Page 44 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine

“My teaching career was far from traditional. I was hired to teach young mothers and give
them a second chance to get a GED. I had the privilege of encouraging and leading these
young women to know that they had the ability to learn and go to college if they chose; I
wanted to inspire them. Several were eager to study after their children went to bed, and
they had study time. I found this to be rewarding and satisfying.
“Later, I moved to Tyler, TX and taught at Azleway Charter School for troubled boys.
This special school was designed to give these young men an opportunity to further their
education and have a place to live in supervised cottages. This job challenged me to try new
things that might inspire them to want to learn. Their lives were born in chaos, and I hoped
to help them know that they could have a more normal life.” -Bettie Sulser, Carillon Resident

“I was an educator for 34 years at Reagan County ISD in Big Lake, Texas. I taught
a variety of subjects and grades at the secondary level for 24 years. I taught Special
Education Resource, US History, World Geography, and Reading Improvement. The
last ten years of my career was as a Special Education Diagnostician. My aunt, whom
I looked up to, was an elementary teacher in Midland, and I wanted to be like her. I
never considered any other career.

“In a small town, you tend to know most people. So, much of the time, I knew the
parents, siblings, and grandparents of the students in my classes. This often made
it easier to maintain discipline in class. I enjoyed all of the different subjects that I
taught, but I think that my years as a Special Education Diagnostician were the most
rewarding. At all grade levels, I was able to place students with the appropriate
plans and resources to help them succeed in the classroom. At the high school level, I
also acted as their counselor, making sure they were enrolled in the correct classes for
their high school plans.

“One of the most gratifying events of my career took place when I was teaching US
History. One of the English teachers had assigned the students to write about who had influenced them the most
and why. One of my students wrote that I had influenced her because I treated all my students equally, showed no
favoritism, and respected each student, regardless of race or gender. That is one of the things you strive for as an
educator.” -Carolyn White, Carillon Resident

“I worked in the field of public education for 32 years. The first 22 years, I taught
secondary mathematics. The last ten years, I was the high school counselor for
about 320 students. I counseled these students concerning their H.S. degree plans,
graduation requirements, testing, scholarships to college and/or job applications. It
was a blessing to see the students experience success.

“In a small county school, I knew all the students, their parents, their siblings, and
their relatives. You went to church with the students and their families; you drove
the students to activities and events; you would show visible support for them at
their events. You became their extended family.
“There was great reward in watching children grow up to adulthood and leave
home to pursue their lifetime goals. Many of these students were first generation
kids attending college. This was very rewarding; the students really blessed me in
my 32 years of public education.” - Clinton White, Carillon Resident

44 Lubbock Senior Link