Class of One By Cleo Lampos The superintendent of theNew Orleansschool district sat in his seat behind his desk. His offer of a teaching job for first grade atFrantz Elementary School produced only one question in Barbara Henry’s mind. “Will the school be integrated?” she asked. “Would that make any difference to you?” The […]
Author Archives: CleoLampos
In the weeks ahead, this blog will present the lives of teachers, both histoic and present who have lived extraordinary lives while being just ordinary people. Each of their lives was influenced by a defining moment which transformed the direction of their educational focus. Consider Barbara Henry when she signed a contract to teach at […]
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“For who hath despised the day of small things?”- Zechariah 4:10 A pastor who preached faithfully met with his denomination’s supervisor for a review of his year’s work. During those 52 weeks, only one person had been added to the church rolls, and that was a mere lad. The pastor allowed the discouragement to wash […]
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“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.” – An ancient Chinese belief A new baby in the family. Joy bursts untethered as the parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends prepare for the arrival of the […]
“All I want is to share a lifetime with you.” – Vern Lampos Like every bride, shopping for the wedding gown morphed into a major event. As a second year teacher in an urban setting, my bridal budget resembled an ostrich egg. My mother, a retiree living on social security, insisted on buying my nuptial […]
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“I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel. – Florence Nightingale She is known as “the Lady With the Lamp” and the “Mother of Nurses”. In the late 1800’s, Florence Nightingale valued […]
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Miss Bee and the Do Bees (Book 2) Diamonds in the Tough Series Roni stared up into the deep brown eyes of the medic. Since when did the mere sight of a mature male make her lose her focus? Special education teacher Veronica Bagedonas is passionate about her work with behavior-disordered children. Teaching is her life, […]
Never Underestimate For five years I taught in a school district that was an hour away from my home. I spent two hours a day driving. Three Wednesdays out of the month the school had mandatory staff meetings that lasted an hour and a half. That put me home at sixty-thirty on those […]
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“We who have seen war never stop seeing it.” -Clara Barton, Founder of American Red Cross 1861. They armed themselves with needles as the fabric of their nation was torn apart. Women of the North and the South knew that cultural norms and laws kept them from joining the armies, so support for their men […]
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt The brisk winds of March howl around the house, pressing on the window panes, seeping cool air into imperceptible cracks. Cuddled in a quilt, the winds of remembrance swirl in my mind. In the warmth of my home, I contemplate the […]