker, (founding principal of Highland High) that Saturday night at the Sun's arena (can't remember what it was called at that time).  I just remember walking in and Aaron was so excited to see me there.  I loved him and still love that we have kept in touch.  I got a big hug from him tonight.  He just had his third child, a little girl.  

 

Miner is a class act.  I also was able to go to one of his state championships when Alyssa Heeman (another Gilbert El kiddo and Louise's daughter) played when she was at Highland.  I believe he won at least one or two state championships when he coached at Gilbert High.  

 

It was a great evening and it makes all of the hard work that I have done for the past several months worthwhile.  I love GPS and I continue to be so proud to still be a part of this wonderful district and community!

Winding up the Weekend

Since I have retired "almost completely," every day is a holiday (sort of).  I don't have to be anywhere unless I chose to be. It has been nice to not have a regular schedule. I really thought I would have a problem with this after 44 plus years of working and prior to that, being a student.  

Since July, 2015, I still had so many responsibilities.  With Teresa being either at Judy's, at the group home or here at my house, I always had something.  After her passing in July, things didn't settle down for me until after 858 was cleaned out.  That basically was mid October. 

For the past six weeks, I have been living alone. I can say that I am really enjoying it.  We will see how long it lasts. I can do what I want, when I want, etc.  I am not responsible for any other person (other than the pugs and they follow me everywhere I go).

I am fortunate to have a wonderful circle of friends so I usually have something to do or somewhere to be.  That changes on a holiday weekend as everyone is involved with family "things."  

Thursday and Friday, I fixed dinner and had company.  Saturday and Sunday were relaxing and I didn't have anything to do or to do anything.  

I am glad the "regular" week is starting tomorrow (and I know I am one of the few who is looking forward to Monday).   I need to be busy and I have a few things going this week.  I look forward to that.

It is still so hard to wrap my brain around this.  For the past 67 years, all of my holidays have been around my immediate and extended family. Things have changed and it is a good change.  I just need to get used to it!!

So tomorrow I hope to go to a basketball game at Highland High.  I will post more about that later. We have a Board Meeting Tuesday night.  I need to start scheduling times to get to schools and meet with  principals.  I know that for me, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas break, were the most difficult of the year for a variety of reasons.

I am so happy to be able to write again. My writing isn't that great with what I am doing. I really am going to look into taking a class on writing as I enjoy it so much.  It is "therapy" for me.

I hope that someday in the distant future, my kids and other family members will look back on this blog and find family stories and information that will help them remember the wonderful family that we come from.  That is why I have done so much.  

I still have some boxes to go through.  I do a little bit every day trying to keep us with all of it.  I am getting close to going through everything and hope to file it in boxes for posterity or send it some of my cousins.  It has been quite a journey!!!

Dirty Daisy Mini Reunion

On Friday, I went over to Kay Benjamin's house to visit with her and another old friend of the Gilbert Junior days, Dawn Hughes.  We were the original Dirty Daisies  and such good friends. 

Although we haven't seen each other in a very long time, it just seemed like yesterday when we got together.  Kay's daughter, Amy, gave us the nicest compliment.  She said that when she was growing up, she loved our passion for teaching and our students and our ability to have a lot of fun, too.

Now that Kay is back in Gilbert and really close by, I hope we can get together more often.  I value these two ladies a lot and their friendship means much!

We laughed about our Dirty Daisy days.  Dawn said when I posted the picture of all of us on her Facebook page, she showed it to her husband and tried to explain it to him.

Today, Kerri found this in a box downstairs when she was cleaning her room.  It is the "Fight Song of the Dirty Daisy Society."

FIGHT SONG

OF THE

DIRTY DAISY SOCIETY

Daring Daisies, white. yellow and black

We're prideful women, always fighting back!

Cultivating and Sowing Strength --

We'll always go to any length--

Our society is tried and true--

Marching faithfully through the do-do!

CHORUS:  See our petals open

See our pistols fall

Rising to occasions

Keeping on the ball!!

Forever sowing gorgeous seeds

To fulfill our glorious needs.

Weeding out corruptive deeds. 

To keep our gardens clean and pure

With nectar sweet--we keep our lure;

And FDS to keep us sure!!

