I have been very fortunate during my career to combine two things I have always loved: teaching and experiencing other countries and cultures. And now, in retirement, I have shifted to satisfy another interest – helping struggling young people and their families, after having seen the very difficult conditions they often face.
As a child, I was always playing teacher, and in school I was fascinated with their work, observing my teachers, and paying attention to what made them effective. It was natural for me to go into education, and I began my career teaching in fourth grade in 1976.
But when I heard about teaching programs abroad, I knew that it was for me. My principal was very supportive, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) accepted me, and in 1981 I began teaching in Iceland.
It was different in many ways. Although I was often educating children of Americans in the military and some others connected with the government, I had to adjust to the culture and language – and the fact that they had periods of 24 hours of darkness and snow blowing sideways in the winter.
But one thing was the same – teaching. And I was teaching middle school students, who I love to have in my classroom.
I spent time teaching in Iceland and Germany and had a wide range of experiences, including having children of royalty and ambassadors in my classes. I also got to travel broadly internationally and saw the various successful ways students were educated in other countries. But sometimes, I saw young people in horrible conditions and that made me aware of the need for others to step up and help, which would play into my future work with them.
A key for me in my work abroad has been a connection nearly from the start with the Federal Education Association (FEA), which represents about 6,000 educators working abroad in the DoDEA. I served in a variety of capacities with FEA, including as vice president from 1995-2001.
Educators in these schools don’t have much power when it comes to teacher salaries, but FEA has had a say in a number of issues that affect how these teachers manage their positions in schools, where students move quickly and there are a variety of unique challenges and pressures.
When I left my position teaching abroad and retired, I soon found a way to help struggling young people through Altrusa, an international community service organization.
Through that group, I helped found an organization called KARE (Kids at Risk Empowered). which helps students who are homeless, typically benefiting 50 young people and their families in the region each year.
My work in schools and in FEA paid off in two ways. The FEA experience and the related NEA educational sessions I often attended taught me valuable leadership skills and the ability to advocate for students and schools. At KARE we have had to reach out to the community to provide our clients meals, clothing, and shelter – and we’ve received sponsorships by several local companies and donations of all types from the business community and individuals.
In addition, knowing how schools work and having connections to them has resulted in relationships with counselors and others in the schools to inform us about families that may be in difficult circumstances. Our connection with the schools is vital to us identifying homeless students and providing them with the assistance they need.
These stages of my career have been fascinating and fulfilling to me – and the challenges aren’t over. I intend to work on other community organizations to help struggling families and adults, travel to see other cultures, and always will have a love of education and young people and will continue to find a way to play a role with them.
