a pool of nominees. I was then chosen to represent all of the outstanding public school teachers from our county. I was a graduate of MTHS and returned there 24 years ago to teach Graphic Arts and Photography and to coach. QUITE AN HONOR!! After our welcome we are headed to the noontime luncheon and program at the Holiday Inn Center City. The keynote speaker was Dr. Grady Bogue who is the Chancellor of LSU. He is speaking on his recent book, “A Journey of the Heart: Celebrations of the Call to Teaching.” You know, I was so excited and in awe of everything that was happening that I have no idea what he said that day. My “Journey of the Heart", from a scared little kid entering first grade to accepting this prestigious award for outstanding teaching had many side roads and expressways; from being an average student in high school with no idea of a profession, to being accepted at college with just average high school grades with the understanding that I would have to major in Industrial Arts because there was a shortage in IA teachers in the state, to taking a job before graduation because of this shortage, to getting my “Dream Job” at my Alma mater, to writing the curriculum and text book for the course that I would teach for 30 years, to leading the school’s rifle team to the State Championship, to being the adviser to the school yearbook for 31 years, to being nominated for an award for doing something that I truly enjoyed. What a journey! Receiving the award certainly didn’t make teaching any easier, but it made me realize that I really did make the right career choice. Along the way my parents and my family all played a major part in the journey. My wife Carol and my kids Derek, Brynn and Tad all influenced my decisions I made during my teaching career. I retired from teaching in 1999, but still work for the school district. I was recruited to do the Middle School yearbook immediately after I retired and also still do the in-house printing that is needed for the school district. In 2010, I will celebrate 59 years in Manheim Township School District, as both student and employee. I'd love to reach 60 years. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - I really had hair at one time.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The "Quite an Honor" Story
It was an ordinary day. I am headed to Harrisburg with my boss and high school principal, Mr. C. Wendell H. and Barry W. who is the chairman of the Industrial Arts Department at MTHS. We are headed to the Capitol Rotunda for a formal welcome for the winners of Pennsylvania Academy for the Profession of Teaching’s “Salute to Teaching”. It seems that I have been chosen as one of three educators from Lancaster County to receive the award of “Educator of the Year". Donald Kraybill, who is a professor at Elizabethtown College and Kenneth Shields, who is a professor at Millersville University are also being honored. I was nominated for the award by my education association who selected me from 
a pool of nominees. I was then chosen to represent all of the outstanding public school teachers from our county. I was a graduate of MTHS and returned there 24 years ago to teach Graphic Arts and Photography and to coach. QUITE AN HONOR!! After our welcome we are headed to the noontime luncheon and program at the Holiday Inn Center City. The keynote speaker was Dr. Grady Bogue who is the Chancellor of LSU. He is speaking on his recent book, “A Journey of the Heart: Celebrations of the Call to Teaching.” You know, I was so excited and in awe of everything that was happening that I have no idea what he said that day. My “Journey of the Heart", from a scared little kid entering first grade to accepting this prestigious award for outstanding teaching had many side roads and expressways; from being an average student in high school with no idea of a profession, to being accepted at college with just average high school grades with the understanding that I would have to major in Industrial Arts because there was a shortage in IA teachers in the state, to taking a job before graduation because of this shortage, to getting my “Dream Job” at my Alma mater, to writing the curriculum and text book for the course that I would teach for 30 years, to leading the school’s rifle team to the State Championship, to being the adviser to the school yearbook for 31 years, to being nominated for an award for doing something that I truly enjoyed. What a journey! Receiving the award certainly didn’t make teaching any easier, but it made me realize that I really did make the right career choice. Along the way my parents and my family all played a major part in the journey. My wife Carol and my kids Derek, Brynn and Tad all influenced my decisions I made during my teaching career. I retired from teaching in 1999, but still work for the school district. I was recruited to do the Middle School yearbook immediately after I retired and also still do the in-house printing that is needed for the school district. In 2010, I will celebrate 59 years in Manheim Township School District, as both student and employee. I'd love to reach 60 years. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - I really had hair at one time.
a pool of nominees. I was then chosen to represent all of the outstanding public school teachers from our county. I was a graduate of MTHS and returned there 24 years ago to teach Graphic Arts and Photography and to coach. QUITE AN HONOR!! After our welcome we are headed to the noontime luncheon and program at the Holiday Inn Center City. The keynote speaker was Dr. Grady Bogue who is the Chancellor of LSU. He is speaking on his recent book, “A Journey of the Heart: Celebrations of the Call to Teaching.” You know, I was so excited and in awe of everything that was happening that I have no idea what he said that day. My “Journey of the Heart", from a scared little kid entering first grade to accepting this prestigious award for outstanding teaching had many side roads and expressways; from being an average student in high school with no idea of a profession, to being accepted at college with just average high school grades with the understanding that I would have to major in Industrial Arts because there was a shortage in IA teachers in the state, to taking a job before graduation because of this shortage, to getting my “Dream Job” at my Alma mater, to writing the curriculum and text book for the course that I would teach for 30 years, to leading the school’s rifle team to the State Championship, to being the adviser to the school yearbook for 31 years, to being nominated for an award for doing something that I truly enjoyed. What a journey! Receiving the award certainly didn’t make teaching any easier, but it made me realize that I really did make the right career choice. Along the way my parents and my family all played a major part in the journey. My wife Carol and my kids Derek, Brynn and Tad all influenced my decisions I made during my teaching career. I retired from teaching in 1999, but still work for the school district. I was recruited to do the Middle School yearbook immediately after I retired and also still do the in-house printing that is needed for the school district. In 2010, I will celebrate 59 years in Manheim Township School District, as both student and employee. I'd love to reach 60 years. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - I really had hair at one time.
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