Chorus

Never thought I would get to a point in my life that I reminisce about the "good old days." I have always had fun in any endeavor and try to find the humor in situations.   But those were the "best of times!"   

I am thankful for my wonderful career and the many friends I have garnered on the way! 

I believe that my motto for the rest of my life is "NO REGRETS!"

Go Devils!!

When I started to write about Teresa and the 94 days of things to remember, I made a list of things to write about never thinking that I would make 94 days easily.  But I did and have had many more.

When Notre Dame and West Virginia played in the Fiesta Bowl in 1988, my mom as able to get us great tickets for the game and entrance to a very important party because she was on the City Council in Douglas.   We had three tickets so it was Cecilia, Yaya and me.   We got to go into a tent that you had to have  food and drinks.  Kerri, Patrick, Jay and Tony were waiting for us as she was able to get us all tickets.  But not to the "exclusive" tent.  

I remember that they had a lot of food and a fountain that had margaritas. So we met there and we had a few of the drinks, but what I remember the most was Cecilia putting food in her jacket to take to Tony, Jay, Kerri and Patrick.   It was hilarious.  I think we only had two tickets and had to pay an additional $20 for Yaya to come with us.  

It was a great game and my kids always remind me that I "fell down" going up the steps in the stadium which was not an unusual thing for me!!

Notre Dame won and I remember going to find a pay phone to call my mom and let her know.

After that, Teresa wanted our family to get together so she  bought eight season tickets for the ASU games through her business.  So we spent many Saturday nights in the fall attending ASU games with Cecilia, Jay, their kids and mine, tailgating and having a wonderful time.  

Teresa was not a football fan but she was a family fan and that was what was most important to her.

Our kids grew up attending ASU game and tailgating.  It went from the Fiesta Bowl in 1987 until I went to Douglas in 2010.  I think she wanted to continue but me being gone and kids being grown made it expensive.  

I remember when ASU beat Nebraska and we went to find a phone to call my mom.  She was so excited and I was so excited to tell her.  It was an amazing evening.

Later today is the ASU/Uof A game in Tempe.  My mom WOULD NOT ALLOW me to go to Arizona and was such an ASU fan.  

I hate to watch that game because it is so hard to watch.   I am just hoping the Devils can prevail!!

A little history to this rivalry...... My entire childhood, my mom was such a die hard ASU fan.  I knew right from the beginning that when I went to college, U of A was NOT an option.  I could go to ASU or NAU.  NAU was still Arizona State Teacher's College until the year I graduated from high school (I think).  I knew that I didn't want to go where it was cold so ASU was the only choice. And I was fine with that!

The reason my mom disliked Arizona so much had to do with ASU wanting to become a university, which I think was about 1954.   The Board of Regents, which was predominately U of A graduates, blocked it.  As a result, it had to go to a vote of all of the people in Arizona to make Arizona State Teacher's College--Tempe to ASU.   My mom always said that was so ridiculous that anyone would block progress like that.  So I was not "allowed" to go to the U of A!!

Another wonderful memory!! 

Just a footnote--ASU beat the University of Arizona!!!

Thanksgiving, 2017

This was the first Thanksgiving without Teresa.  We decided to do a small "celebration" with just Judy, Kerri, Chris and I.  Ken is flying so he won't be home.  

On Wednesday, Judy let me know that she got the final papers for selling 858.  She will go today and have them notarized and sent back and that will be it.  A new family will be moving into the house.    She feels it will be hard and I am glad I don't have to sign them.  She sent me the papers to look over for the closing.   Everything that has happened has made it real, but this truly is final. 

I made the dressing on Wednesday.  We are having turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, squash, salad and beer breed.  I always made my mom's recipe for candied sweet potatoes to take to the feast with the family.  I don't like it and no one else does, so I won't be making it.

When I went to Sam's on Wednesday, I went by the very large table of pumpkin pies.  In the past, I always bought two them because Cameron loves them.  I didn't this year.  It will be the first Thanksgiving without him, too.  He and Patrick are going to one of Patrick's friends for dinner.  I am really glad that they are together and that Patrick has Cameron there for this holiday.

