Thursday, October 30, 2008

Keitha Lane, Super Hero

Keitha LaneI saw my hero yesterday. She came over from her new job as the Jr. High principal to see the Halloween parade. I had been thinking about her lately as I read aloud to my classes, A Boy in the Girls' Bathroom written by Louis Sachar. This is the story of Bradley Chalkers, a student who makes a disaster out of everything. He meets Carla, the school counselor and with her support, turns his life around. I feel like Keitha Lane was the Carla of Laurelville and for me as a teacher.

It seems funny to think of this short little woman as a super hero, but her impact on the teachers and students at Laurelville during her eight years as principal was amazing. Now, in all honesty, I had never met a boss that I liked too much, before she took on our school. And our start together was rockier than the Rocky Mountains. However, she pushed, pulled, prodded, encouraged and demanded, all while being a friend, and supporting me in my growth as a teacher.

During her time as principal, whenever I had an idea that I wanted to try in the classroom, she would say, "give it a try and we will see how it works." She found funding to go from four computers in my language arts class to twenty-four. She purchased an LCD projector and Doc camera, to use to show students' work. When I first found out about Study Island, the on-line learning program, she said, "let's give it a try." Now it is used throughout the district. It didn't seem to matter what the situation was, she was always about finding new ways to help the students.

As I look back on our time together, I could never thank her enough for the impact she had on my life. And, as I look at my students each day when we come to the circle to talk at the start of each class, my hope is that in some way, I can make a student feel the way she made me feel. I guess, as far as I am concerned, she is the superest of the super heroes.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is awesome that Mrs. Lane is the Jr. high principal! We love her.She is so nice. We can't wait to see her and have her as a principal.

Anonymous said...

I can not wait until I go to Jr. high and I get to see Mrs. lane again. She was a very good principal here a Laurelville Elementary.

Anonymous said...

I agree that mrs. lane has made a big difference in alot of lives. She is a wonderful person and a great principal. She truly cares about the kids who's lives she has touched.

Anonymous said...

Every time I would go to that office she would sing that Jolene song from Dolly Parton and every time I left that office I would smile.I think the first thing mrs. Lane will do when she sees me in jr.high is sing that Jolene song. I can't wait to see her in jr. high and have her as principal agian!

Anonymous said...

I called this super hero Mrs. Lane in 4th grade and then graduated to calling her Keitha when I grew up. Now, I am lucky enough to consider her a 2nd Mom.

She has been there through many stages of my life and I consider myself blessed that she has been in my life, my sister's life and my cousin's lives!