Virtual School Reunion, cont'd

                                        Annie Brown
    Mrs. Annie Brown was a teacher at King Springs. Mr. Cobb, her principal at Clay Elementary, brought her here in 1990. He was very influential in her life. Mr. Cobb made her feel warm & welcome which enabled her to teach.  The historical event during her time at King Springs was when there were 2 Teachers of the Year at King Springs. She was the Teacher of Year coming from Clay Elementary & Cindy Patterson was Teacher of the Year at King Springs, 1990-1991. They reigned together. They went to the luncheons together and other events. Mrs. Brown said that she was treated just as well as Cindy Patterson.     
    Her fondest memory was the love that was shone to her during the passing of her husband. The King Springs family was very supportive while her husband was hospitalized with a lingering illness. She misses the camaraderie with the teachers that she used to work with most. Mrs. Brown said the one thing that changed the most is the diversity in the school.
    When she was here King Springs, things were perfect. Students came from homes with both parents. They went to church & brought those values to school.
    Today Mrs. Brown lives in Atlanta where she has always resided. Currently, she is a 49% employee at King Springs teaching 2nd, 3rd, & 5th grade students in reading and math. She is the mother of 3 daughters and grandmother of 7 grandchildren. Mrs. Brown works a lot in church. She’s the chairperson of the Widow’s Group. They encourage one another.  Mrs. Brown also found time to host the neighbor Christmas party. She is also an inspirational mentor to teachers.
    Mrs. Brown tells the students of today to respect their teachers and anyone in authority. She also tells them to give those in authority the respect that they deserve, even if you disagree with what they say. She believes that she can’t change a child (his personality). It’s already formed. You can’t really change who they are, which is good. They should be accepted the way they are. Being voted teacher of the year 1990-1991 at Clay Elementary was one of Mrs. Brown greatest achievements.		  

 

Mrs. Annie Brown, 2008
   

                                       Sherrill Shriver
    Ms. Shriver was a 2nd and 4th grade teacher in the years 1998 & 1999. She came to King Springs in 1985. One of her memorable moments was in January 1986 when the space shutter exploded. One of the astronauts on the shuttle was a female teacher. The teachers that Ms. Shriver worked with had the greatest impact on her. They worked very closely because the pods were designed different from how they are today. There were no walls to separate them. The Principals were helpful during her teaching experience at King Springs. Ms. Shriver’s fondest memory was when they read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie. The 4th graders would have Pioneer Day where they would dress up like the frontier time. They would make butter, a barn fire, & candles.
    Ms. Shriver misses her close teacher friends as well as co workers; however, because she comes back every day, it’s like she never left. The things that changed the most are technology and Specials. When she came to King Springs, is when the school started getting computers. She thought she would never learn how to use them. Today, King Springs has lots of technology. The gym did not exist. The teachers had to teach music, art, and physical education. When asked what she would have liked to change, Ms. Shriver said that she wouldn’t change anything. They all worked well together and it was a good experience.

  


Ms. Sherrill Shriver, 2008

                                            
                                            Dot Mohs
    It takes a lot of people to make a school run efficiently. Many times when people think of the people who make the school “tick” they think of teachers or administrators, but there are lots of people working “behind the scenes” who are really the heart of the school. Some of these people work in the front office. I guess, while they do a lot of work “behind the scenes,” it might be more appropriate to say they work on the “front line.” Dot Mohs was one of those very important “front line” people at King Springs.
    Mrs. Mohs worked as a clerk in the office at King Springs for 15 years, from 1990-2005. She was one of the first faces people saw when they came into our school. She always greeted people with a smile and never failed to offer assistance to parents, teachers, or students. She worked very hard to keep King Springs operating smoothly.
    In addition to working at King Springs, Mrs. Mohs’ has personal ties as a parent to two children who attended as students.
    Mrs. Mohs says she has very fond memories of King Springs and that one of the greatest thing about King Springs Elementary is the fact that we are like a big family. Everyone is helpful and kind and we all love and care for one another. She said her fondest memory of the school is watching the students grow and mature from kindergarten through fifth grade. She also said that she enjoyed it when students came back in to visit after they had moved on to middle or high school---or even college. 
    Mrs. Mohs also remembers some big historical events that occurred during the years she was at King Springs. She remembers when former Vice-President, Al Gore visited the school a few years back. She said it was very exciting because Secret Service Agents were all over the place for Mr. Gore’s protection. She remembers when George W. Bush was elected President. She also remembers the tragic events on 9/11.
    One of the things Mrs. Mohs misses most about King Springs is the lunches from the cafeteria. She said that we have some of the best school lunches around and that she always enjoyed them.
    These days Mrs. Mohs is having her lunches at Tybee Island near Savannah, Georgia. She and her husband live there now that they are retired. Mrs. Mohs volunteers at a nursing home and she works part time teaching a GED class.
    Mrs. Mohs is most proud of raising her two wonderful children and of reaching retirement age so she can enjoy the things she loves doing for fun---like playing Bingo on Tuesday nights.
    The one piece of advice Mrs. Mohs wants to give to King Springs students is to stay in school, work hard, and get a good education.
    Mrs. Mohs retired from King Springs 3 years ago, but she will long be remembered as one of the many people who have worked together to make King Springs the outstanding school it is today.		  