Wednesday night I decided to set the table.  I found a pretty tablecloth from Douglas and decided to put in on the table and get it set.  I got tickled when I put it on as their are "cigarette" burns on it from my mom.  I felt it was fitting.

I didn't get the good china out, but did get my nice "Irish" dishes and wine glasses from Germany that match the dinnerware.  

We had a very nice dinner and after called Patrick and Cameron.   Did a toast to Teresa.  Last year we had dinner here at my house as it was the day after Thanksgiving that we took her to live in the group home.   So last year's Thanksgiving and this have been bitter sweet.

I was hoping to sit outside with a fire, but it was still rather warm.  I put the turkey "carcass" in the big pot and will cook it over night for the annual turkey noodle soup that we will have tomorrow night.  It will cook overnight and make the house smell so good!!

I am thankful for many thing in my life.   I am so thankful for the my mom, Teresa, Johnny, Judy, Kerri, Patrick and Cameron and our extended family. And I always thought I was so fortunate to have my mom until I was 53 years old.  My Phoenix Scott family and Sacramento Park family lost their moms when many of them were very young.  And to think that I had my "other" mother, Teresa,  for 68+ years is absolutely a blessing and another reason for me to be thankful!!

I am also thankful for my many wonderful friends and the incredible career that I had as  a public school educator.  I am grateful that I am still able to serve the wonderful children, families, administrators, teachers and staff of GPS.   I am blessed!!

Basketball at it's finest--MHS vs. DRHS

On Tuesday, I  had the privilege to attend a basketball game between students with special needs from Mesquite High and Desert RIdge High at Mesquite.  It was so touching to watch these kiddos play basketball.  A couple of the Mesquite students had been my students at Gilbert El.

What was so touching to me was the support that the students got from the Mesquite students.  The band played, the cheerleaders cheered, both school mascots were there, and the two refs were MHS seniors on the varsity basketball team.  It was played during the students lunch hour and the gym was packed.  Students gave up their lunch time to be their to support their classmates and the kids from Desert RIdge.

As far as I am concerned, this is what it is all about!!! This makes all of the work that I have done in the past eleven months on the board so worthwhile!!  I am so proud of our wonderful District!!

Below is the story from Channel 3 about this game.  The video is wonderful but i wasn't able to download it onto this post.

 

It felt like a big playoff game at Mesquite High School in Gilbert Tuesday, with the band, cheerleaders and fired-up crowd. And that was the idea. "They don/t normally get an opportunity to play in front of a crowd of this magnitude," said coach Gloria Hernandez. "We really tried to make it as special as we could for them."

None of the players who took the court were star athletes, but they still showed plenty of passion finding the open shot.

The teams were made up of special needs students like Kiley Christiansen, who was getting a chance to show fans that their disabilities won't keep them down.
"It's kind of like showing off," said Christiansen. "It's like hey, we can do this, too."
"I always had this as my dream," said student Daniel Pizano. "I always dreamed of being on a team and now it's coming true."

This year's Unified basketball game was a back and forth battle between Mesquite High School and Desert Ridge High School, with parents on both sides... bursting with pride with every pass and drive to the hoop.

"They don't get a chance to watch their kids and share something like this," said special education teacher Angela Olberding. "We just wanted the kids to have that moment - have their kids at an event where the school is behind them."
"I thought it was amazing," said grandmother Tina Verdugo. "It was just amazing to see him play, to see all of them play, and all of them get a chance to do what most kids can do. It's their dream."

The game ended in a tie, but nobody seemed to care about the score. Both teams felt the thrill of victory in a game most players will never forget. 

November 17, 1961--Meeting JFK, LBJ and Honoring Carl Hayden

I waited until today to post this because it is the 54th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy--one of the worst days in our history.

In 1961,  Senator Carl Hayden of Arizona was being honored for 50 years in Congress. The dinner was held at the Westward Ho Hotel in downtown Phoenix.  My uncle, Tom, was there because Senator Hayden was his boss. The dinner was $100 a plate which was rather expensive in those days.

We planned to go to Phoenix to see Tom and Mary.  Then a friend of the family, Harry Ames, had a ticket and couldn't go so he gave it to Teresa.  I remember how excited she was to be able to go to this.

