Supercast

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Jenna Miller:
Being a part of this Bus Day, going around to different schools and celebrating outstanding educators means a lot. You actually get to learn about what these outstanding educators are doing in their classroom, the impact they're having.

Laura Klarman:
We saw the mayors involved, they would come to their local schools. I love seeing again that community support is so important.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are the quiet but fiercely passionate force behind celebrating 68 Outstanding Educators in Jordan School District every year. On this episode of the Supercast, meet the caring community volunteers who are part of the Jordan Education Foundation, the group that makes it possible to recognize and reward teachers who rise to the top. They reward teachers in every one of our schools, teachers who are often brought to tears when total strangers show up to thank them for their tireless work in the classroom.

Anthony Godfrey:
We are on the bus today celebrating Outstanding Educators with the Jordan Education Foundation. We're talking now with Jordan Education Foundation President Jenna Miller. Jenna, thanks for taking a few minutes with us.

Jenna Miller:
So glad to be here, so glad to be on the bus today.

Anthony Godfrey:
So for those who do not know what Bus Day is or even Outstanding Educator Awards, would you please describe what this program and what this day is all about?

Jenna Miller:
Yes, I would love to. So the Jordan Education Foundation, each year we have the opportunity to recognize outstanding educators in every school in our District. There's one day in particular where we join together and ride on the yellow school bus as a [Jordan Education] Foundation Board with a great driver. We have the chance to visit the top 12 or 14 teachers that were nominated for Outstanding Educator for the entire District.

Anthony Godfrey:
There's an award for an educator at every one of our 68 schools and for 14 of them, they receive $1,000 and an invitation to the banquet. It's just for every educator, this just means the world. All of them get a sign for their yard and a sign for the school so that everyone knows what an amazing educator they are, along with a lot of other really cool prizes. So the Foundation does an incredible job of putting together a really fun package for every teacher. You've done this for a long time. Talk to me about the impact of giving these awards.

Jenna Miller:
Well, it's always a pleasure to be able to go out and visit all 68 schools every year to see the things that they are doing, to recognize Outstanding Educators. As a Foundation, we have the chance to read nominations that principals and staff and students and parents and peers put together. So, we actually get to learn about what these Outstanding Educators are doing in their classroom, the impact they're having with their school and with students in terms of their testing and the impact that they're having each and every year through their nominations.

Anthony Godfrey:
We get to see the families come, families are invited to supporting their teachers, talk about that.

Jenna Miller:
Yes, this is the best. So all of these visits are kept as a surprise. But the principal reaches out to family members to let them know that this special award will be given and they coordinate with family to make it a large surprise. People fly in from out of state. There's family members, friends, sisters, cousins, as well as their peers in the school. It makes the party even better to have the people that you love there to celebrate you.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's really an amazing experience to be able to see a teacher honored in this way. And there's no way it can happen without the Foundation. So we really can't thank you enough for your leadership and for all the work that the Foundation Board members do and our sponsors do to make these awards possible.

Jenna Miller:
Yes, we are so grateful for our sponsors, for the community support that we receive from businesses and individuals that want to support Outstanding Educators in our District. And it does impact our schools and our District overall, and we're grateful for this opportunity.

Anthony Godfrey: :
It's a huge morale boost, not just for those getting the award, but it feels good to be in a District that has this community support and the Foundation really provides that in a way that I don't think anyone else in this state benefits from. So we're really thrilled to have you and to have the Foundation be so involved in who we are as a District.

Jenna Miller:
Well, thank you. Yes, we have four staff and 32 volunteer community members that give up their time, their talents, their treasure to all support educators and students in our District.

Anthony Godfrey:
Any moments or stories from this year in particular that stand out for you?

Jenna Miller:
Well, one of the things that we love, especially on Bus Day, is to get to recognize our Principal of the Year. And that's something we got to do today at Aspen Elementary School. Principal Susie Williams, who has had amazing impact on this school, but also the community that her school resides in. Susie does a great job and it was such a privilege and honor to recognize her as the Principal of the Year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for everything you're doing.

Jenna Miller:
Thank you.

Male Voice:
We are here to recognize Ms. Heckman as Copper Hills Outstanding Educator of the Year.