Dot Mohs, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
                                          
                                        Pam Windham
    When Ms. Pam Windham came to visit Ms. Snyder’s first grade on a recent morning, 16 eager boys and girls were ready with questions for her about what her life was like at King Springs when she taught from 1971 to 1981.  By the time she left, there were hugs all around and former teacher and students all had new friends.
    The first thing the children wanted to know was if Ms. Windham has a job now.
    “Not right now,” she said.  “I’m retired.  That means I can get up whenever I want to and sort of do what I want,” she explained.
     “I go three times a week to do water aerobics,” she added.  “I do a lot of things.  It’s very important that you exercise."
    The first graders also wondered where Ms. Windham’s classroom had been 27 years ago. “I saw it on the way down here. It was the first classroom on the left,” she said, referring to the kindergarten and first grade hall.  While at King Springs, Ms. Windham taught first and second grade.  One year, she said her classroom was in the clinic because they were short on space. 
    Asked how she felt teaching at King Springs from 1971 to 1981, Ms. Windham said, “I enjoyed it very much.  I enjoyed teaching.  I always felt like that’s what I should do.” 
    Prior to teaching, the New Orleans native was stationed in Charleston, S.C., where she served in the United States Coast Guard for two years.  “I put on headphones and I copied code—dots and dashes,” she told the children, referring to the Coast Guard’s use of the Morse code communication system.
    An only child, which she said “has its advantages and disadvantages,” Ms. Windham left the military to study education at Tift College in South Georgia, a college in Nashville, Tenn., and Georgia State University in Atlanta.
    “It’s really important that you study hard,” she told the children.
    One of the first graders wanted to know Ms. Windham’s favorite memory of her time at King Springs.  “There are just so many wonderful memories I have here,” she remembered thoughtfully.
     “I hope I’m not bragging,” she began, “but one year I was teacher of the year for the county.  We got called down to the library and I was wondering, ‘What in the world?’ she told the children.  “They said I was named Cobb County Teacher of the year!
     “It was really an honor.  It just meant a lot to me.  And all during that year, they were doing something for me.  That’s one of my greatest memories.”
     “Do you miss King Springs?” one of her interviewers asked Ms. Windham.
    “Yes, I do.  I miss working with all the boys and girls.”
    Asked about how King Springs has changed, Ms. Windham said, “You’re a much larger school than when I was here.  You’ve got a lot more things going on,” she said, looking around the classroom.  “You’re just learning so much.”
    Before leaving her new found friends, Ms. Windham imparted some advice.
    “How many mouths do you have?” she asked. “One!” the children answered enthusiastically. “How many ears?” she asked. “Two!” the students responded.
     “You should listen more than you talk,” said Ms. Windham wisely. 		 


               Ms. Windham, current photo

                                       Nancy Freedman
    Nancy Freedman began teaching at King Springs in 1976 and taught approximately 6 years at King Springs.  While at King Springs, Mrs. Freedman taught third grade and also taught 5th grade.  During her time a historical event taking place was the energy crisis.  Mr. Gillespe, principal at the time, and her students had the greatest impact on her during her years at King Springs.  Several of Mrs. Freedman’s fondest memories are the third grade PTA performance in which the students performed dances from different eras in addition to Field Day.  Mrs. Freedman misses teaching and her colleagues from King Springs the most.
     As far as changes are concerned at King Springs, Mrs. Freedman commented that the office area is larger.  Also the people who work at King Springs have changed over the years in terms of who have left and who have come to work at King Springs.  When Mrs. Freedman taught at King Springs there were no specialists.  Mrs. Freedman taught her own homeroom art, music, and p.e.
    Currently Mrs. Freedman lives in East Cobb.  She works as a professional fundraiser.  At present, she is not actively working.
    To the King Spring students of today Mrs. Freedman offers the advice to do your absolute best and don’t compare to anyone else.  Find what you have a passion for doing.  Do well in school and have fun learning.  Mrs. Freedman comments that competition is not so important.  Develop at your own pace.  Don’t worry about who is the best.  Mrs. Freedman’s proudest accomplishment is having her own children and participating in volunteer work.		  

