Sandy LCowdery:
CLASS OF 1972
William H. Taft High SchoolClass of 1972
Woodland hills, CA
Parkman Junior High SchoolClass of 1969
Woodland hills, CA
Serrania Elementary SchoolClass of 1965
Woodland hills, CA
Sandy's Story
Hello my friends! I went to Serrania Ave Elementary School, Parkman Junior High, and then William Howard Taft High School. In my early years I was involved with Girl Scouts. Those years with Troop 392 are treasured with fond memories and all of those girls I never will forget! (many of which went on to Taft High.) I graduated in 1972. In my Sophomore year, (the purple year book with the silver moon) I found my photo, however, my name has been missed marked. At the time the photo was taken, my best friend, Kristi Peterson and I were standing in line together and somehow, our names and photos were forever to be reversed! I'm really on page 115 but, under the alias name of Kristi Peterson. I was very involved with Home Economics, and Taft's Pre School program under the supervision of Nancy Cornell. ( I even worked for her privately in her home watching her own children and doing light housework.) I received the Home Economics Silver Platter Award for all my contribution in Home Economics. Taft's experimental preschool program was a year commitment and it required two periods a day. Somehow, Mrs. Cornell arranged for pre schoolers to attend Taft, and the high school students were the teachers under her guidance. We also were able to observe teaching in several local public schools. Wow! This was a fabulous experience to be part of Taft's Preschool and quite an introduction to teaching children. This preschool idea really appealed to me. I was so inspired to have had this teaching opportunity to teach pre school children at Taft. So naturally, I decided to open my own preschool upon graduation! I am very grateful to my parents who allowed my friend (Janice Johnston, also a Taft student) and I to open the JanSan Play Yard in my parent's home. Our program could never be done in this day and age! This was a four year summer job we created for ourselves while attending college. We participated in all aspect...Expand for more
s of the business, from printing flyers, finding our students, buying equipment, and or course planning lessons, teaching, and arranging weekly field trips to compliment our weekly lessons. Reflecting back I'm most proud of this accomplishment ! We even were able to earn some money! It astonishes me that parents with children of the ages 3-6 years old would trust two (almost) 18 year olds with all of their children! After graduation, I went on to attend California Lutheran College for two years living on campus as an Art major and a French minor. Then I decided to go back home to live while attending CSUN for a MultiSubject major until my graduation in 1976. I also spent another year there earning my teaching credential. I worked 10 years at several private schools, including Viewpoint a Carden School, Ridgewood Military Academy, and finally Carden Conejo. No one could ever survive on a private school's salary without benefits. So for these financial reasons, I reapplied to LAUSD and most fortunately was hired to work in the Valley, at Calahan Elementary School in Northridge. I devoted 30 years to LAUSD teaching in the same classroom at Calahan! I taught k-2, but will always consider myself a" First Grade Teacher". I feel so lucky to have taught my first grade students and years later, even their children as first graders! Teaching was a full life time job for me that I was very devoted to. It was a big adjustment for me when I retired because my body literally was on LAUSD time (bell schedules, meetings vacation. etc.) My life was "teaching ". It became my whole identity. Now, after several years, I can say I am a happily retired vegan, not affected by the rigid school schedules. I have always loved animals, and all of the arts: reading, drawing, painting, music, stitchery, sewing and quilting. Now, joyfully I can say I am able do all the things I wasn't able to do (very much) while I was teaching.
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