By Catherine Ferrell Walker (PA Teacher: 1985-2016)

I began my teaching career at PA in 1985, and after thirty years of teaching English at all grades and levels (Basic, Core, Honors, IB, 4×4), I still miss discussing literature with my students most of all. But I do have lots of memories of my early initiation into the life of our school outside my classroom.

In the fall of 1988, band director Alan Sharps and several of my students active in the band asked me and AP Ed Holler to participate in a presentation of “Little Red Bop,” a jazzy musical take on the tale of Red Riding Hood. I don’t think our silly pantomime of the tale distracted from the great musical performance.

Then, in March of 1988, Carol Tortone Seacrist, John Hardy, Linda Ruse Bright, Wayne Bright, Jimmy DiNardo, and I danced in the ballroom scene of the school’s production of “Cinderella.” There were multiple times on stage in the next few years when we presented “Faculty Follies,” which showcased some teachers with real talents, as well as silly skits. One of the highlights was the ever-present “If I Were Not a Teacher” sung in the round where I would kick things off with “if I were not a teacher, I’d tell you what I’d be… a two-year-old.” I can still sing my part!

I was certainly not an athlete, but I was even asked to spend some time on the court during the infamous Donkey basketball game in April 1989. Brave teachers climbed atop often reluctant donkeys to shoot baskets. I was on the sidelines with my fellow “Donkettes” (including Jean Rawls, Luvond James, and Chris Hopkins) cheering our co-workers on!

After those first few years, I quickly realized teaching involved much more than just my classroom assignments. It meant stepping outside of my comfort zone and becoming more involved in the school as a whole. I’m so proud to be a part of PA’s history.