Back in school: Writing about back-to-school issues used to be a snap. Cherry-pick a few new teachers and ask them what it's like to be starting a new career/adventure.
Nowadays, brand-new teachers are a rare breed in cash-strapped and often shrinking school districts.
And, though I digress, every district seems to start on a different day. Heck, my Elk Grove sixth-grader, Matthew, went back to his year-round school in July and now is off again for a month. Folsom Cordova opened last week, and San Juan Unified started up on Monday. I think school should start after Labor Day, but nobody asked me.
But thanks to San Juan spokesman Trent Allen, I found two "alums" of Kingswood Elementary School in Citrus Heights who began new adventures this week at another San Juan school, Howe Avenue Elementary. …
Tracy Lucus grew up in Fair Oaks and graduated from Bella Vista in 2002.
A new second-grade teacher at Howe Avenue, Tracy was hard at work when we talked last week – several days before teachers were required to report.
"I've been here since last week," she said. "I'm so excited and there is so much to do."
Tracy was a student teacher at Kingswood last year. That's where she "got my eyes opened" about the obstacles facing many students at Title 1 schools. And where she learned that teaching those kids was her immediate destiny.
"I never saw kids like this … homeless kids with things on their minds like when are they going to eat," she said.
"I feel like we can make such a difference with the kids here, who need somebody who really cares about them." …
Carl Fahle, a 20-year San Juan veteran who started as a traveling music teacher, is the man who hired Tracy. He is the new principal at Howe Avenue after four years as vice principal at Kingswood.
In many ways, Howe Avenue is a larger version of Kingswood.
So Carl has been busy getting acquainted with regular classroom teachers, math and reading coaches and three language specialists and many others. He also has been learning to coordinate operations with Howe Avenue's huge children's center, which encompasses programs ranging from preschools to after-school programs that provide academic, social and recreational opportunities.
Howe Avenue also has a Sacramento State University counseling intern program on campus and, like Kings-wood, receives a steady flow of student teachers as a Professional Development School for Sac State.
"It's a big school with a lot of things going on," he said, sounding more eager than overwhelmed.
He also sounded excited to have Tracy with him again.
"She has a great way with kids," he said.
Call The Bee's Bob Walter, (916) 608-7448. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walter.
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