Joanne Staley:  

Life I taught in various parts of N.J. for 16 years. I also worked with Cadet and Senior Girl Scouts for 5 or 6 of those years. I was active in a Hiking club and the National Speleological Society, which meant I did a lot of caving from W.Va. to Vermont. At one of the NSS National Conventions I met the Man I was to marry we had a son, now 35 yrs old. He has been one of the finest things in my life and my greatest accomplishment. I have lived in Tucson AZ for 36 years and during that time my son and I have traveled to all of the lower 48 states, much of that in conjunction with the NSS Nat. Convention each year. Out of 38 caving conventions I have attended 36. Nearly every year since living here I have also returned to New Jersey/York to visit family and relatives as it was most important that my son Chris know all of his relatives as well as their (and my) home territory. In AZ I have (for 1 year each) been active in a Brownie Scout Troop, and a Cadette troop, & operated a pre-school for 4 years, worked for 8 yrs in 3 school systems with children in before, during, and after school, programs as well as teaching PE for 4 of those years to 5th - 8th grade M&F students. My most recent job for 9 years was working with Dorothy Kret & Associates as a worksite supervisor for differently abled (developmentaly & mentally disabled) & PREP (people coming out of prison) adults as well as a job coach and support system for the same. I was also a work adjustment coach, including Job development. Eleven of these years I spent as a member of the BSA actively engaged working in the Boy Scouts of America (fantastically wonderful years) while my son went through Cub Scouts & on through completing his Eagle Scout and becoming an adult member himself. Finally, beginning in 1994, I made connection with a BHS fellow class member and through him have now connected in person,with 8 other class members and other friends, and via e-mail with 2 others. It was long over due! I finally attended (along with 3 others who had also never been to a reunion) our 50th reunion October 2004. School Starting at the age of 4 y...Expand for more