Day Twenty-Three--Principalship YEAH!

I finished the year as HR Director and knew that it was only for that year.  I was finishing up my administrative certification and would be ready for a principalship.   There were two openings that I was interested in for the 89-90 school year.  One was the principal of Gilbert Elementary, one was for the new school that was opening, Val Vista Lakes Elementary.

I really wanted to go VVL as I wanted to start a new school with new traditions, etc.  However, Wally had other plans and wanted me to go to Gilbert El.  And I cannot thank him enough for giving me that opportunity! 

That first year the Gilbert El was being remodeled so we moved to the holding school.   I mentioned this before.  Gilbert had a school made up of portable buildings that was used almost every year as a different school while schools were being built.  The growth was tremendous and this was the only way they District could keep up with it.  I had actually taught at the holding school the year before when it was Houston.  

We had about 650 students who all had to be bused and that in itself was quite an experience.  The students had all walked to school previously.

The staff was pretty much set but I was able to bring Patty Montgomery with me as she and I had taught together at Patterson.  I was also able to hire one new teacher for kindergarten, Kami Nicholas.   I had worked with many of the teachers previously and it was great to work with them in this capacity.   

I will always be grateful to Belinda Burrow and Ciria Virzuela, our office staff.  They helped me out so much and made my first year as principal so much better.

I have much to share about those years--just hope I have enough posts left!!

Being principal of Gilbert El for 20 years was the best job in the whole world!!   

Last Day in Paradise!

The Caribbean vacation has come to an end.  I just finished packing everything as we have to be up and out by 5:00 a.m.    American Airlines says to be there 180 minutes before the flight.  Patrick called and we don't really need to be there that early.  But he has enough of his mother in him to want to be "on time" so we will be leaving here early.   

It has been a wonderful eight days.  I have so enjoyed spending time with my kids.   Depending on what happens in my life as far as a job is concerned, this might be the last  big one!!!    It has been an amazing eight days!

I would never have thought to come to this island.  It is a wonderful place.  It is not terribly expensive and people are really laid back which is what I have needed in my life for quite some time!!!

We have a long layover in Miami tomorrow.   Don't get back to Phoenix until almost 10.   Judy will pick us up and Teresa will be at the house to go back with me to Douglas for the final few weeks that we will be there.

I love the relaxed life style here.   People are very friendly and very nice.  It is not a tourist trap and that has been so nice.   I will post pictures in later blog posts as there have been so many beautiful places.

Ireland is still my favorite place to visit and I hope to go there again someday.  But I would come back here in a minute.  

So what ever life brings my way in the next several years, the memories here will never be gone.  

Kerri says she isn't going back.  Cameron wants to go back so I may have to "adopt" him if she isn't on the plane tomorrow!!!  Things could be worse!!!!

What a great eight days!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Twenty-Four Days---Interim HR Director

During the 87-88 school year, Dr. Delecki was the acting HR Director in addition to being Superintendent.  The reason for this is that Gilbert High School needed a principal very quickly that summer.   They were moving into the new facility and had really grown.  So Paul Huston, HR Director, went to GHS to be principal for the year.   Being HR Director was a big task in itself as the growth was just starting to happen and happen quickly.

Wally and I met regularly in my role as GEA president and he knew that I was working on my admin certificate.   During our many discussions he asked if I would be interested in being interim HR Director for the next school year as they were keeping Paul at GHS another year.  Needless to say, I jumped at this wonderful opportunity.  I still had classes to take to finish my certification, but I could be a director without the admin certification.  

It wasn't official until the end of May.  I will never forget packing up my classroom after 17 years of teaching on Thursday and becoming Interim Director of Human Resources on Monday (June 6--definitely a day that will live in infamy in my life and how amazing that it is June 6 today when I write this)!!!!

I also took 12 hours in summer school.  Fortunately, my kids went to Douglas for the summer so I didn't have that worry.   They loved spending summers in Douglas so it was great all the way around.  

I learned more in that little over a year than I could have ever learned from taking classes and reading.   I watched the way  Wally interacted with people and it was amazing.  I talked to Paul almost every day and he walked me through different issues.   I worked with Brad Barrett and learned so much about school finance.  And of course, Leona was there in curriculum.

That year I also met and became lifelong friends with two great people--Nikki Blanchard and Jill Bowers.   Nikki was the new assistant principal at Gilbert Junior and Jill was the new principal of Mesquite Jr High.

It was an incredible experience and I will always be grateful to Wally for giving me this wonderful opportunity.    I believe that year prepared me for the next 25 more than anything else!!

Curacao--Day 7

We didn't have anything planned today and it ended up being a great adventure.   We went National Park and it was amazing.  We went to a cave that was formed by the water.  I have so many pictures, but I am going to have to post them when I get back to AZ as I have them on several devices.    We went into the cave where the water was rushing and I have to say it was an incredible experience.   The name of the of the park was Sheteboka.   

Even though the weather here is almost always the same--85 high and 79 low, it was hot because we were in the sun.   So after we went into the cave, we went to another beach.  I loved being able to get into the water and cool off.  Cameron and Kerri wanted to eat and Kerri ordered some kind of local meat balls that were interesting, to say the least.

We then went to a couple of other beaches just to see what they were like.  Everything was  beautiful everywhere, and all were very different.