I was in seventh grade which would have made me 12.  I am hoping I can remember how this all happened as it was a very long time ago.

Tom and Mary were staying at the Westward Ho.   I remember going there on the day of the dinner to see them.  Somehow, we found out their was going to be a press conference that high school students were invited to attend.   My cousins, Marion and Teresa Ann, Judy (who was in first grade) went up to where the press conference was being held.   We talked to some men (they had to be Secret Service) and they let us go on up.  When we got up there, I remember telling the people at the door that I was a reporter for the Douglas High newspaper.  Teresa Ann was a year behind me in school, so Marion was truly the only plausible high school reporter.  Somehow, we got in.  

Marion knew some students at the press conference and they wanted to change places with us to be near friends.  That was great with us!!  We were in the front row, right by the cake.

We called Tom's room and told them where we were.  They didn't believe that we could be there.  My mom and Uncle Matt tried to get up where we were but couldn't get past the Secret Service!  

I will never forget when JFK, LBJ, and Senator Hayden walked in.  They were right by us.  If you look at the picture, you can see me right next to LBJ.  Teresa Ann was next to me and Judy was sitting on Marion's lap.  We were obviously the only little kids in the room!  JFK looked over at us and he winked at me.  I was thrilled beyond belief.  We got to shake his hand.

Everyone was making a fuss over Senator Hayden and the President.  LBJ was just standing there.  He looked over at us and we got up and started talking to him.  I remember him putting his arm around my shoulder and talking to us in such a kind way.

There were so many faces that I recognized in that room.  It was amazing and it truly was one of the absolute highlights of my life.

I have the picture, along with the autograph that Tom got for me from JFK, on a wall in my house.  I found the program from the dinner as well as the "Press Fact Sheet."  I also found "tickets" in Judy's name and mine to get us into the Corral Room.  I don't remember what that meant.

Over the next few days, I am going to post more about Senator Hayden and that wonderful day in November, 1961.

 

Another Story About My Mom at Loretto

After my post yesterday about my mom and her brother, Tom, I remembered another story.

When my mom was in about second or third grade, she got into some trouble with some other kids in her class.  The nun put everyone in a corner, but there weren't enough corners, so she put Margaret under her desk because she was tiny. 

This particular nun had a limp and she told the class that she had a wooden leg. So my mom "pinched" sister's leg to see if it was true and it wasn't.

After her "punishment" was over and she returned to her desk, she passed a note around the class telling the other students that Sister did not have a wooden leg because she had pinched it.  Needless to say, the note was intercepted.

Our grandfather was called and went to Loretto.  My mom told me that the principal asked her to leave for a few minutes and then had her come back in. At the time she didn't know why, but years later found out it was because the principal and Grandpa Scott got a bit of a laugh out of it.  Having been an elementary principal, I can tell you there were many occasions when this happened!

What spunk she had all of her life!!

My Mom and Her Big Brother, Tom!

I have been trying very hard to remember stories that I heard growing up and for some reason, this one came to mind earlier today.  I don't know why I haven't remembered it before.  It is one of my favorite stories about my mom. Growing up, I always wondered why she was so strict with me.  I was a fairly good kid and she was extremely strict with me.  When I became an adult, I realized it was because she was a bit of a "hellion" and so she wanted to make sure I wasn't.

My mom was born in October, 1917. Her brother, Tom, was born in January,1915.  So there was a little over 2 1/2 years difference in their ages. From what the stories I remember, Tom was a really nice boy and was not a fighter or aggressive at all.  He was just one of those nice kids. I am sure my mom was a nice kid, too, but she had a rebel streak in her that lasted her entire life.

The story that I remember was when Bill was born in 1925.   That would have made Tom almost 11 and mom about 8 so I am thinking third and fifth grades.  

At Loretto (even when I went there) there was a boys' playground on the east side and the girls' playground on the west side.  

The story goes that someone came over to the girls' side and told my mom that another student, also named Tom, was beating up her brother, Tom.  So my mom immediately went over to the boys' playground and basically beat up the other Tom.

