DECADES IN THE LIFE OF A TEACHER

My teaching style has evolved during the decades of my career.

Decade #1: FINDING MY PROFESSIONAL FOOTING . . . . In September, 1980, I walked into the elementary music classroom and looked around. I took a very deep breath and realized that I could call this classroom mine! I was the teacher. I got the big desk and could use the chalk any time I wanted. Hard to believe I was just a 22 year old girl. Nerves, energy, and excitement filled my first decade in education. Experimenting with curriculum, with relationships with parents and co-workers, and especially with student discipline. All of that while raising two young daughters of my own. How did I manage? My own youthfulness, I guess.

Decade #2: REACHING MY PROFESSIONAL GOALS. . . . This was a decade of confidence and pushing boundaries. I became a voracious goal-setter. Not because I sought after this life-style, but because I just could not stop myself. I set the first goal ten years into my teaching. I left my comfort zone and stepped into the secondary choral classroom. For the first few years, I spent every day basically scared to death. I set the bar for success at U.I.L. Concert and Sightreading Contest. Baby steps - one foot after the other. As soon as one goal was achieved, another was set. For me, the next step would be developing convention choirs. All of that while raising two teenaged daughters. How did I manage? My own drive for perfection, I guess.

Decade #3: CREATING MY OWN PROFESSIONAL LEGACY . . . Some have said that aging is not meant for sissies. I can tell you that aging has it's perks. For me, this was the comfortable decade. That darn perfection thing continued to gnaw at me, but I learned to embrace it. Setting and achieving higher goals than I ever dreamed for myself, my choirs performed for several state and regional professional conventions. Although the musical achievement was the primary goal, the secondary outcome began to overtake it in importance. This was a decade of relating to my students with a closeness that I had not experienced before. Each face in the sea of standard attire clad teens became an individual in my eyes. I cared deeply for each child and that teacher-student relationship made our music-making even more sweet. All of that while helping raise two adult daughters and their five offspring. How did I manage? By the grace of God and with the help of a loving husband!

Decade #4: ENJOYING MY PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS . . . Hard to believe, but I am teaching "grandstudents" now. The children of former students are graduating high school and I fear that one day in the near future a child may tell me that I taught their grandfather. I love being older (except for the aches and pains.) I feel comfortable in my own wrinkled teacher skin. It has long been my goal to develop "laugh lines" instead of "frown lines." The best part of my mid-life personality, is that I have released my inhibitions. I will do just about anything to get through to my students, even things that surely would have embarrassed me in my younger days. Sometimes I think the kids feel sorry for poor Mrs. Lollar because she just doesn't know how silly she looks. Yes, I do, my dears. But if silly helps you to learn to enjoy music and to enjoy life, I'm willing to play the part. All of this while facing the inevitable end of the career that I have loved so much. Where will I go from here? How will I manage? I will stay firm in the knowledge that God has plans for me that are greater than any goals I could make for myself. I will trust; I will follow; I will serve.