Here's to you, Educators PART TWO

Jr. High and High School are some of the best times of my life. I cannot wait for you to read about how these people shaped my life! I'm sure I've forgotten someone and I'm sorry.

1995-96 7th Grade Newark Jr. High



7th Grade was full of some very scary and new memories. We moved from Oil Trough Elementary to Newark and merged with the Newark kids. We didn't think we would fit in with them. Lot of awkward moments during those days. English with crazy eccentric Mrs. Moore, Geography with Mr. Tilley (who knew everything about History), Life Science with Mrs. Lindsay, orange lockers, and lunch with all the big kids. Our little Jr. High Corner was big to me. My first locker and every locker after it were always on the bottom. I never got a top locker. Eric Long always had the locker above me. LOL! Those were the days of feeling very protective of my Oil Trough friends and feeling very looked down on by the Newark kids. I was chubby and awkward with a retainer. NERD ALERT! There was dissecting in science and doing the science olympics in Mrs. Lindsay's class. We played Trash Can Science review games. I used that in my teaching too. I also remember joining the Pride Dance Team (drug-Free dance team) "Take Pride in yourself and in your family. We can make a difference so let the whole world see. We're the future! Our dreams can come true! We take pride in everything we do so just reach down inside and have a little pride. Have a little pride now. Just a little Pride. (How do I remember this song!?) This is where I started singing somewhere other than church. Thank you, Jr. High teachers for having saint-like patience with smelly, awkward Jr. High kids.


1996-97 8th Grade Newark Jr High



8th grade was not as awkward as 7th grade. I became fast friends with the "Newark kids." Those people are in my heart forever and we just blended. We are all Newark kids now. I remember English with Mrs. Goodwin, keyboarding with Mrs. Meachum, Career Orientation (do they still have that today?) with Mrs. Ray (who scared the crap out of me), Math with Mrs. Featherston-Bone, Earth Science with Mrs. Lindsay (Hey, Jessi, who is Crystal Meth? LOLLL), and History with Mr. Tilley (April, do you remember asking to go to the bathroom in his class? You had us all rolling). I remember thinking that Mrs. Featherston was way too pretty to be teaching math and had really really bad coffee breath! LOL. All the boys loved her and I remember she promised to do a tumble thing if one of the boys in my class made a C on a test. She was the cheerleading coach and was very bouncy. I remember Coach Wheeler helping us take the Hunter's Ed test. LOL!!!!! Mrs. Lindsay made us write everyday in a journal. I always loved that. She has really inspired me in my teaching career and her leadership skills are amazing. I still look up to you, friend! Thank you, 8th grade teachers for being there for us and our awkward clumsy selves.


1997-98 9th grade at Newark High School




9th grade was an amazing beginning of high school. I had lost lots of weight over the summer and went into 9th grade feeling super cool. Another year and another bottom locker, but we got to move to the 9th grade hallway. It was carpeted and better for us bottom locker holders. I remember taking Health with Coach Crotts and being very uncomfortable when talking about the body. LOL! I remember Mrs. Ackerson coming in with her Square Dancing dresses on Fridays, Mrs. Dial being the most amazing English teacher ever! (Love you Aunt Sue Sue), Physical Science with Mr. Smith, and Civics with Coach Stan (Dude was the best teacher ever! He knew where every place on the planet was and took us spelunking as a field trip. So many fun memories in that class). 9th grade is where I started growing out of the bangs. Very awkward hair for a very long time. I'll never have bangs again. I just want to thank Coach Stan and Mrs. Dial for making 9th grade so fun.


1998-99 10th grade Newark High School




10th grade was so fun! Pre-AP English with Mrs. Pillow, Biology with Mrs. Campbell, World History with Coach Barber, Geometry with Mrs. Ackerson (I don't remember who drew that awful picture on your desk), Home Economics with Mrs. Curtwright, and many other classes. Mrs. Campbell, I'm so sorry that I never studied for "Trapping" (a review game) and probably cut up more than I listened. Thank you for making us do Leaf/Wild Flower collections and that awful bug collection. I still know way too much information about types of flowers and bugs. Coach Barber, I'm sorry that we girls thought you were super cute and you probably heard more girly giggles than you probably cared for. Mrs. Curtwright, I'm sorry that I just couldn't learn how to sew and gave up after 10 seconds. LOL! Mr. Smith, I'm not even sure where to begin with you. I didn't ever understand anything that come out of your mouth, but I always took notes from the time I walked in until I walked out. I also still have my TI-82. I still use it. LOL! Thank you, High School teachers, for putting up with hormonal high schoolers.