My grandfather was called by the principal (nun) who had my mom in the office. Having been a principal, I can really relate to this story.  Apparently, Tom's parents came to the school to complain about him being beaten up.  So Sister brought my mom, who was tiny, out and let them see who had beaten up their "older" son.  It turned out that the other Tom was an only child and he was very upset about the Scott's having "another" baby, so he decided to take it out on Uncle Tom.  But Tom Scott was not a fighter so he got the worst end of the fight until Margaret showed up and she took care of him!!!

From what I heard, my mom didn't get into too much trouble with her parents other than a lecture about not fighting bigger boys and to let her brother stand up for  himself.

Those who knew my mom can truly understand how this happened.  She always stood up for what was right and she always stood up for family.  

I LOVE THIS STORY!!!

The Dirty Daisies

Friday night I met an old friend, Kay Benjamin, at Fibber Magees in Chandler.   We went there to listen to Irish music.  Kay and I taught together many years ago at Gilbert Jr. High.   Kay recently moved back to Arizona having lived in Colorado and Utah. Her daughter, Amy, was with her.  I think it has been over 20 years since I have seen her and we connected a few years back on Facebook. Actually, I connected with her husband, Charles, who has since passed away.  

We had so much fun during those years when our kids were little and we were young.   We had a tight group of friends and I feel fortunate to still have these wonderful people in my life even though I don't see them often.

We had so much fun together last night.  The Irish music was great .  Her birthday is today and she turns 76.  It doesn't seem possible that time has passed so quickly.

We danced and sang despite the fact that my dancing is certainly not the best and my singing is definitely not even good.

When I got home, i found my picture that I always kept in my offices through the years.    It is of the "original" Dirty Daisies.

Below is a post that I did before I retired in 2015 about memories from my career in education.

Still remembering my first years of teaching special education.   As I have said, I was at both Gilbert Elementary and Gilbert Junior during that time.   I had kids from fourth through eighth grades--sometimes self-contained some times just for reading or math.   I worked with some great people who became such good friends.   

The other day, Sue Dunning asked if I remembered the Dirty Daisies---Remember them, I was a "founding flower" of the Dirty Daisy Society!! It was such a fun time! One day, several of us heard that some of the male teachers belonged to a secret society called The Red, Red Rose. It was supposedly a national association and they were not allowed to talk about it. Well, you can imagine how we took off with this information.

Dawn Hughes, Martha Wallace, Kay Benjamin and I decided to start Gilbert's answer to the Red, Red Rose Society, aka as the Dirty Daisies.  So the Dirty Daisy Society was started.  We had bylaws, a slogan and even a t-shirt.  Our slogan was "some seeds sow weeds!" We expanded our membership and you had to be "voted" in to join.   I can tell you that any female teacher who wanted to be a Dirty Daisy could be one--we weren't that selective.

Later after I became an administrator, several of my admin buddies became "Dirty Daisies"--Connie, Nikki, Jill, Sherryl--just to name a few. One of the funniest times was when we were at an administrators' picnic and our wonderful supt, Wally, burned one of our t-shirts!!!

What great times we had during those years!!!  

Arizona School Personnel Administrators of the Year

On Thursday, I drove to Prescott to attend the evening celebration for the Arizona Association of School Personnel Administrators' Association.  The reason I went was because two of our wonderful administrators received Administrators' of the Year from the association--Shawn McIntosh and Missy Udall. They didn't know that they had been nominated nor that they had received the award.  I was invited because I had written a letter (below) on their behalf.

I got up there early afternoon and went for a walk and then looked around.  I stopped at the Prescott Brewery and had a beer.  While I was sitting there, in walked Shawn's wife, Alisha, and Kellie and Holly, their secretaries.   We were all there to surprise them.

I had such a good time with those three ladies.  We ended up going out to dinner before having to be at the ceremony at 7:30.  When we got there, we had to wait out side of the room until it was time for the award to be announced.   Missy's husband joined us as well as Shane, our new superintendent.   Shane couldn't stay as he had an early morning commitment, but he knew the importance of being there for this huge honor for Shawn and Missy and for GPS!

Makes me proud!!

