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Upon completion of third grade, it was explained to me that the strength of the family was due to our comittment to education. My sister and brother both finished 8th grade that year. We attended the traditional K-8 neighborhood public school where my teachers were members of our church and attended high school with my parents.
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In 1979, I finished 8th grade at Phillip J. Hickey Elementary School. I was accepted to Lutheran High School North. The family tradition was to attend public neighborhood school during grades K-8, develop strong foundational basic skills supplemented with music theory, piano, and practical arts (sewing and typing). This was preparation for parochial high schools with college prep programs.
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My father's plant closed and he became unemployed at age 55. This created two problems: loss of income, and out of date labor skills.
I was more than willing to return to public school. The parochial school was limited academically due to enrollment. The influx of immigrants in South St Louis created the need for a pilot program in international studies at Roosevelt High School. I got to learn in a multicultural environment with students and teachers from Africa, Korea, China, Vietnam, Bosnia, -
I gave birth to my son, "Sir Charles" and I suddently knew that I was a natural educator. I studied child development when I was pregnant and read various books on family relationships. I became a stay at home mom and ensured that I was his first teacher for the first year of his life.
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After graduating from high school, I spent an entire year caring for my son. I learned so much about how children depend on adults for everything but continuously become independent and progress.
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In September of 1985, I started a new journey as a full time mother/wife/home maker. I continued to take classes in education in the evenings and on weekends.
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In the spring of 1991, I joined the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho, Incorporated. The sorority was founded by 7 strong educators at Butler University in 1922. The legacy of these women gave me the support to continue to matriculate until I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Education a decade after I enrolled in my first class.
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My mother survived my dad by 24 years. He passed at age 61; she passed in September of 2010 at age 87. I was blessed to obtain two master's degrees before she made her transition.
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On the 12th of September, 2010, I buried my mother with my father who had proceeded her in death, at Jefferson Barracks National Memorial Cemetery. I made the decision, to bring home the doctorate degree for our family to honor my parents sacrifices for our community.
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I married my best friend of 12 years at the time. We met on 9/11 at a school I was assigned to. We noticed each other as we managed the students during the dreadful events of that day. This union provided the support needed to balance my life between career, education, spirituality, and community service.
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Let's just say, when my daughter passed from epilepsy at age 27 and we acquired joint custody with our son-in-law of our grandsons, I continued to pursue the doctorate degree.
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How did I think I could go through several life changing events and it not effect how well I do my job and how well I matriculate through my program of study. I took a leave of absence from work and school.
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I returned to work in October of 2014. My New Year's Resolution was to balance my life and return to school. I'm better adjusted and enjoying the process of obtaining the degree that could help educators bridge the achievement gap by improving access to quality instruction through the use of technology integration in education.