Female Voice:
It was really powerful enough to just go and do that for a lot of people, appreciate all the hard work you do. Sorry.

Male Voice:
So we are really fortunate to work with a great group of people. Look at all the people that are here to support you today. But we get nice donations from the community to help support our educators. They want us to let you know that you're loved and appreciated.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with Ryan Gregerson, the newest member of the Jordan Education Foundation Board. Introduce yourself and tell us what it's been like to jump in right before teacher awards like this.

Ryan Gregerson:
It was like the best timing ever. So I'm an attorney in town, have a law firm in South Jordan. I grew up in Jordan School District going to all the schools in Jordan School District and also the son of an educator. My dad was an elementary school teacher for 40 plus years. My mom was a lunch lady. My sister's a teacher. So education's super important to me, and it was just such an honor to be on the Board. And the best time ever to start being on the Board and get to see all these amazing educators getting these awards.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, it's so fun and it means a lot to have members of the community come back and you have a ton of education connections. We have a connection as well. You were my student in middle school many years ago.

Ryan Gregerson:
Yes, indeed.

Anthony Godfrey:
And a very memorable one in all the right ways.

Ryan Gregerson:
Yeah, it was great. Honestly, we talk and I tell everybody this even when Dr. Godfrey's not here, but in eighth grade and ninth grade, he was the favorite teacher. Everybody loved being in his class. He was the cool teacher, had a band that he played in. Had him for English in eighth grade, French in ninth grade. Great memories of last year of being a middle school up in Copperton.Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Ryan Gregerson:
That had ever existed and then we got to open up West Hills Middle School, which was also super fun.

Anthony Godfrey:
We shut it down together.

Ryan Gregerson:
We did, we did.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talk to me about how you have felt as you have seen and been a part of honoring these teachers at various schools.

Ryan Gregerson:
What's been really special for me is it's in part, I always kind of see it like it's also my dad. Because he sacrificed a lot to be a teacher and to raise our family and to do all the things that he did for his students. So seeing these same sacrifices be recognized by amazing teachers, inspiring kids, is just so personally special to me to see that recognition happening and to be inspired by them.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it means a lot to have you on the Foundation Board. We love that you're part of it. What would you say to those who are thinking about being involved either through a donation or by serving on the Board?

Ryan Gregerson:
I mean, there's so many things that are great about what the Foundation does. With the South Valley Chamber last year, we had the opportunity to do a fundraiser to be able to provide more for the pantry packs. It was something I didn't even know existed that through the school district and the Foundation, that students who don't have sometimes a meal over the weekend or over a holiday, that there's something that actually can be done to help give these meals to them. That there are actually students in this District who don't have meals and that there's a way to be able to provide those. So, donations to the Foundation, donations through the pantry pack or different coats and clothing just makes a difference for these wonderful students who need it. Because we do have needs even though maybe people don't remember that or don't realize it, there are. When we can help them meet those needs for these students, then they can focus on their education. They can focus on learning the things that they need to so that they can grow up and have things to be successful in life.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm glad you mentioned that the celebrations and honoring teachers is a really important part of what the Foundation does. There are many other things the Foundation does as well, including making sure kids are fed so they can learn, and that they're fed overnight, that they're fed over the weekend, just taking great care of kids in every aspect of their lives. So, thank you for everything you do to help that.

Ryan Gregerson:
That's my pleasure.

Anthony Godfrey:
As you've been honoring teachers, there's a quote you've shared. Will you share that with everyone now?

Ryan Gregerson:
Yeah, absolutely. It's from Fred Rogers, otherwise known as Mr. Rogers. He said that, “Anyone who does something to help a child is a hero to me,” and that's really what I see these teachers are, is they really are true heroes to these children, to our community.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, your dad is a hero to a lot of people, and I can't thank you enough for being part of this. I was so happy to see you sign up for the Foundation Board. We have a lot of good times ahead of us.

Ryan Gregerson:
No doubt about it, I appreciate you guys so much.

