The Most Influential Teachers of My Life...

I have been searching for a teaching job like crazy! It is my full-time obsession right now. Once I decided to become a teacher and enrolled in the teaching certification program at UCA I began to reflect on the teachers I have had in my life. It has especially been on my mind lately as I have been job searching and trying to decide exactly what and who I want to be.

So here is a list of some of the most influential teachers of my life. These are the people who have inspired me to be a teacher, the ones who have molded me into who I am today.

Beth Parker

Mrs. Parker was my 6th grade teacher. She was so amazing! In those days I wanted more than anything to be a famous actress. She encouraged me and really gave me the confidence I needed. Turning 12 isn't always easy but she definitely made it fun! The taught me that by believing in me I could believe in myself.

Brigitte Dority

Sister Dority was my Beehive teacher. Bless that poor woman! She had a zillion Beehives to take care of and she always did it with a smile. She had the most bubbly personality and she always gave big hugs. I always knew that if she was around I would never be left out. She taught me that a smile or a hug can change someone's day.

Ray Hankins

Mr. Hankins was my flute teacher in 7th grade at Central Jr. High. He is the man responsible for teaching me to play the flute. When we had "band day" where we tried out the instruments (in 6th grade) to see what we would play the following year he tried and tried to convince me to play the bassoon. (He is a bassoon player with the ASO). I didn't want to play that weird looking (and sounding) instrument! I actually had my heart set on playing the saxophone. Mr. Hankins told me all the benefits of playing the bassoon and how my lips were perfect for it. I wouldn't have it! Another band director convinced me to play the flute instead and I'm so glad. Looking back now, I can see that Mr. Hankins really did have my best interest at heart. I would have had an automatic scholarship to many colleges with the Bassoon, since there aren't as many players as other instruments, like the flute. My 7th grade year was one of the funnest I ever had!

Janet Granderson

Mrs. Granderson was my 8th grade band teacher and my private flute instructor. I was lucky that my band director played flute. I had weekly lessons with her. She taught me all of the fundamentals of flute playing. She encouraged me, bragged on me and really cared about my success. She encouraged me to be competitive. I remember how hard we worked at me making All-Region! I have tremendous respect for her. She had the wisdom to realize when she could no longer teach me and I was ready to move on. She passed me on to Dr. Brown. I can imagine it was probably hard to let a student go. She was so selfless. I will always appreciate her.









Jeff Hudleston

We called him Mr. Hudd. He was my 9th grade English teacher. (I always had the best English teachers!). Mr. Hudd was fun, full of enthusiasm and made learning fun! He actually made learning Shakespeare fun!! We read Romeo and Juliet and I loved it! I still love it! He had the best sense of humor. He reminds me of Robin Williams. Can you imagine Robin Williams being your English teacher? Mr. Hudd was also an amazing artist and even drew cartoons for the Ar Gazette newspaper.


Mark Walters

Mr. Walters was my band teacher from 10th - 12th grade. Some of the best moments of my life were shared under his direction. He had such a fresh approach to teaching. He was so refreshing after having a not-so-great year in 9th grade. I had actually considered quitting band, it was so bad. I just kept holding out for Mr. Walters. He was down to earth. We always had good music. He set the bar by giving us music to play that was challenging. I will always remember Mr. Walters looking over at me and smiling as I played my little flute diddies. It was hard not to since I was on the piccolo and right next to his ear - ha! He also helped me learn to play the saxophone and encouraged me to be in jazz band. He gave me the nickname "unchained wild beast" because my sax playing skills just sort of came out of nowhere and they were wild! :)





Lisa Doss

Ok, I could write an entire book about my love for Lisa Doss. She was the assistant band director for 11-12 grade and also my jazz band director. She was fun, spunky and crazy. I loved her conducting! She had gusto and gave it her all! She always knew just what to say and what to do. We were like a family (the jazz band). Most of my best high school memories are with the jazz band. She allowed me to develop my sax skills and gave me some amazing solos. Prior to becoming a teacher she was a singer in a band that toured and everything. She was amazing! One of the best nights of my life ever was the spaghetti super we had with the jazz band featured as the entertainment. It was my senior year. We played "Someone to Watch Over Me" and she sang while Mr. Walters played feature tenor sax (I played flute). I get chills just thinking about it. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and Mr. Walters and the wonderful times they gave me in band. I wish I could be the kind of teacher that she was. She told me I was "Music for music's sake alone. A description of Brahms and a description of you". I will always love her.

Carolyn Brown

I first met Dr. Brown when she was a Mrs. Brown. I was 16 years old and started taking lessons from her after Mrs. Granderson. She is, in my book, the best flute player ever! She really taught me to fine tune my flute skills and so much about music and life!! I looked forward to her lessons every week because I knew I could go in her office, sit in her chair and she would listen. I have dreamed so many times about that chair and being able to talk to her! She led through example. Her flute playing skills are to die for! I wish I could be half as good as she is!! I love her sound! I can always pick her out of the orchestra. She put up with a lot from me in college! I even went back to her for 2 more years when I got certified to teach! It's nice to know that she is always there to help me if I need her. I owe her so much!




