Paul Nowack:
CLASS OF 1971
Sunbeam Elementary SchoolClass of 1971
Cleveland, OH
Garfield Heights High SchoolClass of 1974
Garfield heights, OH
Paul's Story
Wow! I never thought that I'd find a Web Site devoted to graduates and alumni of Sunbeam School.
My name is Paul Nowack, and I attended Sunbeam School from 1963 to 1971. During this time period, Sunbeam was a K-9 school, and I believe, the full name was Sunbeam School for Crippled Children....hardly politically correct in this day and age.
I attended Sunbeam because I have hemophilia. During the 1960's, this disease was still quite difficult to manage. Frequent and extended joint bleeds resulted in long hospitalizations and many absences. My home school district of Garfield Heights felt "uncomfortable" with a hemophiliac in their schools, so it was recommended to my parents that I attend a school more suited to my "needs". This was long before PL.94-142. I can't imagine a school district getting away with that today.
I had three brothers, all with hemophilia, and we all attended Sunbeam. Two of my brothers, Gerald and James, were older and graduated from Sunbeam in the late 1950's/early 1960's. My younger brother, Bob, graduated from Sunbeam in 1973. All of the staff knew my family well, and I was welcomed affectionately as another one of the "Nowack Boys".
I have nothing but the fondest memories of my time at Sunbeam. The teaching staff was absolutely dedicated to the goal of educating the students there. I can still recall all of my teachers, each loved and remembered for their own unique qualities and personalities.
I had Miss Salisbury for 2nd Grade. This was 1963, and my first year at Sunbeam. The transition from "regular school", ( I did attend a Garfield Heights elementary school for First Grade) was made easily under the care and guidance of Miss Salisbury.
Through the years, my other teachers included Mrs. Burwig, Mrs. Ladika, Miss Rudzinski, Mrs. Konderosy, Miss Naughton, and Miss Wright.
Of all these, Mrs. Konderosy was a GEM! She was also the school's music teacher. She was instrumental in getting Sunbeam's bell choir started. The bell choir would go on to perform many concerts, some recorded live for public radio.
I should state, that during this time period, Sunbeam had a regular academic curriculum. The students had a variety of physical disabilities, but most if not all were very high functioning. I can tell you that one of my fellow hemophiliac students at Sunbeam, has gone on to make quite a career in the medical field. He is a Ph.D./M.D., specializing in Genetic Research.
In addition to the dedication of the educational staff, one cannot minimize the work of the Physical Therapists at Sunbeam. It was their goal to design exercise programs to address our physical weaknesses and then strengthen our bodies. Along the way, they strengthened our minds also. I can tell you that this group of ladies had hearts of gold. I will NEVER forget Ms. Glomb, who taught me how to play chess or Ms. Stewart, who instilled in me the love of nature and stamp collecting.
In addition to the teachers and physical therapists, there were the matrons, bus drivers, kitchen staff, and office workers, all dedicated to the school and its students.
Last but NOT least, was the school's principal, Mrs. Betty Murphy. Mrs. Murphy had a strong personality, but a smile that could warm a heart and a voice that could ease a troubled spirit. She was such a joy, and I'm sure that Sunbeam would not have been as it was, were it not for her guidance.
As ...Expand for more
a side note, I should mention, that at least half of the professional staff there had first names of either Helen or Betty. If you were walking down the hallway, and someone called "Betty", 3 to 5 teachers might answer!
Of all the memories of my time at Sunbeam, the fondest are those surrounding the special activities that took place during the school year. There were the Halloween and Christmas parties and programs, the many School Choir musical programs, the Mother's Club Annual Card Party, and the end of school June Picnic. Some of these activities, like the Halloween and Christmas programs were quite elaborate and very entertaining. I often wonder if anyone ever recorded any of these. Some where, there has to be photo or film documentation of these events.
I graduated from Ninth Grade at Sunbeam in 1971, and went onto high school at Garfield Heights Senior High. The transition was not "pretty" to say the least. In fact, these were some of the most difficult years of my life. The close knit "family" of teachers and fellow pupils that I grew so accustomed to during my years at Sunbeam was no where to be found in "regular school". I was thrust into a student body in which I knew absolutely no one. I was the "weird kid", that rode the "short bus" to school. I looked absolutely normal, so there had to be some "unknown" reason why I rode the handicapped bus to school everyday.
As I look back, I really think that the staff at Sunbeam, as well as my parents, should have taken a more active part in making my transition to "regular" school more bearable. It is really the only major complaint that I have concerning the memories of my Sunbeam experience.
Somehow, and frankly, I still don't know how it happened, I survived my three years of high school at Garfield Heights High. I took a year and a half off, and then enrolled in Cleveland State University.
Initially, I toyed around with a Biology Major, but then wholeheartedly thrust myself into obtaining a teaching degree, specifically in Special Education. Yes, I could not get the dedication of those Sunbeam teachers out of my blood.
I went on to get certified in all areas of Special Education, including Developmentally Handicapped, Orthopedically Handicapped, Learning Disabled and Behaviorally Handicapped.
My absolute crowning accomplishment was that I was able to do my Student Teaching at Sunbeam School. I think that this was a first in the school's history, a former student going back and student teaching, to begin a career inspired by his former teachers. While student teaching, I was thrilled to see Mrs. Konderosy still there! I do hope that I made this dear lady proud.
My life's goal had always been to teach at Sunbeam, but that was not to happen. I was immediately hired by the Cleveland Board of Education, and worked under their Residential Schools Program. I taught at the Cleveland Clinic, The Metzenbaum Children's Center, and at the Jones Home for Children. At the Jones Home, I was the Head/Lead Teacher for several years.
In 1997, I had to leave the teaching profession due to complications of my hemophilia. It had been a goal, to get my knees replaced, and return to teaching, but unfortunately, this did not happen. God, I miss the classroom. I miss the students, and I miss being an inspiration to them, just as my teachers at Sunbeam were an inspiration to me.
Most Sincerely,
Paul Nowack
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