Judith Thompson:
CLASS OF 1969
Methacton High SchoolClass of 1969
Norristown, PA
Villanova University - Graduate SchoolClass of 1994
Villanova, PA
Eastern CollegeClass of 1973
St. davids, PA
Judith's Story
Life
I think I had to do this bio thing back in 7th grade. It was hard then. How much did I have to share at age 12, especially that would be of interest to any one. It's hard now. I've had 55 years of life experience and insight to share in my ever diminishing "characters remaining" life bio box. But like back then, I'm trying to define the new me now that I'm retired from 28.75 years of teaching. I'm still looking for ways to make a difference, in a positive way, in my family life, community life, in the lives of those I meet. I have no biological children but I have a few hundred I think of as my kids. I have four dogs, Hannah, Gabby, Ben, and Sophie. I love to "make music" - sacred, choral music and playing the recorder. I love to read, be outdoors, especially the beach...no, the mountains....no...oh well let's just leave it at outdoors, hiking, biking, bathing. I love nature and I feel responsible to it. I love to eat good food and have long conversations with friends about really, truly important stuff. I love small art films, mainly British and French. I love to travel, on my own, no tours for me - I like to make it up as I go along! I've been to France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and I hope to make it back many more times. I'm fortunate to have my mom and brother, but lost my dad to colo-rectal CA in 1999. If you want ot know more - just ask!
School
I'm not sure I had "crush" crushes in HS. My peers were not as important to me as my teachers. There were so many, many teachers that influenced my life at that time - the GOOD, the Bad and the ugly! But in every case the influence was profound and it worked for the good in my chosen profession and in my life as I see it. The GOOD teacher experiences are far to numerous to name, and with fear of over looking someone I will not name names; the Bad are a small, .9% of my experience, but shaped me nonetheless. I would do it all over again only if I could take with me what I know know and my computer and internet access of course. I would study smarter, have more confidence and do so many more things: like play the cello, sing in the choir, do better in Math, play field hockey and tennis, be more relaxed, take German along with French, learn to really write well!
Not much of HS was funny to me, let alone be happy, and I certainly didn't do anything crazy. But I did love French, English, Health, Gym, Co-Managing the Tennis Team, and I loved Math but just didn't seem to get it back then. That I would do over big time!
If I could see one teacher again: I can't name just one: Mrs. Custer, 3rd grade teacher, Miss Carol Reading, 7th grade English teacher, Miss Cecilia Hall, Chemistry teacher, Miss Gaytons, Biology teacher, Miss Boehn...Expand for more
er, Math teacher and tennis coach, Marian Bosler, Gym teacher, Frank Poehlman, History teacher, Mr. Clinton, English teacher, Mrs. Pancoast, English teacher, Miss Houser, French teacher, the librarians, whose names I'm blocking on - and they taught me to love reading, how could I, and all those teachers, counselors and administrators whose faces are clear in my mind but whose names have slipped from memory. I was fortunate to have gone to Methacton - back in the day when 99.9% of teachers really cared about kids, that they learned and developed a life-long love of learning. They care about community too, remember the Faculty Follies? Seen that around lately, anywhere? It wasn't all about test scores and entitlement.
College
I remember my cousin, my roommate and closest friend to this day. We did have some fun times but always in the context of much anxiety about doing well, academically. But we were only roomies for 1 year. We both became day students. And undergraduate experiences became HELL for me. That I would do over again big time. I didn't realize I had a choice and I was way too vulnerable then. The need for safety, validation and nurture outweighed good judgement.
I survived, most importantly. And moved on.
Career
My vocation was teaching. I loved it, most of the time. I loved and cared for my students and their families. I was so very fortunate to have worked for the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. For 20 years, I had the support of my administration. I felt respected and was treated like a professional. Through the mentorship of people too numerous to name I developed strong teaching and clinical skills for my "then" work and for my "now" work.
My biggest career faux pas was leaving the MCIU and being employed by a school district which shall remain nameless for fear of reprisals. My tenure in the public school arena was a challenge. Professional opinions about children, their "treatment" and education was no longer "need"-driven but became political and fiscally driven, no longer with the best interest of children at the center. I found myself ethically, morally, and functionally in conflict with my superiors. And, it took its toll.
I left teaching after a bout with cancer and a very negative experience with my employer that is far too complex to go into here. I retired.
I currently am working for the Devereux Foundation as a behavioral specialist consultant and mobile therapist. I love my clients, their families and the challenge of this kind of work. The travel is a killer - upward of 75 miles a day, and at $3.25 a gallon and rising, I feel like my salary pays for gas and not much else. But I do love the work.
I work part-time at the YMCA - what a hoot!
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