Hi

You should each be very proud of yourself and our class after you read this heart-warming letter from Judy Bowers

Lee Note 5 Judy Bowers March 25, 2001

Having spent 34 years teaching high school math, including all subjects from Fundamentals of Math through calculus, my appreciation of the people of the class of ‘60 has grown exponentially. The togetherness and attitude of expecting to be the best has followed me all the way through college and teaching. I have told many people that the education I received from the Goose Creek district and the two years at Lee College were second to none; in fact that background was better than most from anywhere and solid as a rock.

But what added the strength were the people I had the privilege of knowing every day as my classmates. As different groups would go through my classroom, the highest compliment I could pay them was always that they could have been a part of the REL class of ‘60. Thank you to each and every one of you for helping to shape my perspective and goals for my teaching career; it is an honor to know you and be your friend.

After graduating from REL, I attended Lee College for two years and then transferred to the University of Texas in Austin. It was so much fun going to Lee College because so many of you were there, too. Transferring to UT for my last two years was a bit intimidating because all the people there already had their groups of friends and knew all the ins and outs. After surviving registration in the old Gregory Gym, I tried to ready myself for the classes. I should never have had a doubt. When I walked into my very first class at UT, which happened to be a math class, there was Kay Morrow Wright. What a marvelous surprise and great relief. Thank you, Kay, for that smile and warm welcome. I ran into some others from our class also and that took the edge off being so new.

Before I did my student teaching, I was pretty much decided on coming back to Baytown to work at the refinery. But then I got the opportunity to work with those marvelous young people at Travis High School in Austin and knew from that moment I would not do anything else. I stayed in Austin for four years, teaching at Albert Sidney Johnston High School; I was blessed to have a great, strong principal and staff to mold my beginning years. Working hard to do the job the way it had been done for us was always at the back of my mind.

If I had to pick one icon that was my guide, it would have to be Miss Mitcham. To know my courses and material as well as she and to hold the respect of the students as she still does was my goal. In 1968 my sister, mother, and I all moved to East Texas. My sister and I both taught at Center High School; she passed away in 1980. We were blessed to be part of a tremendous faculty there; everyone worked hard not only in the classroom, but also in all the extracurricular activities.

Yes, if you teach in a small school, you get to do all sorts of things that a degree does not get you ready for. I sponsored the annual, junior and senior classes, inaugurated a drill/dance team (I could count to 8 really well), started the calculator UIL team, sponsored the Student Council (got to run all elections and sponsor lots of dances), and worked ball games of all kinds (for free and the love of the kids).

In the classroom, I went from teaching all the geometry classes to becoming the upper math department. Having always kept in touch with what UT and the major universities were requiring each year, I started a calculus class before the state even had a textbook for it. My students took notes, and I spent many hours typing purple ditto masters of exercises.

Because of the dedication of all the teachers of requiring the students to learn and produce quality work, we sent a lot of students all over the United States to many major universities. We were always proud of the ones who attended the major schools in Texas, including many who chose UT.

Because of our standards of academics, many of our students received prestigious scholarships. It was not unusual for our kids to come back to tell us that they were made fun of since they were from a small town until they had the first round of tests and papers. When they did well, then all those fun-makers were knocking on their doors for help.

In 1985, mother and I moved back to Baytown where I had gotten a position to teach at Sterling High School. Sorry, classmates, there was not a place open at Lee at the time. So I figured Sterling needed all the help they could get to be as great as the Lee faculty. It was so rewarding to know that Mr. Armstrong was still at Lee and many of the faculty had been there a lot of years because of him.

As time passed, I realized there were many, many teachers and others working all through this district who are members of our class or the years immediately adjacent to us. It was obvious to me that was the reason that this district still held the reputation for quality because of these people. When I had called for an interview, it was Fonda Sims I talked with. When I came to interview, I saw many familiar faces at the central office. As the school days passed, I saw and heard of many more people I had known back in "our" days at Lee. It was a good homecoming. That dedication and commitment of doing the job right and doing it well was still here — the expectation to win.

Thank you, dear friends, for giving me the firm foundation of friendship. I have bragged on you over all these years and said so many times, "You should have known my classmates; they are so special." Now I get to tell you. Once in a while I get to walk the halls at Lee or sit at Memorial Stadium where I sat as a member of the band. I can still feel the spirit and hear the cheers. I can still sing the entire school song with great pride. Thank you for being part of the best class I have ever seen, both as a student and as a teacher.

I am retired now; this is my third year of what I call my non-scheduled years. I would love to hear from any of you who might like to share a word or two. I travel some to see friends I have taught with or met through someone I knew. Many of the kids I taught have kept me in their lives. Since I have no immediate family living, these are now my family. I am mom #2 to a whole large group of wonderful people. They are my pride and joy.

Oh yes, I bought myself a little red sports car to drive. It is so much fun and makes me smile so big when the young folks turn their heads to watch an old lady with the roof back. I hope you are having fun, too.

Judy Bowers