 We had lunch at a local place.  I wasn't going to eat as I am not a risk taker with local food.  Eduardo ordered us a sandwich to split and it was great.  It had steak, chicken, bacon and hot dogs with some kind of great sauce.  I would have NEVER ordered it and ended up really enjoying it.

After we finished with the beaches, we went back to downtown and had dinner at the same restaurant as last night.  It was happy hour which means that when you order one drink, you get two!!!  What fun!!

When we got back to the villa, we went swimming in the pool and it was great.  Right now I am so relaxed and ready for a good night's sleep.

Tomorrow is our last day in paradise.   We have nothing planned, which is a good thing.  Plus we have to be at the airport at 4:00 a.m. Sunday which should be quite an adventure!!!    

I can say that this has been the best vacation for me and I have so enjoyed spending this quality time with my kids!!   

Day Twenty-Five--Last Year in the Classroom

My last year of teaching was a great year at Houston Elementary School.   I had my very first (and only) student teacher, Carrie Campbell Gale, and she was wonderful.  It was good to have her in my classroom as I had a lot of duties as GEA president.  

I met with Dr. Delecki on a regular basis and that was truly the beginning of a great friendship.   

I had started taking Ed Leadership classes at ASU during the summer and got 12 hours completed.  I already had several hours in special ed that I had taken previously, but didn't finish that Master's at the time.  I took six hours during the year, so between teaching, my kids, GEA....... I was very busy.  That is why Carrie was such a help that last semester.

I continued to work with great people.  Pat O. was still my IA   I had a great group of kids and new most of them as Houston split from Patterson.   I learned a lot from Sherryl Valentine about positive school programs.

At the time, I didn't know it would be my last year of teaching and that other opportunities would be coming my way.    

It was also the last year for my Bisbee trip with my students.   Patrick was in third grade that year.  Although he was not in my class, I was able to take him on the trip as I had Kerri when she was in third grade.  

I am so glad that I ended that part of my educational career with such a positive experience!!

Curacao-Day 6

Today could have been an entire Chevy Chase Vacation movie!!!  Patrick, Kerri, Cam and I were scheduled to take jet skis at 1:30.   I asked as we left the house if I would have to walk much.  I want to walk a lot so I can get my steps in, but I need good shoes.  Well, we weren't supposed to walk that much so I wore my swim shoes that keep my feet from being cut up by rocks.  They have been great for the water, but not for walking.

We got to downtown and parked and then started the excursion trying to find the place for the jet skis.  It wasn't a pretty sight and I walked and walked and developed blisters.  Turns out that the place we were to go was 20 minutes across the city, but the directions didn't say that.   Patrick felt so bad and as I told him, if this is the worst thing that happens, we are in good shape.  Plus it makes for a great story.

We had not taken a phone, any money or a credit card with us as we thought we would be out on the ocean for three hours.  Fortunately, we were able to find Eduardo and his mom fairly quickly after a very long walk!!  Patrick called and hopefully they will refund the money as they didn't totally explain everything.  

Then we had a series of funny things happen that could have made an episode or a movie!!!  The best part is being able to laugh about things and not get upset.  I have been really trying to "learn" this and practice it.

The good part is we ate at a small cafe in downtown and I had the BEST food I have had since I have been here.  It was just a small place and very delicious.

We got back to the house and are just relaxing now.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow or Saturday so we will see how things go.  

It has been a great six days so far.  I just missed getting in the water today!!!

 

Twenty-six days---New School and GEA

As I have written in previous posts, Gilbert was really starting to grow in the late 80's.  My last two years at Patterson, Leona went to the District Office and we had a new principal, Steve Nance.   We had a great two years and he was wonderful about all of the pranks that we "pulled" after Leona left.  I am sure at times, he didn't know what to do with all of us!!  (Right Wendy?)

Patterson was splitting again and several of us moved to the new school, Houston Elementary.  It was housed at the district holding school which is now Mesquite Elementary while it was being built.  Because Gilbert was growing so quickly, there were years when it was difficult to keep up with the growth--hence the "holding school" which I will write more about later.

That summer, we got together with our new principal, Sherryl Valentine, to start traditions at Houston.   We also met with the principal (Susan Harrison) and staff of the Islands as it also opened the same year.  I was going to teach third grade still.  I was excited at the opportunity to start a new school.

The previous year, I had decided to start my Masters (again), but this time in Educational Leadership.  I was accepted at ASU and was scheduled to start the fall of 1987--my first year at Houston Elementary.

I had another opportunity that year that truly helped me grow as an educator and it was really an "accidental" opportunity.  I had belonged to the Gilbert Education Association, but as my kids got older and finances got tighter, I didn't belong.   One day, our wonderful GEA rep, Nancy Proffit, was in the lounge asking if anyone would be willing to be GEA president.  She went all around the room and I jokingly (I thought) said, "I will if my dues are paid."  Next thing I know, I am the GEA president and my dues were paid!!!  I didn't have to campaign, have a slogan, buy stickers, or anything.  It was just that simple!!!  But what a great experience it was and I learned so much that year!!! 

And of course, I always have to find a way to have some fun!  So I decided to have a party to celebrate my ELECTION as GEA President.  So I held an "Inaugural Brawl" which turned out to be tons of fun!   Never missed a chance to have a good party at my house!!!