Ryan Gregerson:
All right, so Mr. Rogers said that, “Anybody that helps a child in this life is a hero to me.” And you are a true hero to these kids, and we appreciate you. A few things here, this is your official invitation to the banquet at the aquarium. There's that for you. This is the nomination. You need to read all the wonderful things that were written about you so you can share them. So that's for you as well. And then last and of course not least, all of our finalists received a $1,000 award.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More from members of the Jordan Education Foundation.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Female Voice:
They're out on the job in the rain, sleet, snow, ice, and in the sunshine. As Jordan School District students navigate their way to and from school every day, we are truly grateful for our city crossing guards, always vigilant and looking out for students to ensure everyone's safety. Because they work so hard protecting our kids, let's give those crossing guards a hand. If you're driving near or around schools, slow down, pay attention, watch for students and staff, and follow instructions from the school crossing guards, and know our cities are always looking to hire crossing guards. If you like kids and need some flexible hours, contact your local city and apply to be a crossing guard today. Together, let's make this a safe and successful school Year.

Male Voice:    . . . as Herriman Elementary Outstanding Educator of the Year!

Anthony Godfrey:
We are in the gym of Aspen Elementary. We’ve just awarded Principal of the Year and Outstanding Educator for Aspen Elementary. We're talking with Laura Klarman, who is one of the Board members for Jordan Education Foundation. Introduce yourself, talk about your role and how it feels to be a part of these celebrations.

Laura Klarman:
You bet. So I am a marketing and communication manager at Riverton Hospital. I've been there 13 years.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Laura Klarman:
So lucky 13. One thing I love about healthcare and education is it touches every family in our area. I live in our community, I work in our community, and I serve in our community. So being a part of this Bus Day, going around to different schools and celebrating outstanding educators, means a lot to me. My mom was a school librarian, my sister teaches at high school, and we all remember those outstanding teachers in our lives that make a difference.

Anthony Godfrey:
It makes a huge impact when someone like you comes in. I mean, I'm paid to support teachers, but you choose to come here. You choose to be a part of this, donate your time. Riverton Hospital has been extremely generous through you. You've hosted our meetings, we've done tours. You've done so many things to help support us, and it means the world when it's someone from outside of our organization that is really emphasizing the impact on the community these teachers have.

Laura Klarman:
Yeah, in fact, we love our community. We want to help people live the healthiest lives possible, and part of that is a good education. We want to start people out strong. We love kids. We have Primary Children's services at our hospital. So we treat families. We see families, and we know that they're healthier and happier when they have a good school experience. And we love the teachers because they are a part of that experience.

Anthony Godfrey:
You even provided speakers for the podcast to help elevate the health of our community and our students, including a doctor that specializes in vaping and its negative impacts and helping prevent students from engaging in that. So, you've supported us in so many different ways, and it just shows the value of having the community as a partner, as we educate these students. And really, we have the same goals but different roles. But we're all working toward building this community and making it a great place to be and you and Riverton Hospital are a really important part of that. Tell me some of the stories you've heard as you've had the opportunity to go from school to school, and you see the families, and you hear from colleagues, and from the teachers. What are some of the stories that have really touched you?

Laura Klarman:
One of the teachers stuck out in my mind, she was retiring this year. So she has been a teacher for years. This was her last year. I was really touched by that because she was being recognized as she was leaving. So retirements are bittersweet.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Laura Klarman:
It's a good ending to a good beginning. And so we see that all the time in healthcare and in education. We saw the mayors involved, they would come to their local schools. I love seeing, again, that community support is so important. And then all our Board members who are leaders in their own right.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Laura Klarman:
They own businesses, they serve their community, they're elected officials. Or they've been teachers themselves, so they know how important this is. So it's been great community building to see everybody come together.

Anthony Godfrey:
And seeing the kids and their enthusiasm when their teacher's being honored. It's really fun to see how excited they are for their teacher.

Laura Klarman:
It was electric. When we went to Bluffdale Elementary, my kids went there. So it was really fun to go back. And it was electric as we walked in, and you feel like a superstar. And really the superstars are these teachers, right? And the principals and the kids, and so it was really touching.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, thank you for making it possible. There's just no way we could do it without you, so.

Laura Klarman:
Thanks, I love being here. I love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.

Teacher:
One of my students came back in with a huge smile on her face. I asked her how Golden Hour was and she said that it was so much fun. She loves reading with the grandmas and grandpas. Oh, they get so excited.

