A Stroll Down Memory Lane

It is the 8th anniversary of the best decision of my life and marrying Kelsey. I think I got the better end of the deal, but she seems to think I’m worth keeping around. So, humor me a bit while I am a little sentimental about the reasons I love public education so much. At the risk of missing a few names, I thought that I would take a moment and list all the great public school teachers and educational professionals who had a tremendous impact in my life growing up in Colorado. While I don’t know if their experience with me was as impressive, if you would ever like to follow-up with them, I encourage you to carbon copy me on their response to your inquiries. I don’t know that any of them are still teaching, but you can still find my old stomping grounds in Aurora Public Schools (CO)—Vassar Elementary School, Arkansas Elementary School, Mrachek Middle School and Rangeview High School. From my days in AGATE to my senior pranks on the librarians, I still remember all of their names, and hope that I spell them correctly, though in no particular order.
Thank you to Mrs. VanDoornick (great insight into another culture different than mine), Mrs. Isler (how could I forget the hot-air balloon races), Mrs. Jones (a steady and caring hand), Mrs. Moore (from you I wanted to be a good speaker), Mrs. Able (a lady who knew how to make her students feel special), Mrs. Potashnik & Mr. Steele (I began and ended with this great couple), Mrs. Quam (repetition builds knowledge), Mr. Lynch (my mentor), Mr. Keyser (diligent and kind), Mr. Bergles (taught me to stand for something), Mr. Stine (a man open to the best ways of educating children, even when unpopular), Mr. Lemons (the benevolent and beloved king of his castle), Ms. Briscoe (earth science was never the same), Mrs. Hollis (I still have and use my vocabulary for college bounds students), Mr. Henderson (a caffinated Archimedes), Mrs. Curtis (I could have done more in Calculus), Mrs. Baker (an impeccable library), Mrs. Vickery (always a correlation of math and sport scores, Go Broncos!), Mrs. Clark (yes, “of” sounds like it needs a “v” but it doesn’t), Mrs. Wehner (I’ll have to send you a pumpkin in heavan), Ms. Frese (I never abbreviated on term papers, again), Mr. Klassen (Pythagoras and volleyball courts do mix and I used that knowledge to pay my way through college), Mrs. Kershner (best note taking advice ever), Mr. Hughes (I try and stand up for that one who can’t stand up for themselves), Mr. Burton (there is something about speaking in public often and early), Mrs. Cutshall (Boy’s State brought me here in life), Mrs. Allen (thanks for your understanding with the books stunt in the library), Mr. Salvano (you almost made me want to be MacGyver…almost), Mr. Antolini (great coaches can do and teach), Mr. DeConna (my AP scores didn’t matter much in college, but your classes did), Frau Dovas-Hudson (Veilleicht?), Mrs. Eskridge (I still recite poetry to my kids learned in your class—“Whan that aprill with his shoures soote…”), Mr. Loverde (a counselor in the truest sense), Mrs. Noone (had an eye and patience for comic relief who could never memorize his lines), Herr Thompson (Veilen Dank!).
I have fond memories of our time together and I know that you created a legacy of educational excellence that has been passed down to many of my friends who went back and are teaching in the district now. Please drop me a line if you would like to reminisce.