Teachers make use of 10-week vacations Teachers make use of 10-week vacations (July 05, 2002)

Working or playing, teachers get a change of scenery in the summer
by Mavis Noble

Your family is trying to squeeze a cousin's wedding into a weeklong visit back east. Your neighbor is taking a long vacation, not of his choosing, to check out the color of his parachute. And your folks, they're taking the vacation of a lifetime called retirement.

But what about your children's teachers or the one who lives down the street? What do they do with their 10 whole weeks of summer vacation? A number of teachers who live or work in Pleasanton have interesting plans for this summer and they are as varied as the subjects they teach.
Marcia Stimatz, speech therapist, Hearst and Fairlands elementary schools "I'm going to Ireland with five members of my family."
Lindsay Maher, English and AVID, a college prep program, Foothill High School "I am getting married this July in San Francisco, and we are going on a Mediterranean cruise for our honeymoon in August."
Steve Maher (Lindsay's father), principal, Hart Middle School: "We're going to Vegas but not on my Harley. My wife and I do enjoy rides on my bike on Bay Area back roads. I plan to do some woodworking and make a bookcase for our living room. I'm also making an armoire for my daughter's kindergarten class for the kids' dress-up clothes."
Ellie Miller, job-sharing first-grade teacher, Alisal Elementary "I am a Creative Memories scrap-booking consultant, so I work on our albums any chance I get. I will be having a baby in September so I am trying to avoid another preemie by taking it as easy as possible with a 2-year-old around!"
Kathy Kindred, Pleasanton Unified School District Home School coordinator "I'm going to do things that can't get done on a weekend. Nothing fun or exciting but things I've been meaning to get to for quite some time."
Harriet Capito, PUSD substitute teacher "As a new teacher, I'll continue with my schooling so I can get my CLAD* (Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development) certificate. I am tutoring and will be learning sign language. I also plan to organize my life before school starts again."
Pam O'Connell, school counselor, Pleasanton Middle School "I usually don't do anything - I vacation. I go to Drakesbad, a really old guest ranch that's at Lassen Park, outside of Chester. I've been going with my son Sean since he was 4 and usually we go for four or five days. We fish and there are mineral springs that feed into the swimming pool."
Susan Barle, teacher at Sonshine Enrichment Preschool "This summer I'm doing the 60-mile Avon Cancer Walk from Santa Clara to San Francisco. It raises funds for cancer research treatment and screening for women. I've been training since February and have met a tremendous number of people. I have a revved-up neighbor who keeps me going."
Martha Ritchie, Resource Specialist, Fairlands Elementary "I will spend July with my 93-year-old mother in Virginia where a church parking lot will be dedicated to my deceased father and to my mother. We are planning a luncheon for 70 of the church members who go way back with my parents."
Eric Thiel, science teacher at Amador Valley High School "I work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during the summer for its Education Program. I have been doing this for about 13 years. For the last six years I have been involved in a technology outreach program. I teach other teachers how to employ use of the Web in their curriculum. Several one-day workshops are offered during the summer to teachers all over central California. We even spent a week in Puerto Rico teaching a workshop for its public school system. This summer I will also teach a Web Tech Academy. Twenty teachers, several from PUSD, will spend two weeks at the Lab learning how to develop and maintain a Web site that will increase their effectiveness as educators."
Gail Myers, special education teacher, Foothill High School "My summer will include district testing of ESL students, gardening, canning, working on my house and yard, river rafting, camping and playing at Lake Tahoe."
Judy Hansen, fourth-grade teacher at Fairlands Elementary, whose husband Jim is the principal at Harvest Park Middle School. "We were married June 19, 1977, in Moraga at St. Monica's Catholic Church and we had our honeymoon in Hawaii. So... we decided to do the same for our 25th! We are taking a two-week trip to Maui to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. This is a gift for both of us!"
JoAnn Koobatian, choral music teacher, Foothill High School "I am finally getting to know my baby that I had last summer vacation. We're going to Gymboree classes together and just hangin' out!"
Jim Hanafee, chemistry teacher, Foothill High School "My wife and I will spend a little over two weeks touring Ireland. Last year we vacationed in Turkey and the year before, Thailand and China. I also am consulting for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where I worked for 30 years before retiring a year ago last January. I am also consulting for Los Alamos National Laboratory."
Judy Brandon, second-grade teacher at Fairlands Elementary "My husband Ray and I are taking our motor home to a family reunion in Oregon. And a really fun trip we will be taking is a train trip to Chicago with friends."