The Best Of Times

By Theresa J "Terry" Fowler

Hope For Our Future

Once I got on that bus, I knew that I had found my second home. I began one of the most rewarding - and challenging - journeys of a lifetime. Everyday I get the precious gift of being with your children and watching them flourish from little buds into beautiful flowers.

My biggest thrill occurs on the first day of school When I come to a stop, open the door, and I see a parent that I drove as a child who is now giving me the honor of driving their child.

A school bus driver's role in this community is unique in that we not only have to drive, but we must maintain discipline while having complete control over the bus. The safety of our children has always been my primary concern.

Each morning every child boarding my bus is greeted with a smile. I welcome them by stating their name to let them know that I care and respect them. This is important to me as one learns to respect by being respected.

When I went to school we stuck to only academics. So, when I see children learning about ethics, involvement in community and leadership, I am impressed as I see this as a worthwhile endeavor.

I believe that the Board of Education, through the Superintendent, who supervises the district's administrators and teachers, send a clear message to each child that his or her worth exceeds anything that is that appears on any grade report or any test score.

On the whole, the young people of today represent the brightest and the most talented generation ever to walk the planet Earth. They have more adaptability, knowledge, ingenuity, openness to technologies, and availability to resources than any prior generation on record.

No one can fully know what the future holds for our children, but I can tell you with confidence that if you allow me the honor of electing me to the Board of Education, I will work diligently and tirelessly to insure that "no child will ever be left behind." Your children will have what they need to be successful.

Starting from elementary school, our students are allowed - and encouraged - to be leaders. The children are our future - our tomorrow. It serves us well to help them to become those leaders - moral, ethical and confident - that our world desperately needs.

When I talk to my friends and family about our schools, I tell them that we are supporting the future. In this way, we are able to give back to our community - a community that has already been so kind to us.