School Lessons Beyond the 3 R's

Lessons Beyond the 3 R's is a collection of essays in which the author shares remembrances, experiences, and stories from his more than 40 years in public education as a teacher, coach, principal and district level administrator. Also included is a selection of essays about teachers and experiences he had while growing up and being a student in the schools of Holmes County, Florida. In these writings, the author takes the reader on the ultimate school field trip down memory lane. The essays are memories from many great days and heart-warming recollections of people, places, and events that help to make working as a professional educator so rewarding. However, the book also includes remembrances of the most difficult and trying times one could ever experience as a professional educator. In this book, the reader will be taken inside the school building and will have the opportunity to experience the reality of life as an educator on a day-to-day basis. Some stories will make you laugh and others will make you cry. You will see educators and the business of education in a whole new light. Perhaps you will even gain a better understanding of why things happen in schools around the country. While reading some of the essays, you may be tempted to think there is no way the events as written happened at a school. You would be mistaken because all of these did happen, as written and shared, at schools or school events. As any educator can attest, similar events could happen at any school, on any day, at any time. Being a professional educator is a very rewarding, yet challenging career that impacts the lives of millions of students in America every day. In fact, this great calling to teach influences the very future of our nation more than any other profession. It is with this thought in mind that the stories, tales, and memories in this book are shared. For in every school, in every community, and in every state in our country, dedicated and caring professional educators go to work every day with the desire to help make our nation a better place for all citizens. This book and the remembrances shared in it are dedicated to these people. I think I just heard the school bell ring. Time to get to class!