October 4, 2017

Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association

Attn: Mr. Justin Wing

Washington Elementary School District

4650 W. Sweetwater

Glendale, AZ 85304

Dear Mr. Wing:

It is a privilege for me to write this letter of recommendation for Shawn McIntosh and Missy Udall to be co-recipients of the 2017 Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association Award.    

I was employed in Gilbert Public Schools for 39 years from 1971 until 2010.  During my tenure in GPS, I was Interim Director of Personnel for approximately 14 months before becoming an elementary principal.  I am mentioning this because I understand the complexities of this extremely important position in a District.

After leaving Gilbert, I spent five years as Superintendent of the Douglas Unified School District retiring in 2015.  I successfully ran for the Gilbert Governing Board in 2016.

Through my 45 plus years, I have had the privilege to work with many very talented administrators.  I consider Shawn McIntosh and Missy Udall as two of the best administrators that I have ever had the privilege to see in action.

I have known both Missy and Shawn since they were children.  They were both students at the elementary school where I was a teacher.  Missy and Shawn have a unique bond having been friends since elementary school.

During my time as a principal in Gilbert, I saw both of them as teachers.   Later we became colleagues as principals.  I had the utmost respect for their leadership at their respective schools.  Both of them had respect from their colleagues, teachers, staff, students and parents.

Both of them went to the District positions after I left.  My first year after I retired, I had the honor of substituting for a principal who was undergoing chemotherapy. That experience was an exceptional one and I was able to see first hand what Missy and Shawn are all about.  I have also interacted with both of them as Governing Board President.

Working in this particular department is probably one of the most difficult positions in a District. Much of their job is related to employees who are having some problems.  I have seen first hand that both of them treat each issue with empathy and compassion. However, sometimes these issues don’t turn out in the most positive light. Both of them understand this and they are able to make sure that each person is treated with dignity and respect no matter what.

GPS has suffered a number of years of turmoil for a variety of reasons.  Both Shawn and Missy stayed in the District and were extremely professional despite some very difficult situations.   When I was trying to make up my mind as to whether or not I would even run for the Board, Shawn and Missy were an absolute factor in my decision to run.  And that is because I believe that GPS needs quality administrators such as these two.  During this time of turmoil, both of them were “recruited” by other districts.  It would have been easy for them to leave, but they are dedicated to GPS.   And that is wonderful for GPS.

In the last four months, we have had new leadership in Dr. Suzanne Zentner, who has served as our Interim Superintendent.  Because of this transition in leadership, I have seen both Shawn and Missy be able to take off with their goals for our Office of Talent Management. I believe that their potential is unlimited.  With our new superintendent in place, I see great things to come from both of them.  They are truly a team and collaborate together.   Neither of them wants to take credit for anything—they just want to do what is best for the District.

Both of them are very involved in the community and many different levels.   Their work ethic is second to none.   They collaborate together and both of them have a unique vision and the talent to take this vision to fruition.

Once again, my 45 plus years of education have provided me the opportunity to work with many incredible administrators.   Shawn and Missy are two of the finest administrators ever.  I give both of them my absolute highest recommendation.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 520 368 2700 should you have any further questions.

Respectfully,

Sheila Rogers

Retired Educator

GPS Governing Board President

Gilbert Woman - November, 2016

https://issuu.com/timespub/docs/gw_1116_all_pages

This is an article from November, 2016.   It is on  page 43.

I am going to write it out in case it ever goes off line--for posterity!

NO TIME FOR RECESS

BORED QUICKLY WITH RETIREMENT

FORMER EDUCATOR TRIES POLITICS

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Sheila Rogers wasn't passing her own test in retirement--and after 45 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent, she was no stranger to tests.

After Rogers called it quits last years, she had plenty to keep her busy: six energetic pugs--Diego, Lucy, Seamus, Pancho, Maya and Pedro; her Mexican-cuisine prowess; caring for an aging aunt; writing a blog and walking a daily goal of 4 miles.

Yet in the length of an early-release day, she could feel that something was missing: She still felt the tug of education. 

Never officially a politician, she threw her hat in the ring for Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board.  She is among four contenders for three positions, and has the backing of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, among other organizations.

