Children .... they make you laugh, they make you cry, they break your heart and they bring you great joy.  There are no words which can sufficiently describe the myriad of feelings experienced by a teacher. Those special relationships developed over the years; those amusing moments when a student inadvertently commits a “faux pas” which is impossible to ignore; those rewarding times when the light of understanding dawns, and those heart wrenching moments at the end of the year when farewells must be said. In the many years I have been teaching I have experienced all of these things, and since the day I graduated as a teacher I have loved my job.

Following in my father’s footsteps, I completed my training as a teacher in 1969 in Liverpool, England and I immigrated to Canada that same year. Specializing in Mathematics and Chemistry, I initially taught at the High School level where I received my induction into the ways of Canadian education and more specifically into the Canadian vernacular. In those early days of my teaching experience in Canada there were many occasions for laughter when I would unwittingly use one of my British expressions that the students found to be so hilarious!

I later moved to the Elementary level where I had the experience of teaching a variety of different grades, but definitely found my niche in the Intermediate division teaching Grade 8 students who gave me the biggest challenges and the most enjoyable years of my career. For the majority of my career in Elementary schools I have taught Math, which is definitely my strength but I have also been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend time teaching the subject that is my passion: Music.

During the years when my children were small, I spent some time teaching music to Nursery school children and this was a most delightful experience; young children enjoy music so much that their joy is absolutely contagious and the time I spent with them always left me feeling happy and contented.

When my children were ready to go to school, I returned to teaching at the Elementary level and this was where I began to work with students on performance music. I was very involved in school shows and worked with many student and teacher groups on a wide range of musical genres. This is still something with which I have so much fun, and I have consistently worked with Sommerville students in choirs, ensembles and on school musicals. Our concerts at Sommerville have become legendary within our school community and parents eagerly anticipate each new shoe that comes up.

In 1992 I decided to leave the Separate School Board and became the Principal of Sommerville Manor School. Having the opportunity to develop a school of my own has been a dream come true for me. My love of children has extended beyond my own family to reach out to the children under my care who have become my ‘other family’. In today’s society it is imperative that we prepare our children for what lies ahead in their future. We must teach them the skills required to succeed in life and to become a happy and fulfilled adult. Children love to learn in an environment which is stimulating and exciting, they need to be challenged and they need to be successful; it our job as educators to provide the opportunity for each and every child to achieve these goals. It has been a most rewarding challenge for me to develop a school in which we accomplish all of the things I hold dear in education.