Christina Head

Christy was my student teaching mentor last fall ('07). I learned so much from her in the little time that I was under her wing at Crystal Hill Elementary (and Maumelle Middle). I had the most awesome, amazing student teaching experience of my life!!! She never made me feel like I was a burden. She always went out of her way to teach me extra things that would help me be a better teacher. The best part was that she became a true friend. I miss her all the time.

My Parents

Well, it wouldn't be right to leave them out. While they weren't officially "teachers" in a school setting, they are my teachers of life. They have taught me all I need to know about being a decent human, a good daughter, mother and wife. I am grateful for them in countless ways. They gave me the most important tools for succeeding in my life. I love them and am so eternally grateful for them.


I am sure this was so boring, but I felt I needed to put it in writing. There are so many others I could mention. To be honest, aren't we all teachers to someone? Think about that this week. Try to recognize the big and small teaching moments throughout your day. You never know whose life you will touch! Someone may write a blog about you someday!!

A Week of Firsts

This past week Gabi had many firsts. On Monday (6-9-08) Gabi started her first solid foods. I gave her oatmeal with banana and she liked it!! I could tell she was ready for solids when she opened her mouth when she saw me eating a Snickers bar! I have been letting her taste some things in the past couple of weeks, like lick my banana, which she enjoyed. Isaac hated his solids at first (not anymore!) so I was pleased that Gabi liked hers.

Another first was on Wednesday (6-11-08) when she had her first experience at the swimming pool! We took her to Wild River Country. She was unsure about the whole thing at first, I could tell by her face. I just sat her on my lap, on the edge of the pool, and dangled her legs in the water. She was alright until someone ran by and splashed her! She cried and cried and I could only calm her when I gave her a bottle. Her feelings were totally hurt! Once she was fed she was in a better mood and she liked the water much better! She sat in the Johnny Jump Up and even let me sit on the pool floor with her and she played in the water.

On Thursday (6-12-08) Gabi finally rolled from her back to her tummy. She first rolled from tummy to back in May so it took her about a month. She had to really work for it but she finally did it! Lemuel told me that the next day he saw her roll from tummy to back and back to tummy so I guess she's got that mastered!

Isaac also had a first this week. While at Wild River Country he begged me to take him down the water slide for kids. I tried to convince him to go by himself but he insisted I go with him. I was surprised he even wanted to go at all. Two years ago when we were last there he wouldn't even go down the 3 ft baby slide, let alone a water slide. I did manage to take him down once that year but he was scared. I guess he secretly liked it because he reminded me about it and made me take him down. After we went down the first time together I talked him into going alone and he did it! All by himself! I was so proud of him for being so brave! He even carried that huge inner tube up the hill and stairs all by himself! I was so proud and happy for him, yet so sad inside for me because my baby is growing up too fast! It was a bittersweet moment.

Here are some photos of our week of firsts:





Gabi tastes her first solids: Oatmeal with bananas!





Yummy, this is good stuff!






Gabi chills in the stroller at the pool. She looked so cute in her swimsuit!






Isaac and Gabi (aka Popeye) at the pool!





"This isn't so bad!"




Gabi chills in the water



Isaac rides down the slide all by himself! Look at his face of total glee!

I can't believe how long I have neglected this blog!! Where has the time gone?

Gabi is now 5 months old and getting so big already! She has rolled from tummy to back and is just about to roll from back to tummy. She just needs that extra Umph to get her shoulder over. She is talking baby talk all the time! She has recently started saying MAMAMAMA and I just know she is saying my name! She is very attached to me so I wouldn't be surprised. She wants to be with me all the time. If I leave the room she gets mad. If I leave her sight she gets mad..lol! I grow tired of that, but quickly remind myself that someday she won't even want to see me so I better enjoy it! She is just about to get her 2 bottom teeth in and drools all over the place. She weighs about 15 lbs and is 26.5 in long (at her last appt).

She has this strange thing she does when she eats. Whenever I feed her the bottle she immediately starts pulling her hair, scratching and rubbing her face with both hands. She digs into her skin until she bleeds. I hate it! I try to keep her nails short but that's a task! She has little nicks all over herself, the poor thing! I hope she grows out of it fast!

She loves her little furry pal Grover. Whenever I show her the Grover doll and talk to her in his voice she laughs and grins. It's very cute!



Isaac is as big and grown up as ever! He is super duper into Star Wars now. It's all he ever talks about. He sings the score (thank you, John Williams) all the time and acts out scenes from the movie. He is collecting all of the figures and constantly asks for more. Here is a smilebox of his Star Wars chart adventure....

Make a Smilebox postcard

I am doing interviews for a teaching job. I don't have one yet but hope to get one very soon. I am still running my eBay business, which is going well. I have really been blessed to be able to do this so I can stay at home with the kids (for now).

I am posting some videos and smileboxes for your enjoyment....

Make a Smilebox photobook