Teaching Threads

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• Given a free afternoon and the chance to do anything you wanted, what would you do?

 

I would either spend the time sewing or being outside. My grandmother taught me to sew when I was very young and I’ve always loved to sew. I’ve made clothing, gifts, quilts, and art. But if it’s a nice day, I’d be outside maybe walking at West Lake in Davenport, biking along the Mississippi River, working in my yard, or relaxing on the deck.

 

• How would you like your life to change in the next five years?

 

I hope to be traveling, to see a good deal more of our world, and to be planning my next trip along with spending a lot more time with my granddaughters.

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• What teaching experiences have you had?

 

I retired after 43 years on Special Education as a professor, consultant, and teacher.  I was a professor at WIU for 24 years and Buena Vista University for 6 years.  Prior to teacher training at the university level, I taught high school students with emotional and behavioral disorders for 10 years in Ames, Iowa, and worked as a special education teacher in Rock Rapids and Iowa Falls, Iowa. I was also a Special Education Consultant with an AEA in Johnston, Iowa.

 

• What community projects or organizations are you involved with?

 

I’m involved in the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild. I love to sew and I love this group because we get together and sew. I was amazed when I first joined at the talent of the quilters in the QC. The MVQG has a strong charity emphasis. We are always making quilts and other items to donate to local, national, and international charities.  I’ve made and donated quilts to Headstart, Habitat for Humanity, nursing homes and hospitals, flood and tornado victims, refugee families, fund raisers for individuals in need, and service men and women and veterans. 

 

• Who has had the greatest impact on your life?

 

Without getting too personal I’d have to say my husband. David is truly my biggest supporter who can also tell me when I’m getting out of line, need to rethink something, or about to make a bad decision. He’s also an amazing songwriter and musician. Check him out - davidgsmithmusic.com or heydavemusic.com

 

• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

 

I am hoping to visit as many of the US National Parks as I can.  So far I’ve been to Arches, Badlands, Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Sand Dunes, Great Smoky Mountains, Hot Springs, Joshua Tree, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Redwood, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Zion National Parks.​

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• What is the best and the worst about our world today?

 

In my limited view of the world, the worst in our world today is our inability to treat each other with respect and appreciate the value of human life. On the other hand the best about our world today is that technology has opened the world to many of us.  With technology and the Internet we have access to ideas, information, images, and recordings that were out of our reach a short time ago. 

 

• What would you do if you had a million dollars?

 

Travel.  I would like to see parts of the world that are very different from my mid-western life and to spend enough time there to get to know some people.  I’d like to get a better understanding of other cultures and how people with different life experiences make sense of things.

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