Page 39 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

SENIOR 2 SENIOR

Article Submitted by
Cade Franklin FRENSHIP HIGH

Cade Franklin is a senior at Frenship High School. He competes in cross-country
and track and is a manager for the Unified track team. His parents are Curtis and
Redina Franklin. When he graduates, he plans to attend Texas Tech University to
pursue a career in dentistry.

Mrs. Carder taught for 26 years with 18 of those years Although the life lessons I gained through Mrs. Carder’s
teaching in the Gifted and Talented program at Frenship influence began 13 years ago, I have continued to look
ISD. “I have the best job in the world!” she would say when outside the box and think creatively. I also learned that one
asked about her job. “I get to teach and challenge students individual can have an impact on the lives of so many others,
at a higher level, while inspiring them to incorporate and I have been able to do that with my annual shoe drive.
more creativity into the lessons.” Inspired by two of her Her GT program has not only prepared me for my upcoming
elementary teachers who taught with a hands-on approach classes and projects but has also provided me with lessons I
while encouraging research and problem-solving along with will carry with me beyond school.
creative thinking, Mrs. Carder developed her vision of what
kind of teacher she wanted to be. A multitude of students
who had the opportunity to be part of Mrs. Carder’s
GT class would agree that they became more confident
in their thinking and creativity due to her passion and
influence.

Year after year, Mrs. Carder poured herself into new
exciting ideas for the kinds of projects we would do.
Because they were never traditional lessons, like in our
normal curriculum classes, these projects often came at
an expense that was never fully funded by the school. As
students, we saw how Mrs. Carder’s passion stretched
her and the other GT teachers to find ways to fund our
projects. Mrs. Carder would write grants that awarded
the program the dollars required to fund the many
projects the GT program did. What a great example this
set for us to seek ways to do the things we are passionate
about.

Creativity is not only something Mrs. Carder encouraged
in others while she taught but also is part of who she
is. In 2012, she illustrated a book, and she continues to
sharpen her creative skills today in her retirement. After
retiring in 2022, she and her husband, Mark, moved to
Cañon City, Colorado, with their Goldendoodle, Archie.
While enjoying everything outdoors, she makes time
to paint. She does watercolor paintings of nature and
wildlife using vibrant colors. Art brings her great joy.

Lubbock Senior Link 39