"If I win, this will be my 46th year in education," she says.  "If I don't, I'll do something else."

"When you spend your life in education and then something like this comes up, it's rewarding when the children you've worked with and are now adults come back and want to help you," she says with gratitude.

Many have since word got out.

"What I did had to have made a positive impact in their lives, otherwise they wouldn't." Rogers says.

Rogers was born in Douglas, which is tucked into the southeastern corner of Arizona on the border with Mexico.  Her ancestral home still stands. She was the school superintendent there from 2010 to 2015.

She started her career in Gilbert in the 1970s, when teachers were handed a paddle along with their keys.  (She only used it once, and afterward thought it was horrible.)

More lasting was her 21-year service as the principal of Gilbert Elementary, when she learned each student's name, even when enrollment exceeded 1,000.

With that track record, Rogers feels the need to continue advancing education.

"I feel like I have a whole lot to offer, and i have the time.  I need to keep myself mentally busy," she says.  "Being able to do something like this is a service to the community and to the children and the families of the community."

Rogers anticipates a learning curve, if elected, but takes heart from her previous experience when, as superintendent, she worked directly with a school board.

"If the board and superintendent can work together, the district is going to benefit tremendously from co-operation," she says.  "That doesn't mean you'll always agree with everything, because you are not going to." 

Rogers sees challenges for the district: lack of funding and the teacher has almost crisis levels, she says; balancing enrollment on the east and west side of town via changing boundaries; teacher retention and attracting young people to the profession.

The other important factor is parent involvement, she says.

Rogers would like to take on all of these issues.

"But I believe that all of the other people that are running also have the best interests of the children and that is nice to know," she says.  

 

Leadville, Colorado--1902

Another treasure that I found the other day is our grandparents' Certificate of Marriage.  They were married in Leadville, Colorado on April 23, 1902.  On the certificate, it says A.D. 189__ and it crossed out and 1902 is written above it.

The two witnesses were Patrick Golden and Catherine Nepsey.  I am not sure who Patrick was, probably a friend of Grandpa Scott.  As for Catherine "Nepsey," she had to be related to Grandma as that was Grandma Roughan's maiden name.  We have since found out the correct spelling.  It is Kneafsey.

Five of their children were born in Leadville, but three of them died.  Johnny and Matt were the other two.  I remember Teresa telling me that Grandma felt the weather was too cold there. I can't imagine losing three children.

In 2005, our cousins, Jean, Jan, and Tim, took Teresa on a road trip to Colorado.  They visited Leadville and the family houses and Catholic Church. Jan made a scrapbook for Teresa that I have.

I took pictures of the houses and the information from that scrapbook.  Here they are:

November 15, 1957--60th Anniversary of our Grandma Scott's Death

Today is the 60th anniversary of my Grandma Scott's death.  I was in third grade.  I wrote about this on a previous post.   I found this article in one of the boxes from Douglas.

City Woman Dies in Phoenix

Death claimed a well-known pioneer resident of Douglas about 7:30 p.m. Friday while she was visiting her son in Phoenix.  She was Mrs. Katherine Agnes (should have been Ellen) Scott, 858 14th St.

Born in Easton, Pa., April 7, 1882, Mrs. Scott moved to Leadville, Colo., five years later, and was married there in 1902. The family moved to Douglas in 1912, remaining here since that time.

Mrs. Scott was active in St. Luke's Altar Society, the auxiliary to the order of Railway Conductors and the Trainmen Ladies.
 

Surviving her are four sons, John Scott of 858 14th St., Matthew Scott in Phoenix, Thomas J. Scott in Washington, D.C., William F. Scott in Sacramento, California (should have been San Francisco); three daughters, Mrs. Dorothy  Park of Sacramento, Calif.,  Mrs. Margaret Shannon and Miss Teresa Scott of 858 14th St.; 22 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Brown-Page.  Internment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

November 15, 1912 was Dot's birthday.  I can't imagine losing someone on one's birthday.

I love this picture of my grandma and me.  She was such a special person in my early years.  She was the person who made me a reader as she always read to me.  And Teresa was the one who bought all of my books during my years growing up.  I belonged to several book clubs where I would get a book delivered every month.