In Gratitude: My Education Influencers

I find myself focusing a lot on the opportunities to affect change in education these days. It’s nice to have the time to focus on what's important to me.

Another perk of retirement is looking back and appreciating all the wonderful people who helped form who I am. Here’s twenty-five educators and what they've taught me:

Mrs. Ruth Betteridge, First Grade: look for the best in everyone and let them shine

Mrs. Nancy Langelier, Fourth Grade: substance matters more than appearances

Mr. Curtiss Houghton, Fourth Grade: integrity is doing hard work well

Mrs. Barbara Nichols, Fourth Grade: you make a difference working in the details

Mr. Matteo Pagano, Fifth Grade: the art of compromise is a foundational American principle

Mrs. Alice Merring, Sixth Grade: ask questions and follow where the answers lead

Sister Esther Thomas, Seventh Grade: be known for what you do, not what you say

Sister Jane Comerford, Ninth Grade: you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else

Father John Pallard, Tenth Grade: map your journey and move forward intentionally

Mr. Bob Posluszny, Tenth Grade: don’t let the railroad ride you (based on Thoreau)

Mr. Gary Schulenberg, Tenth Grade: history shows us the way forward

Brother Gerry Martineau, Eleventh Grade: language has the power to change the world

Mrs. Doris Jervier, Eleventh Grade: cultural contexts inform our world view

Mrs. Ruth Waddicor, Twelfth Grade: expressing one's self concisely is a virtue

Mr. Peter Dunghe, Twelfth Grade: the arts come to terms with life

Father Paul Cherokee, College Professor: you can't be a two-headed Christian

Dr. Lil Holt, College Professor: leave the world a better place than you found it

Dr. Donna Berlin, College Professor: dig deeper than the first answer

Dr. Carol Lyons, College Professor: great teachers learn with their students

Dr. Chris Dede, College Professor: technology changes how we present ourselves and see others

Dr. Stewart Roberson, My First Principal: building consensus builds capacity

Dr. Charles Gobron, A Fellow District Director: keep your wits and your humor about you

Dr. Herb Levine, My First Superintendent: it's all about the relationships

Dr. Charlie Chaurette, My First Assistant Superintendent: believe it's possible and it can happen

Dr. Larry Callahan, My Second Assistant Superintendent: know the players just as well as you know the situation

It's not so much that any particular sentiment here is uniquely profound, it's the way that each of these wonderful people lived and demonstrated what I garnered from my time with them...to the point that when I look back today, I can see how their example stuck with me until it became internalized and part of who I am. Do you recognize one or more of these core characteristics in who you know me to be?

I do. As I connect these dots, the man I am today takes recognizable form. I am forever grateful...and forever indebted...and I realize now I've spent my entire career paying these lessons forward. May they continue to make a difference to future generations who will never have the honor of knowing them (or me) in the first person!

I highly recommend this exercise, whenever the time is right for you, and I am glad to walk you through it to help make it a more rewarding experience. Just reach out when you are ready!

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