                                    Ms. Lana Turner
    Mrs. Parro’s second grade class had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Ms. Lana Turner.  Ms. Turner taught at King Springs between 1984-1995 as a paraprofessional for Kindergarten and Second Grade.  During her time at King Springs she witnessed many changes.  While teaching at King Springs she was able to work with five different principals.  She made note that the school layout was very different as well as most of the staff.  She did however, remember Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Force, and Ms. Brown as being a part of the same King Springs family she worked with and who are still working at King Springs today.   
    While in our classroom, one common theme Ms. Turner seemed to revisit was the fact that during her teaching experience here at King Springs, there was a tremendous sense of community, friendship, and love for students.  In fact, she still keeps in touch with a group of teachers called the R.T.’s (Retired Teachers).  She gathers with this group of retired teachers once a month for lunch at Jason’s Deli. Her proudest accomplishment is knowing that she was able to make an impact on her students. 
    After retiring in 1995 she continued to substitute teach.  Now she enjoys playing tennis and traveling. 
    When finishing up the interview, her advice she gave to the current students  at King Springs was to “Enjoy your time here.  Enjoy your learning and making life choices.”		  


                  Lana Turner, current photo

                                          Cheryl Rice
    Cheryl Rice was a teacher at King Springs School for ten years.  While here Ms. Rice taught kindergarten and was named teacher of the year for the 1999-2000 school year.  She retired after thirty years of dedicated teaching service.  Ms. Rice now lives in Austell and spends time with her younger brother and helps her older brother at his Mercedes Benz repair shop, Auto Benz.
    Ms. Rice stated that her most memorable time at King Springs was during a time when they had Read Across America here at King Springs.  It was also Dr. Seuss' birthday and she helped organize a visit by Vice-President Al Gore.  Ms. Rice feels that the students and parents had the greatest impact on her while she was at King Springs.  Her fondest memories are those of the KS staff.  In reflecting on KS she stated that she misses her interaction with the students the most.  She noted the staff has changed a great deal and most of her colleagues have either left or retired.
    Ms. Rice stated if given the chance she would not have changed anything about the school.  She advised our students to always do their best, have a goal in mind, and work toward that goal.  Ms. Rice wishes she had known more of the teaching strategies available to teachers today.  Through it all, Ms. Rice feels her biggest accomplishments have been those of the students she has taught.  She is proud to see that many of them have become teachers, doctors, and even a wrestling tow truck driver.                                                                             		 

 


                              Cheryl Rice

                                 Mrs. Betty Miller
                           with Karla Fouts Rozier's class

   Our class had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Betty Miller.  Amazingly Ms. Miller taught third grade for 27 years in the same classroom at King Springs Elementary.  I am proud to say that she was my third grade teacher in 1977-78.  She doesn’t look a day older than she did when she was teaching me multiplication facts so long ago.  Those were the days when she was known as one of the “Killer Millers”.   She explained to my class that she got the nickname because she was a strict teacher as was Ms. Scottie Miller who also taught third grade with her.
   Who would have thought 30 years later, I would be teaching third grade at my childhood elementary school listening as my class interviews my own third grade teacher from King Springs?  I hope you enjoy the interview as much as my class and I did. 

Khalil:  What historical events took place during your time at King Springs?
Mrs. Miller:  The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.   Also, we were watching the launch of Space Shuttle Challenger on TV when a teacher named Christa McAuliffe was on board.   We were devastated when it exploded.

Khalil:  Who/What had the greatest impact on you during your time at King Springs? 
Mrs. Miller:  Mr. Gerald Gillespie.  He was so nice to all of the teachers and students.

Khalil:  What is your fondest memory of King Springs? 
Mrs. Miller:  Working with all of the nice teachers and principals.

Taylor:  Reflecting on King Springs, what do you miss the most?
Mrs. Miller:  The teachers and children.

Taylor:  What has changed the most since you were at King Springs?Mrs. Miller:  Everything.  I can’t believe all of the trailers.  When I first started at King Springs, it was a school with grades 1st – 8th grade.

Mia:  What is one thing you would like to have changed about King Springs when you were here?
Mrs. Miller:  Nothing, it was wonderful.

Mia:  Where are you now? (Where do you live?  What do you do?)Mrs. Miller:  I live right down the street from King Springs.  Sometimes I used to walk to school with my boys.  I like to shop, play bridge, and exercise each day in the swimming pool.

Samantha: What advice would you give King Springs students of today?
Mrs. Miller:  Learn your multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction facts.  My third grade students would take and pass 3 minute timed tests with 100 problems.

Samantha:  What do you know that you wish you had known during your elementary years at King Springs?
Mrs. Miller:  I can’t believe you only have 17 students.  I wish I had only had 17 students in my classes.  I had 35 students.

Mia:  What is your proudest accomplishment?
Mrs. Miller:  Teaching 3rd grade in the same classroom for 27 years.

     

    

 

  

 


Betty Miller

 


Mrs. B. Miller's 3rd grade class with
Karla Rozier, current King Springs teacher
 (5th from left in middle row)