1999-00 11th Grade Newark High School




11th grade was probably my favorite! I was class President and felt very confident in myself that year. I remember Typing with Mrs. Tate (She is precious), Spanish with Mr. Bennett (I'm so sorry for all the bathroom trips and the reading books during class), Trig with Coach Davis (I'm sorry...math is not my thing), English with Mrs. Peer (literally the best English class ever!), Chemistry with Mr. Smith (I still can't talk about this awful time in my academic life. I just can't), and history with Mrs. McCance (I just loved your class and loved you! You were the sweetest and best!) I remember making Spanish commercials at Elaina's house for a project with her, Jessi, and Amber. I wish we still had that tape! Mr. Smith, I'm sorry for throwing the lit match during lab time. Glad I didn't burn anything up and thanks for banning me from anything flame related in lab. I remember planning prom and driving on ice to Cave City to get some kind of lantern with Jessi for Homecoming that ended up being canceled. I remember having the best prom night ever with Lane. He picked me up in a convertible and we had the best time (I had a pretty big crush on you, Lane. You were the sweetest) I was able to drive and I had so much fun! Mrs. Dial, I LOVE LOVE LOVED choir! We had so much fun in there and I made lasting friendships! Teachers, you made 11th grade fun (with the exception of some. Sorry. LOL)! Thank you for dealing with driving teenage know-it-alls!

2000-01 12th Grade at Newark High School




Senior Year! Bless all the teachers that deal with Seniors! Senior year was so fun! AP English with Mrs. Pillow (we are so sorry for not thinking that the summer assignments were required and turning in empty pages on the first day, we are sorry for cheating during vocab quizzes, and for giving you heck) I'm sure we made her last year of teaching memorable. I remember Human Anatomy with Mrs. Campbell where we had to dissect a cat. We had to skin our own cat, then dissect every single part of this cat. That is my last experience with a scalpel. I also remember we did a cookie fundraiser during this time and had otis-spunkmeyer cookie ovens in the same room with the cats. Formaldehyde and cookies did not set well on the stomach. I'm also sorry that I prayed for the tarantula to die out loud everyday and then you blamed me when we walked in and he was 8 legs up dead in his cage, but not that sorry. I remember driving Mr. Lowery crazy. He just made it too easy. Sorry we made Ryans sing happy birthday to you on that FBLA trip when it wasn't your birthday. Thank you Mr. Evans, for making Art fun. Senior year allows us to take lots of classes we didn't get to take and art with a bunch of smelly 9th graders was fun anyway. Mrs. Evans, you made drama so fun and I had a blast working with you on all of our plays. Don't Rock the Boat, 60s Coffee House, Beauty and the Beast, etc. We had a blast! I don't remember when we did Wizard of Oz with Mrs. Goodwin, but it was fun too! Mrs. McGlothlin (spelling?), I loved being your helper! We had a fun time! Thank you all for making Senior year fun and filled with lots of memories!

Newark High School






These people were amazing as well! Mr. Vance my bus driver, thanks for getting us to school safely. Mrs. Pollard, thanks for being a great nurse! Mrs. Cora Lee and Mrs. Phyllis, you two ladies were the best and the sweetest smiles to see everyday! Mr. Tumlison, you were the best Principal ever! You had great leadership and showed us that you were firm, but were fun and cool. We respected you greatly and loved your passion! Mr. Cunningham, thanks for dealing with me in Agri that one semester. Sorry about that whole flame thing. LOL!

You Kangaroos might be thinking that I left someone one, but I'm saving the best for last. Mr. Billy Madison (aka Uncle Billy Joe)




Mr. Madison, you were my favorite teacher. You were more than just our Band Director. You were my teacher every year since 6th grade. You always had fun music for us to play, laughed at our jokes, gave advice, let us hang out in the band room, stayed late waiting on parents to pick us up from ballgames or trips, took us on fabulous trips, introduced us to amazing music and musicals, filled us with culture, and more. Every fun memory that I have of Newark has you in it. Going to Disney World and Universal Studios was the funnest trip I have ever been on. I can go on and on about all the wonderful trips we took. Going to Nashville, watching Broadway shows, playing in competitions, marching in parades (remember when you went to Chicago and we had to march TnT without you), all the ballgames, and our school lock in (still one of my favorite past times), etc. etc. etc. You are truly an amazing educator and an even more amazing person. Thank you for everything. You are so special to me. I know we drove you crazy at times (talking all the time or making crazy noises or doing homework during class or being nutty), but we really do love you. Jessi, Elaina, and I probably made you crazy on the front row, but we just couldn't help it! You helped mold the person I am today and I will be forever grateful. Love you bunches!


