Sister Dorothy Ann

My school district was given a waiver of instruction last week so that we could have some extra professional development.  It has been a good move, and even the veteran teachers have embraced it.  Over  two of the days we received SIOP training.  I had the training at my last district and considered it to be helpful.  The facilitator we had this week was awesome.  She reminded me that a teacher can be the most important person in a child's life.

The teacher I always remember is Sister Dorothy Ann.  I went to a small parochial school in which which she was the principal, and the teacher of the 7th and 8th grade.  The 7th and 8th grade were in the same room at the same time.  She managed to teach one class while keeping the other class busy at the same time.  This was quite a task, especially with me trying to shoot the wheels off when I felt like it.

She was the only nun that I remember who understood the impact that she had on a child's life. Whenever I attend seminars and workshops, the facilitator inevitably mentions the fact that a teacher can change a child's life.  Whenever this occurs, I think of Sister Dorothy Ann.  She is one of the reasons that I became a teacher, and I hope that the empathy that she showed to me has guided me to show empathy to the students I encounter every day.

I have always gotten along with the students that some teachers label jerks.  I guess it is the old "Birds of a feather" thing.  I try to treat all students with respect, regardless of their attitude.  That's the way Sister Dorothy Ann did.  I don't remember her ever yelling at me, and I deserved it, I'm sure.

I always thought I was her favorite when she would send me to perform a task that was probably damn near impossible for me to do.  Like the time she gave me a hand written letter, sat me in front of a manual typewriter, and asked me to type the letter without any mistakes.  It kept me busy all afternoon.  Little did I know that she was on "vacation" that afternoon, because she was teaching without the obstacle of my knuckleheadedness.

Every year about this time I think about her.  Four years ago, I found the website of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, and I emailed to see if they could get a message to Sister Dorothy Ann's family and let them know how much I appreciated her influence upon me.  Lo and behold, I received an e-mail, with a picture, letting me know that, "I'm not dead yet."  She had just retired from full time teaching, but was still tutoring 2-3 times a week.  I was flabbergasted!!  It seemed like she was about 90 ------ 45 years ago when I was in 8th grade. I guess as I get older, everyone else stays the same.

I believe that this week, I will try to contact her again.  I could use a kind word about now.

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