While sitting in my 8th grade class at Logan Elementary, listening to my teacher, Mrs. Cunningham, I had a lightning-bolt inspiration to be a teacher of history, just like her. So, off to Rogers, and I joined the Future Teachers of America Club early in my freshman year. Not much of a club for activities or fun, but along the four years of being attending Rogers, I enjoyed my classes, (naturally some more than others), the teachers, the extracurricular things I got involved in and the entire high school experience.
Four teachers really increased my desire to be a teacher. La Senora Pence, the Spanish teacher I had for two years, was very well organized, liked all of us students, was very effective in disciplining her students if we weren't paying attention or talking to other kids when she was presenting her lesson. She was highly respected by all of us. Mr. Forsythe, who taught US history, my favorite subject, had a good sense of humor, did interesting, memorable lectures, graded fairly, had some personal characteristics of playing with words, and always had a pencil behind his right ear. Then there was Coach Tracy Walters, who I had three years of track and cross country with. He did a good job preparing us for meets, mixing in humorous words with coaching words; a memorable one was him preparing us with a pep talk the day before a track meet with Lewis and Clark, telling us to "Beat those South Side bums!" Vice Principal Paul MacGown, the advisor of ASB officers, which I was two positions in my senior year, vice president and president, was an excellent advisor, giving wise and helpful advice, patting us on the backs to help build our confidence. He really knew how to get along with kids...as did all the teachers I've mentioned. Rogers had lots of clubs and groups to be a part of. I was a member by choice or appointment to National Honor Society, Spanish Club, (with Mrs. Pence), Hi-Y, Pep Club, and the out-of-school but ALL ROGERS Hillyard Booster Club. George Elmer Brown, the Boosters advisor, was a combination teacher, father, uncle, one of the best adults in my years of youth.
When I chose to go to Washington State University, my decision of what I wanted to be someday was intact--a teacher. My first class was Introduction to Education. Some of the classes in my social studies/education major were dull, but that was college, and I knew a life in high school would be what I was aiming for, enjoying nearly everything about my 4 years at Rogers. I liked most of the fellow students, the organization, the pep spirit at athletic events, the fun at assemblies and dances. I did my student teaching at West Valley. What a learning lesson that was! My two history teacher mentors were highly rated. AND, the cross country coach turned the team over to me, entirely. What a rare opportunity that was. And, I enjoyed the West Valley kids as much as I had enjoyed being with Rogers kids. When I began my teaching career in Oregon, I was prepared. I wanted to do more than just be a classroom teacher. So, over the 33 years of teaching secondary schools, I coached and officiated three sports, advised student government, National Honor Society, Key Club, political clubs and out-of-school simulated organizations such as Model United Nations and huge mock political conventions.
Teaching was not only rewarding but FUN! I like high school kids. I always did. I never once had to send a kid to the principal's office. Always enjoying being a student, I enjoyed spending time with a few thousand of them over the years when I was a teacher. I'm still licensed to teach, although being retired since 1998, and have taught a few semester classes of government and history and still officiate track meets. I owe it all to Rogers ... fellow students and teachers, who had influenced me to keep high school a part of my life ... to the day I die.