MY FIRST CLASS

My first class!

1980-81

I don't think I've ever told the story of how I got my teaching job.

I was still attending BYU.  

I interviewed with Gareth Seastrand of the Alpine School District.

His sister was Selma Miller,  my 1st grade teacher.

I never heard back.

I called constantly!

In the meantime, I graduated August 15, 1980, with

my Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University.

Still no teaching job.

Finally, my mom took me to her school district . . . Jordan.

They had me substitute in a split 1st-2nd grade.  YIKES!

It was South Jordan Elementary, and it was located south

of the Jordan River Temple that was under construction.

I HATED the school!!!  Only the secretary and one second grade

teacher would even speak to me!!!  

(Dan Checketts was there...came to Alpine 2 years later for 1 year)

I was told if there were enough kids to keep the class,

I would keep the job.

I really didn't want it.  I loved the kids and parents,

but not the faculty.  It was not friendly like my mom's school.

I was not happy!

I got my room ready, and did the Back to School Open House.

I taught Monday & Tuesday.  On Wednesday, they said

there were not enough kids to keep the class.

The kids were sent to watch a movie.

I was told to pack up the room, and be gone.

The kids went to their new classroom, and I did not

even get to say goodbye.

I drove to Mom's school and helped her.

My plan was to substitute in the Alpine District.
"Get my foot in the door."

That afternoon, I got a call from the Alpine School District.

The secretary told me she saw my name on a list for a contract!

She told me to stay off the phone the next day.

Alpine Elementary had a 5th-6th split.

John Pool taught it.

The parents hated it!!!

John went to 6th grade.

They made a new 5th grade, and I got 3 of Roger Olsen's

and 3 of Calvan Vance's kids.

Wayne McDaniel and Jack Brown each sent 3 kids to John's class.

The new 5th grade class was taught by the principal, Brian Page

for 3 days.  The room was built by the men teachers after

school.  It was all plywood.

I went up to the school on Friday.

I immediately felt at home!!!

I went to the faculty room at lunch, Ann Searle (later my temple escort),

invited me to join their carpool.

Everyone was sooooo kind!

They had the Alpine Spirit!!!

I met the kids, and spent the weekend

preparing the room.

Mom, Laurel, and Diane Stewart helped me on Monday, Labor Day.

I started teaching 5th grade on September 2, 1980.
I never changed grades or schools.
I was in a plywood room my first two years.
Then I was in the same room for 31 years.

I loved Alpine Elementary sooooo much, I never left . . . until
May 30, 2013 . . . retirement!!!

And the rest was history!!!

The outfit I'm wearing in this class picture is what I wore on my 

first day of teaching.

I decided then to always wear a dress in my class pictures.

I also wore a dress every first day of school . . . except years #2 and #3.

You never forget your first class!

A fun side note.

Every boy on the front row has grass stains on his pants!

Row 1:  Brian Page, principal   Alan Peck   Dori Ann Larkin   Heather Villarreal

Andy Sparks   Greg Webb   Patti Christiansen   Danny Broadbent   Miss Mitchell

Row 2:  Chip Mattfeldt   Marcie Quintana   Marin Compton   Justin Williams

Lisa Erickson   Bob Burnham   Lisa Summens

Row 3:  Stefanie Leseberg   Shawn Parker   Matt Wimmer   Raychel Vickers

David Lawrence (David is Raychel's nephew)   Lynda Johnson   Ryan Barnes

Row 4:  Leanne Murdock (daughter of my doctor)   Mary Southey   

Lorilee Jones   Bruce Schurtz   Jennifer Cottrell   Trent Powell   

Kim Kofford   Paulla Bateman

And just remember . . .