As a very young child I watched my siblings and learned. I always strived to achieve. I was a good student and athlete. I graduated from Rogers High School in the top 1/4 of my class. I played varsity tennis all four years and a year in College. I had a job at the age of 16 and worked to help earn my way.
I graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983. I landed a "real" job with Toledo Public Schools as a physical education teacher then very next fall. That year I joined a pool league with my twin sister and her husband. I met my future husband. We dated for a few years and married in 1987.
In 1990 we had our first child, a daughter. In 1991 we had our son. I worked hard at home and work. I loved my family and my career. I went to graduate school and earned a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision. Not long after I received my Administrative Specialist degree I landed a job as an Assistant Principal.
As time went by I yearned for the Principalship. I received it. The time I put into my career was important to me but did take away from my young children. I decided to return to the assistant position for a few years until my children were older.
Five years later, I landed another job as Principal. I loved it. I was the principal of a school that I taught in for eleven years. I knew the community, families, staff, and felt I could offer a strong leadership to create an atmosphere of quiet learning. The first year was **&;(!** a huge challenge. I survived as did the children. I prayed that summer for MEN. Many of the children did not have a strong, positive male role model in their young lives. God answered and I had on my staff five men just out of college the next fall. Together we turned around the disruptive children into learning children. It was awesome! The Governor of Ohio recognized our school by the raise in our test scores and gave the school ten thousand dollars!
In 1999, some how I was bitten by an insect that made me very sick. I was hospitalized with suspected encephalitis. I spent several weeks in the hospital. Then, many months and years trying to convince myself I was fine. I lost a lot of memory, had major migraine headaches, depression and extreme tiredness all through this time. God was telling me to slow down and I was not listening. Just before 2003 I was coming home on my 4-wheeler from the neighbors when I was hit by a car from behind. I can remember flying through the air thinking, "oh no, this is it. My two young children are going to find me dead in the road". Amazingly, I had just a broken ankle and lots of bruises. I "got" the message and began to accept my handicap of poor health. In 2003 I realized I could no longer be a principal and retired from Toledo Public Schools.
This took me onto a new chapter of my life. I will write more later on this new "chapter".
Please add your comments as I would love to hear your stories too!