Diana:
And then we had different kids this month and last month. And some of them said, “we have to go back. That was so fun.” They love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It is a heartwarming partnership among senior citizens and elementary school students, a partnership where seniors from a local assisted living center are showing up and reading with kids in the school's media center. On this episode of the Supercast, we take you to Oquirrh Elementary School. That's where we see firsthand how being book buddies is building connections and companionship among students and seniors and bridging a generation gap. But best of all, it is inspiring a love of literacy in young children who look forward to the monthly visits from their senior friends.

Anthony Godfrey:
We are here at Oquirrh Elementary School during Golden Hour Reading, where Sun Ridge Assisted Living residents are working with students to improve their reading skills. Let's listen in.

Anthony Godfrey
I'm talking now with one of our visitors and one of the students here at Oquirrh Elementary. Tell me your name, what grade you're in.

Cooper:
Cooper and first grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
And Cooper, how's first grade going?

Cooper:
Good.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what did you guys read today?

Cooper:
Going Fishing.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, Going Fishing. So what did you like most about the book?

Cooper:
Like you have to get a special hook, like as a fish, but it's not actually a fish on it, but there's no splashing.

Anthony Godfrey:
And does this make you want to be a fisherman?

Cooper:
Yes. I really want to go fishing with my dad.

Anthony Godfrey:
So go home today and tell him, “Dad, I read about fishing and it's time we go fishing.”

Cooper:
OK.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right, nice to meet you. So how did it feel to be read to? First introduce yourself and how did you feel being read to today?

Dale Koth:
Felt great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me your name.

Dale Koth:
I'm Dale Koth.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you're one of the early volunteers to come visit, but I understand there's something in your history that would make that not much of a surprise that you want to be at an elementary school.

Dale Koth:
I'm a retired teacher, elementary school teacher.

Anthony Godfrey:
And where did you teach?

Dale Koth:
I taught at Terra Linda for a while, and I also taught at Southland Elementary.

Anthony Godfrey:
How long did you teach? When did you start and when did you finish?

Dale Koth:
OK, I taught for about 29 years. I think it was in 1974.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Over 50 years ago.

Dale Koth:
That's right. That's right. Yeah, in a little town called Antimony, Utah.

Anthony Godfrey:
OK.

Dale Koth:
I had nine kids.

Anthony Godfrey:
Nine kids in your class?

Dale Koth:
Five in the third, five in the second, five in the first.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Dale Koth:
No kindergarten because there were no kindergarten kids there.

Anthony Godfrey:
And from there you went to--

Dale Koth:
I went to-- I taught every year then I went to Blanding.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Dale Koth:
And I taught Blanding Elementary. I taught three years. Then we came to the Jordan School District and I started in Southland Elementary. Taught there for about, I don't know, three years. May have been longer, but I forget. And then I went to Quail Hollow and I taught at Quail Hollow for a long time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, wow.

Dale Koth:
Yeah. Then I finished up at Terra Linda and that's where I retired.

Anthony Godfrey:
So did you retire in the early 2000s?

Dale Koth:
No. Kind of in the late-- oh, yes, it's the late 1990s.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, OK.

Dale Koth:
You might say, yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Wow. All right. Well, so you've been enjoying retirement. But is this an exciting addition to your retirement routine?

Dale Koth:
Yeah, I think it's great. You know, you have a good successful experience here for you and for the kids. And you know, you're doing something.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
And I really like it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. How many times have you been?

Dale Koth:
This is my second time.

Anthony Godfrey:
What did you love most about teaching?

Dale Koth:
Just watching kids progress, learn something.

Anthony Godfrey:
In elementary, you get to see a lot of that.

Dale Koth:
Oh, yes. There was a lot of it.

Anthony Godfrey:
What grades did you teach most?

Dale Koth:
Third grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Third grade. That's a big one.

Dale Koth:
Which was my favorite grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Third was the favorite.

Dale Koth:
That was the age when they start cursive writing.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah.

Dale Koth:
I don't know if they still-- do they still do cursive writing?

Anthony Godfrey:
It's more-- not like they used to. Let me put it that way. Not like they used to.

