Mr. Edin's Retirement

By my senior year at Baylor, I knew that I

wanted to leave Waco (and never return!  ha!)

and move to the "Big City" ~ Dallas!

My bestie Kimberly and I were set that

we would both move there and begin our

teaching careers.  I still laugh thinking about

our first adventure to the Big City in our

business suits (me prentending to work for

Earnst & Young and her Enron ~ thank

Goodness she really didn't work for them!)...

but anyways, we were all set to go to the

Coppell ISD Job Fair.  We got a hotel and

drove to see where the high school was the

night before so we could be on time the

next morning.  We thought we'd prance

right in there in our suits and get jobs!!!

That next morning we about died when

we turned the corner to CHS and saw

how many cars were ALREADY there...

it was CRAZY and burst our bubbles

immediately!!!  Thankfully, I happened to

run into an assistant principal (Brad Hunt!) whom

I had met at the Baylor Job Fair & he introduced

me that day to his Principal, Mr. Edin. 

Kimberly and I didn't leave the

fair with jobs....but with leads at least!;)

 

Weeks later, I finally did receive a call

from Mr. Edin to set up an interview.

After that, and with me doing all the

"techniques" I'd learned at Baylor

(writing letters, following up, calling, etc)...

I got the job at Coppell Middle School West

teaching 6th grade Language Arts,

French and Exploring Foreign Languages!!!

 

Kimberly decided to take a job in the

Oily City (Houston!) and I decided to

head to Big D on my own.  My parents

helped me find an apartment (with a garage

so I'd never have to walk alone in

a parking lot at night!  ha!) and

then they helped me move in ~

 to Valley Ranch...right by where

the Cowboys practiced.  When they

left me for the first time, I remember

my dad saying..."You know where your

school is, where the Galleria is

and the grocery store.  You are set."

 

I was scared to death but excited

as all get out!!!!!!  I would never

have dreamed that the very next

week when I officially began at

CMS-West that I would have a new

"family" to take care of me...

starting with Mr. Edin & Mr. Hunt!!!

 

I could have searched the world over

and never EVER have found a better

school or better principals to begin

my teaching career.  God took care

of me those years when I was all

alone in the Big City!!!

 

I have kept in touch with many of my

dear friends at CMS-West...that was

such a special time in my life ~

being on my own and becoming an adult

and teaching my first group of students. 

I could never forget the amazing

friends I made at that school. 

After I left Coppell, we attended each

others' weddings and tried to get together

when we could, but life got in the way.

It had been forever since I had seen any of them:( 

 

When Brad called to tell me that Mr. Edin

would be retiring at the end of May,

I just knew I had to be there for his party.

This is one amazing man who truly

impacted my life as a teacher!!!

I always tell people how I had the absolute

best possible first teaching experience there

could be!  It's the truth...and much of that

is thanks to Mr. Edin. 

The party was in May right smack dab in the

middle of baseball and lots of end of the year

activities.  We were busy busy...but my hubby

was so sweet to drive me back to the Big City

so I could go.  When I first walked back into the

school, a flood of memories hit me!!!

Then I was in shock at the amount of

people there to honor Mr. Edin. 

THEN, I started freaking out that nobody

would remember me or that "my" friends

wouldn't be there.  But then I saw them.

I saw them ALLLLL!!!!!!!! :)

And just like that it was as if we had

never missed a beat!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting over to finally see Mr. Vern Edin

was a bit more difficult.  The outpouring of

people there to see him and honor him

was UNBELIEVABLE!  A true testament

to the man he is!!!  How did I ever get so

lucky to work for him? 

It was so wonderful to see him and hug him!

Such a sweet, dedicated, and caring man.

And of course Mr. Hunt...

I count him as one of my dearest friends!
He's forever B-Rad and I'm Trendy!!!

Brad loves this story about me "hob-knobbing"

when I first moved to Coppell...One day my first week

 after new teacher orientation, I was standing

in line at the post office in my new CMS-West

shirt as young and as excited as could be!

The lady in front of me turned around

and started talking to me.  I couldn't contain

my excitement as I told her I was a first

year teacher and I couldn't wait to meet

my students.  The very next day was

the District Wide Convocation.  We were

all there seated with our schools and the

guest speaker was announced.  I laughed

as she walked up to the stage because it

was the lady I had met at the post office.

Come to find out she was the Mayor of

Coppell.  She proceeded to open her

speech about ME!!!  About meeting this

young, eager, new teacher!!!!

And then she had me to stand up!

Talk about a way to start your

first ever teaching year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brad absolutely loves that story...

and what do you know...

(the former) Mayor Candy Sheehan

was at the party and we met up again ~

That was merely one story that

we rehashed that day!!!

We laughed and giggled and told

story after story!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also cried over one dear teacher

who died suddenly last year,

Kristy Moore...she is missed :(

These were just the most

amazing people to work with!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan & Laurel

Kathleen!!!  God love this woman!

She took me under her wings that first year...

she was the most amazing teacher.  Her class

was set up like a cafe back then ~ it was

unreal!  Totally overwhelmed me...but boy

did she help me.  ANd NOW???  Now she

is one of Trav's biggest fans and prayer

warriors.  She's been incredible to him!

As have so many of my Coppell friends...

but Kathleen has really made a connection

with Travis.  It's so cool. 

We made a video for him that day.

She lives in Chicago now :(

CRANK IT UP!
Mr. Edin, Mr. Hunt & Mrs. Price...

the most wonderful and kindest

Principals I have EVER worked for...

all at Coppell Middle School West!!!

God certainly blessed my life

when he led me to Coppell and to these

people.  I just smile when I think about my

days there. Thankful thankful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"As each has received a gift,

use it to serve one another,

as good stewards of God's varied grace:"

1 Peter 4:10