08/19/08

STOCKMAN AND THEREABOUTS
by Pat Crawford
School for teachers began last week with In-Service for teachers. On Monday, we heard from Dr. Moore as he encouraged us to begin the new school year with positive expectations from our students. He also introduced the new faculty members at THS. We are proud to welcome them to our TISD family. TISD is truly a family of teachers and staff who want the best for our students.

On Tuesday, THS faculty and staff attended Cluster In-Service on the Center ISD campus. One of the first persons I saw was Esther from Region VII. She is always so friendly and complimentary of THS teachers. I got to see a picture of Rayford and Alease Coplein's new grandson. Rayford told me that he and Alease had kept the baby while Cameron and Stephanie celebrated their first anniversary. The baby is precious and looks like his dad Cameron and his grandfather Rayford.

Leatha and I attended the session conducted by our favorite Region VII presenter Pam Lee.

In the afternoon session, we were so thrilled to have Art Horton with us. He and his high school friend Bubba Carrington had the opportunity to catch up on a few years. Art and his wife Kim are teaching at Carthage High School where Art is in charge of math and science curriculum. Art was such a role model for a number of THS athletes and students. Chris and Zachary loved having Art for a coach during their years at Timpson Junior High and Timpson High School.

We saw many of our former THS teachers including Coach Ron Callahan, Delilah Koonce who updated us on Elizabeth (studying psychology and planning to transfer to Harvard Medical School). We visited with Holly Burns, Kimberly Lambert, Joe Boykins, Mario Osby, Marc and Michael Raines, Pam Franklin, Jenny and Soloman Cassell, Allison Johnson, Rayford Copelin, and other former Timpson ISD employees. We also visited with our Shelbyille and San Augustine friends.

Our dear friend Bruce Samford Senior will be undergoing surgery tomorrow(Wednesday) at Methodist Hospital in Houston. We need to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Bruce is special to so many people in this area.

We would like to extend our sympathy to the families of Danny Bearden and Yvonne Beard at this time.

Please remember all of the students and teachers who begin the 2008-09 school year on Monday. I am beginning my 40th year of teaching, and I am as excited this year as I was in August in 2008.
I am like Mrs. Winola Ellis in Shelbyville. When I can no longer find my room, I will go home. I wish every student and teacher in the county a happy and successful school year.