Dale Koth:
If you had your way.

Anthony Godfrey:
Not that weird Q that looks like a 2. No, we don't do that stuff anymore.

Dale Koth:
OK. Yeah. Also, they learn their multiplication facts.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
And you could just get into reading, and like what somebody told me, the kids can be smart at that age without being a smart aleck.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's right. Absolutely. Well, I really appreciate your coming and just getting to watch you with the students. It's really fun to see how much you get their attention right away.

Dale Koth:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And they stay focused when they're reading with you. So thank you for doing that.

Dale Koth:
That's great. What's your name?

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm Dr. Godfrey. I'm Anthony Godfrey. I'm the superintendent for Jordan School District.

Dale Koth:
You're the superintendent?

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
I've worked here a long time, but I don't think I've ever met the superintendent.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's very nice to meet you.

Dale Koth:
I forget names a lot.

Anthony Godfrey:
Barry Newbold?

Dale Koth:
Barry Newbold. I knew Barry Newbold, yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's very nice meeting you.

Dale Koth:
Well, nice meeting you

Anthony Godfrey:
And thanks for doing this. We look forward to seeing you back next month.

Volunteer:
Well, great. I'll be back. I'll be back.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with Principal Jennifer Ludlow about the program here at Oquirrh Elementary. I know it's new. What do you think so far?

Jennifer Ludlow:
I love it. It's like my favorite thing and I just grin from ear to ear the hour before they come and about two hours after. Awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:
There's a great immediate connect with the kids and these volunteers.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about how the kids have reacted to this.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Oh, they get so excited. And then we had different kids this month than last month and some of them were like, “we wanted to go back. That was so fun.” They love it and they just love opportunities to read with kids or read with somebody else and get some practice. So far, it's been really positive.

Anthony Godfrey:
Having a new audience when you're reading out loud, so I'm going to try to impress. It really puts you on the spot, but it also puts you at your best. It helps you really be focused.

Jennifer Ludlow:
So yeah. And we know kids learn to read through repetition and practice and so what a great opportunity for them to practice with somebody with a lot of wisdom and experience. And we love it. It's so great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Add some novelty to the day and another human connection, another adult rooting for them.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Exactly. Someone else on their team.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's another great thing happening at Oquirrh Elementary. Thank you very much for letting us be here today.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Thank you. It was a pleasure.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're now talking with a member of the PTA and the School Community Council. Introduce yourself and tell us how you got this idea.

Alicia Abbott:
My name is Alicia Abbott. I am on the Community Council at Oquirrh Elementary, also on the PTA board. So we were reviewing the stats of the school last year, and it hurt my heart to see how many kids are not reading and are not doing math. And it hurt my soul. Like literally, I couldn't handle it. And our school is amazing. I don't want to diss on our school. Our school is awesome and I love Principal Ludlow. She's amazing, and our teachers and the community here is awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me, what's the impact that you have seen for the seniors and for the students doing this? I know it's only been a month.

Alicia Abbott:
Oh, I'm not sure I've seen an impact yet, but I feel an energy and a love of the seniors for the community here. And the impact on these kids is going to be life-changing. They are literally changing lives and the direction of the lives that these kids are stuck in, they are going to be helping them for generations, really. If you help a child, you help a generation. So I'm so excited about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think it's very meaningful when someone from the community spends time. They know their teacher has to. They know their parents have to. But when someone's choosing to volunteer and come in and be a part of their lives, I think that's a big boost to students, even beyond literacy.

Alicia Abbott:
Well, I have kids. I wouldn't be OK if my kids couldn't read either. So you know what? We got to put in. If we have parents working three or four jobs just to try to put food on the family table, they need help.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you for being a big part of that help and bringing this idea. I'm excited to see the impact that it has over the years.

Alicia Abbott:
Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More with the seniors and students of Oquirrh Elementary School.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of The Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Sandy Riesgraf:
Hello, I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ Jordan District. We can't wait to connect.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're now talking with a first-grade teacher. Please introduce yourself.

