Memories blur as I reflect on 32 years of teaching. I sometimes mark time by the cycle of initiatives I have experienced: whole language, thematic instruction, reading/writing workshop, differentiation, explicit direct teaching, Reading First, Writing Next, standards-based reporting, NCLB… An even better gauge might be the technology I have had to conquer over the years: the ditto machine, the 16 mm projector, the laminator, the die cut, the Apple IIe, email, the cell phone, and Web 2.0 tools. I wonder what the educational landscape will look like in the next five years as the nation addresses the important task of closing the achievement gap between the rich and the poor.

I remember the book I received, The Geranium on the Windowsill Just Died, but Teacher You Went Right On, after completing my undergraduate degree in elementary education at the University of Illinois. I kept that book close by as I enthusiastically entered my first fulltime classroom position in 1977. Along the way earning a master’s degree in reading and participating in the National Writing Project empowered me as a teacher leader. Every new academic year brought changes and challenges no matter where I taught - a suburban classroom in Chicago, the elementary/middle schools in Anchorage, or a provincial classroom in Australia. It made no difference the curriculum I was teaching, the age of the students, the socioeconomic area, or the politics of the school board. What mattered was I believed in children and what they could achieve.

Seven years ago I moved from a classroom position into a newly created literacy teacher support position for our middle schools. My focus changed from direct instruction with students to coordinating and providing staff development. As a result, I have had the unique opportunity to shape the journey of new teachers as well as support the experienced staff. I am especially proud of my passion for middle level education. I have written two articles for Voices from the Middle (NCTE) and one for the Middle School Journal (NMSA). I am the one who loves to share with others, so please visit the Middle Link website (www.asdk12.org/middlelink) for additional resources.

My favorite pastime is hiking. Online shopping is a close second especially during our long, dark winters in Alaska. I should like to cross country ski and snowshoe more than I do, but frankly I have grown less tolerant of extreme weather. Running into bear and moose on the trails is an ongoing obstacle. I have had too many close encounters. I play flute in the Anchorage Civic Orchestra. When I dream of a fantasy job, I see myself playing 2nd flute in a pit orchestra for a Broadway musical. I have lived in Alaska for 29 years. In 1980, a friend and I took a road trip up the Alcan Highway during my spring break. The following year I surprised a lot of people by moving to the last frontier. A milestone year for me was in 1987 when I was an exchange teacher to Melbourne, Australia. My husband is a landscape architect. Five years ago the mayor of Anchorage appointed him as the Director of Parks and Recreation. Both of us are now peeking around the corner trying to catch a glimpse of what our next adventure might be.