Thank you, Newark High School, for being the best school ever. I will always be a Kangaroo. Thank you for investing in my life and making sure that I succeeded. Thank you for making high school the best years of my life and filling me with sweet memories and giving me amazing friends that I still talk to and keep in touch with to this day. Class of 2001 was a very special group. We thank you.

One day, I'll make a post about all of my high school memories with my friends. Tonight has got me nostalgic. Elaina and Jessi, you girls...love you so much! We have so many memories together.

Here's to you, educators PART ONE

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I cannot let this week go by without thanking the people that got me to where I am. This is going to be a long and sappy post so just get ready!

1988-89 Kindergarten at Oil Trough Elementary

My teacher was Mrs. Lockard. Kindergarten was fun and full of new things. I remember lots of songs, crafts, and coloring. I remember getting in trouble one time. I was wearing a pink sweatsuit and told Tonya Bagwell that we weren't allowed to talk and I got in trouble for talking. I had to sit in the corner on a stool. It was terrible! LOL! I remember Mrs. Lockard giving us an M&M when we were good or did something well. I also remember getting to go into the first grade room during reading since I knew how to read well already. Mrs. Lockard, thank you for letting me be free to grow and learn. I loved going over to Mrs. Welch's room. I felt big. I remember wearing my blue cap and gown at graduation and reciting my part of the alphabet poem. I had M and N. M is for monkey swinging on a tree and N is for Newt who is staring at me. My best friend was Celeste Scroggins and she sadly moved away at the end of Kindergarten. Thank the Lord for facebook and we have reconnected. You all should probably know that this was the year that I was no longer an only child. Apparently, this traumatized my fragile little mind and I blocked it from my memory. I know that Mom had Casey, but I don't remember the whole experience. I also remember that we were sent home early one day because of the threat of severe weather.



1989-90 1st Grade at Oil Trough

My teacher was Mrs. Welch. Do you remember the teacher from Matilda, Mrs. Honey? She was just like her. She was precious! First grade fun and full of writing and reading and playing. I remember getting to write my own stories. I wrote my first book, "The Dog Who Lost His Bone." It was genius. LOL! My love of writing and reading started right there in that classroom. Mrs. Welch, thank you for letting me be creative and igniting my love of reading. I also had to find a new best friend. I was really good friends with a girl that was older than me, but we rode the bus together everyday and became fast friends. Stephanie Keyton, you are gem. I thought you were cool and weird and wonderful. Thanks for the memories, friend.




1990-91 2nd Grade at Oil Trough

My teacher was Mrs. Clark. I remember 2nd grade getting tough. This is where my hate of math started. LOL. I remember being very determined to be the first one done on everything, which led to sloppiness. I had to stay in the classroom to rewrite my numbers one time while the class was in the 3rd grade room watching a movie. I ended up rewriting it 3 times because I was just in too big of a hurry. Mrs. Clark, thank you for teaching me to slow down and take my time. This is where I learned that first isn't always best, but dang! I was determined to beat Eric Long in turning in those papers. We were a hoot!





1991-92 3rd Grade at Oil Trough

My teacher was Mrs. Roach. I remember hearing that she was the mean teacher. I walked in pretty scared, but turns out they were wrong. She was amazing! Thank you, for teaching me my multiplication tables. 3rd grade is where I was again in need of a new best friend. Stephanie moved to the Jr. High. This is where I met my bestie for the restie, Elaina. We were quite the pair. 3rd grade was a fun year! I remember winning a coloring contest and getting to drink a Sprite in class. LOL! It was just a stepping stone!





1992-93 4th Grade at Oil Trough

My teacher was Mrs. Russell. This was the best year ever! Mrs Russell is the very first teacher that inspired me to be a teacher. I remember doing so many fun things in her class. She inspired my famous Rockin Reading Day at Liberty Christian School. We had this awesome day where we brought pillows and blankets and laid around the room reading all day. This was my favorite day ever. Mrs. Russell read Judy Blume's "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and I fell in love with reading (I read this to every 4th grade class I taught). Sadly, Mrs. Russell had knee surgery during our school year and we had a substitute. This woman was amazing! Mrs. Johnson was her name and she was fabulous. She always sent home encouraging notes home on cute notepaper that had candy attached. She was super fun. We were sad to see her go, but happy that Mrs. Russell came back. I remember doing a writing program called McRat. Does anyone else remember this? 4th grade was a fun year!





1993-94 5th Grade at Oil Trough

My teacher was Mrs. Latting. Now, I'm not going to lie. This was not my favorite year of elementary school. This is the year that math became the top of my hated list. I remember having to go clean out Mrs. Latting car and finding very scary things in there. Elaina...you remember. LOL! I remember us watching a super scary movie at Halloween. Schools were so chill back then. People weren't all offended by everything and parents didn't come whining at the school all the time if their kids got into trouble. Teachers handled everything. Our teachers could paddle and they did. I never got paddled, but we all heard the ones who did because it was right outside the room. This was the year that Lion King came out and we sang those songs ALL the time at recess and even performed them a few times. We also played Saved by the Bell on the playground. The classroom wasn't fun, but 5th grade was really fun with my friends.





