Dear Colleagues and Former Students,
In 1967 at Jane E. Tuitt school, I began what I believed to be the most respected profession on earth……teaching. The first day there, I was told that I had to share a classroom with another teacher, had no blackboard or books, was required to have lunchroom and playground duty and, as if that was not enough, teach 35 students.
I went home that afternoon and wrote a letter to my parents lamenting my chosen career.
Thankfully, I didn't get discouraged because if I had, I would have never had the privilege of sharing my life with such a wonderful group of students. When I got depressed over the lack of supplies or the "state of education" or the rancor among the adults, it was the thought of my students that got me back on track….back to why I chose teaching as a career….it was my way to help young people to educate themselves, to learn how to think, not what to think, to be excited about stars (heavenly), flowers (smell ye flowers while ye may), butterflies, football (go Panthers), art (love van Gogh), politics (hate politics but it is part of life), and to pass along a little of myself through each of you to the future.
On June 11, after 32 years of teaching I will be retiring from teaching but not from life. It will be the time to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future. I would like to thank the Virgin Islands community for allowing me the opportunity to contribute, in some small way, to the education of their most valuable resources.
I want to thank all of my colleagues at Jane E. Tuitt, Kirwan Terrace and Lockhart School for making me feel a part of an educational family and for putting up with my "mouth". I especially want to pay tribute to Ms. Ruth Moolenaar and Ms. Gladys Abraham for being my inspiration and the "Wind beneath my Wings" and Dr. Emily Carter for knowing the right educational prescription.
Most of all, I want all of my former students to know how precious they were and still are to me. I will be around and would love to hear from you. On June 11th, keep me in your thoughts and in my honor make someone laugh.
All my love,
"Ms. Stevens"
One more thing….."Angels fly because they take themselves lightly."
