What made you get involved with Maple Leaf as a volunteer?
I grew up in Garfield Heights and attended Maple Leaf for all of my K-6 years, beginning in 1966. It was my fifth-grade teacher, Miss Hoffer, who inspired me to become an educator. During my 20+ years in the South Euclid–Lyndhurst School District, I tried every day to create for my students the same kind of challenging, positive classroom environment that Miss Hoffer created for me and my classmates. Now that I’m retired from full-time teaching, I’m delighted to come full circle and work with today’s Maple Leaf students.
What are some of the things you’ve done or accomplished this year as a volunteer?
I work every Thursday with fourth-grade students, splitting my time between English Language Arts and Math. I greet students outdoors as the school day begins and then support them one-on-one or in small-group settings. As a published author of middle-grade novels, my greatest joy is sharing the power of reading with young learners.
Is there a specific highlight you would like to share from this experience?
One of the highlights for me has been seeing the progress students are making in both ELA and Math. For example, long division has always been a rite of passage for fourth-graders. I love watching the “lightbulb moments” when the process finally clicks and becomes manageable and even enjoyable.
Can you share details about your upcoming rocket launch project with students?
I served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force for nine years, most of that time as a Missile Officer. That experience provides a strong foundation for hosting a Model Rocketry Club, which I did for two decades in South Euclid. I’m excited to continue this STEM tradition at Maple Leaf with six fifth-grade students.
Club members will conduct hands-on experiments related to force and motion, and then build Estes model rockets that will soar to an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet on launch day! To enrich the experience, I will invite a lifelong friend, Dan Jakubowski, to speak to students about the impact of weather on aeronautics and rocket launches. Dan is an excellent amateur meteorologist and fellow Garfield Heights native. If possible, we hope to have media coverage of the launch, tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 1.
Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
I’m truly grateful to work with kids because, as both a parent and a grandparent, I know they represent the future. And they also say the darndest things, which keeps life interesting and enjoyable. When I recently told a fourth-grade student that I attended Maple Leaf for seven years as a kid, he replied, “Dang! How many times did they fail you?!”