1994-95 6th grade at Oil Trough

My teachers were Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Fowler. This was the best year of elementary school for all the fun things. Mrs. Cook ignited my love of history. We had this United States in the back of the classroom made of carpet pieces. I adored it and still want one. We painted the United States on the playground basketball court. I painted Missouri green. It felt like an epic day. I remember studying different countries and eating different foods from around the world. We had Hawaiian food once and watched Elvis. We created the most amazing Arkansas History binder ever and I still have it and used parts of it when I taught Arkansas History. I remember getting to cook a Thanksgiving lunch and playing bingo at our parties. Mrs. Cook, thank you for everything. You are special to me.
I remember getting into trouble for selling hand-made stickers on the playground (not too much trouble. LOL) I remember getting detention ONE time for talking in the cafeteria when the traffic light was red and my friends came to detention with me because they didn't want me to spend those 10 minutes alone. TRUE FRIENDS! I remember dressing up at Reba McEntire for "Who Do You Wanna Be When You Grow Up" night. I wanted to be a country star. LOL! I remember putting up the flag in the mornings and getting soaked when it rained. I remember getting pneumonia and missing school (which I HATED). I remember all things Lisa Frank and Looney Tunes. One of my favorite memories was getting to go to Mrs. Fowler's house and having a sleepover with all the 6th grade girls. Mrs. Fowler, you are so amazing and made 6th grade fun. I loved 6th grade!!!





Oil Trough

There are many people that worked at that school that played a major part in my life. Mrs. Reynolds was a great principal. I remember getting to be principal for the day and helped in the office with Mrs. Judy, the secretary. We did this awesome reading across America contest where we won prizes for reading. It was so fun! Mr. Balentine was my librarian all through elementary school. We played Dewey Decimal Bingo and had one computer in 6th grade that connected to the internet. LOL! Mrs. Sinilie (spelling?) was a substitute sometimes and she kept us all in the line. Mrs. Sykes taught art for a while. Our school counselor, Mrs. Anderson...bless her for dealing with 6th grade girl drama. She had a plunger on her car so she would know where she parked. The Miss Bettys! Wonderful and sweet cafeteria ladies. The best! Mrs. Steward and Mrs. Vance-Miller were amazing Music teachers. I just knew Mrs. Miller was Julie Andrews. She was precious and I still remember some of our songs. Mrs. Spragins, my GT teacher. She let me be free to create. I wrote many books in her class, went on many Quiz Bowl trips, and performed the Twelfth Night on stage in 6th grade. Shakespeare in 6th grade. I'm sure it was horrendous. Coach Moore, bless you for dealing with me trying to play basketball that one year. Mrs. Pollard was the best school nurse ever! Mrs. Fowler was a great PE teacher. I still hate the mile, but I have fond memories of those scooter boards and the parachute. Mrs. Waegner taught us PE very early on, but I don't remember much and Mr. Raul taught us Spanish very early on. Mrs. Ballard let us play Oregon Trail and Math Muncher and make greeting cards on the printer in Learning Center. Mr. Troy was my bus driver and uncle. We hit several mailboxes and poles, but we always made it to school. LOL. Mr. Miller was a cool Art teacher and let us be creative. He also married Mrs. Vance-Miller! Mr. Madison taught us beginning band. Bless you, friend. 6th graders playing instruments cannot be fun, but you inspired all of us to keep at it! You made me love music and I'll have more about you in part two. I remember field days where I got participant ribbons and got to drink a Dr. Pepper and eat a sack lunch on the playground. I remember smelling salmon patties at lunch time and begging the Bettys to give me double portion of mac and cheese and skip the salmon (they did). I remember learning from McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey the Bear taught us that we were the only ones to help prevent forest fires. I remember placing 2nd place in all the Science Fairs because Chris Water's projects were always better. I remember running around playing with all my friends and having crushes on the boys. Eric Long, we were birthday buddies from day October 12 and 14 of 1982 and we have been buddies since. I have so many sweet memories with you. Elaina, we were the best of friends and are definitely still Peas and Carrots. I remember drawing our dream mansion in art and singing Willy Wonka songs in Music and learning the State song and President rap. I have no many sweet memories at Oil Trough Elementary. I'm sure I've forgotten someone and I'm sorry. Thank you all for making Elementary School fun and filling me with the best memories. Thank you for dedicating your life to education and making a difference in my life. Much love!