Arlene Colbert:  

I retired June 2007 from Richardson ISD after 39 years as a teacher, principal and central office administrator. Didn't really intend to retire until I was 65 but some health issues convinced me otherwise. Fine, now. Yea! I worried what I would do with myself without the structure, as well as, the rewards of working. I hated getting up in the morning but never going to work. I had friends there, I was doing what I loved. But, I shouldn't have worried. I am involved in a number of activities, most of which I would have declined if I were working: secretary of my neighborhood organization, Democratic precinct chairperson, and, organizer of a neighborhood, community, alumni support group for the little school down the street, my elementary, James Bonham. I can do whatever I want on my own time frame because whatever I do is more than anyone has done for them for a long time. The school is so deserving, very successful despite huge obstacles including 96% poverty level, 60% bilingual. Exemplary for 7 years straight! They won a great big national award for their accomplishments and for their stellar teaching. Unprecedented in DISD. This year, they have been nominated for the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award. They'll get, it, I'm confident. There could not be a more deserving school, teachers, parents, students. But, that doesn't earn them any more money! So, they are in great need. I am going to businesses, friends and Bonham alumni to contribute their time, money and talents. School supplies for the students and teachers is an on-going project. Next goal is to get it back to a Pre K - 5th grade school; it is now only to third grade. The middle class neighbors have pretty much abandoned it and don't send their kids there like so many DISD schools. Convincing them that it is a good place for their kids, and that their kids can be successful there is the long range goal. Last summer after talking to the school board member for the area, he convinced the district to paint and re-tile the first floor. There is much more to do, though. Last February had a big fund raiser for Bonham which brought a lot of Bonham alumni and friends out. Rawlins Gilliland (John, to those who graduated from ND 63-64) was our speaker. He was great! Do you hear his commentaries on Public Radio?Go to the KERA 90.1 site and you can search for his commentaries and even hear them. They are poignant, hilarious, timely. If I ever say I am having such an event again,though, I hope my friends put me in a coma! I am considering the next fundraising project-a cookbook/history of Bonham and the area book. If I can get some funding, I will interview alumni, parents, friends, include vintage pics, even cafeteria recipes (the good ones-not the green hamburgers), plus recipes contributed by volunteers. For the past two years Bonham alumni and friends have helped by contributing money and supplies to reduce the cost of supplies for Bonham parents and to get desk supplies for the teachers. We have been able to reduce the cost to parents from an average of $85 per student to $20. This past summer, we also included North Dallas teachers and took 170 bags of supplies to them in August. I hope we can do it again this summer. With help, it will happen. They are all incredibly grateful. Otherwise, it would all come out of the teachers' pockets, even the school supplies. When kids don't bring them, the teachers have to buy them. It is expensive to be a teacher at both Bonham and ND. I still have time for weekly Bridge (during the day--wonderful) water aerobics, movies and theater--and doing book reviews, something else I embraced when I retired, for clubs, civic groups, libraries, Richland's Emeritus Program, retirement villages. First subject, the poet, E...Expand for more