Teacher:
Hi, I'm Anashele. I'm a first-grade teacher at Oquirrh Elementary. One of my students came back in with a huge smile on her face. I asked her how Golden Hour was and she said that it was so much fun. She loves reading with the grandmas and grandpas. She was reading a book about pets and she said that it was so much fun because books help her learn. They make her brain grow every day and she loves to read because she has so much fun doing it. Really seeing them learn to read is my favorite thing because they walk in the door at the beginning of first grade really not knowing how to read. And now I have students like the student going to Golden Hour and reading her own story about pets. So I love seeing that growth throughout the year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you very much. It's great to be here talking with you. We're here talking with another one of our volunteers today.

Collette Craig:
Collette Craig.

Anthony Godfrey:
Collette. Now I understand Collette, that you used to be a teacher.

Collette Craig:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your teaching career.

Collette Craig:
I was a cluster teacher.

Anthony Godfrey:
Where was that?

Collette Craig:
Clusters were east side and then west side. I taught at, I think, nine different elementaries.

Anthony Godfrey:
What district were you in?

Collette Craig:
Jordan.

Anthony Godfrey:
In Jordan District. What were some of the schools where you worked?

Collette Craig:
Let's see. Midvale.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
Sandy. Then they went west to Terra LInda, but not at the same time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
And Monte Vista, Heartland.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. You really did cover a lot of area.

Collette Craig:
Oh, yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
If you know culture history, it was all east side at first.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
And then they opened up west side.

Anthony Godfrey:
Right. What years were you teaching? When did you start and when did you finish?

Collette Craig:
1985, I think.

Anthony Godfrey:
Is that when you started?

Collette Craig:
Uh-huh.

Anthony Godfrey:
And when did you finish?

Coll:
I finished in 20 years later.

Anthony Godfrey:
20 years later? OK. 2005. OK. Very good. And 20 years later, you're back volunteering, reading with students.

Collette Craig:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
How has that been? Tell me about that experience.

Collette Craig:
This is my first time. It's been good. I didn't know what to expect, but it's been good.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. Tell me about the students you've worked with so far today.

Collette Craig:
Oh, they're great. They're cute. Yeah, they're great. What else can I say? The pH sound is really hard for them to grasp.

Anthony Godfrey:
The pH sound. Hey, it doesn't make sense. Why does pH sound the way it does? No one will ever know. What did you like most about teaching?

Collette Craig:
I liked it when they got something. When they finally understood something. You had spent weeks, sometimes months on the same thing, and they finally got it. It's like, yay.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's rewarding. It's rewarding. Well, you're helping do that again, so thank you.

Collette Craig:
You're welcome.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with the activities director from Sunridge Assisted Living and Memory Care. Thank you for talking with us today. Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what's happening.

Diana:
My name is Diana. I'm working in the center for eight years and we have a purpose to have activities with purpose. So this activity is amazing for our residents because they find their friendship. They have a purpose in life, teaching kids. Also, that bring memories to them. We have some teachers participating in the activity, and that is amazing for them. They really enjoy it. The first time when we came, they came back telling the other residents, “that was so fun. We teach kids. That was amazing.” So we want to back. And today, when we back, other friends came with them. So that is amazing. They found a purpose coming here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell us more about the facility.

Diana:
OK. Our community has two areas. One is for memory care. The other one is for assisted living. We have seniors with some difficult to walk or to get medicine. So we assist them to get the most normal life like they knew it. So part of that and really important part of the life is to have activities. So we have activities every day from Monday to Sunday and we have our clubs. We have sewing clubs, cooking clubs. We have outings. We go one time a month to a different restaurant. Each week, we go to Walmart or to Smith's to do shopping. We have also assisted shopping. So we have volunteers to come with them and assist them to get whatever they want in the store. So that is part of the normal life like everyone knows. We have different things to make them feel like this, “I feel happy today.” And that is our purpose, to have them happy, to have them participating in every activity we have. And that is my satisfaction to see them when they are happy. And when I came with them last time, I saw their happiness in the faces. And it's just like a miracle to see them, how they share with the kids, and the kids accepting them. And it's like a miracle. Miracle happen.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, wonderful. Well, thank you very much for making us a part of those activities and a part of the lives of these seniors.

Diana:
It's a pleasure. Thank you to let us participate in this program too.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today.” We'll see you out there.