Some of you already have heard, but I did want the membership to know that I am retiring, finally effective June 1st. What mixed feelings accompany this decision!
IECA has been almost my second "home" and "family" for the past twenty-four years. For certain, some of my dearest and closest friends have come about through my association with this wonderful organization. I would not trade ANYTHING for the fun times we've had together, the hundreds of schools we've visited, the "war stories" we've shared through the years. If I'm ever feeling a bit down, all I have to do to laugh aloud is to remember some of our favorite, "Can you believe this?" stories. As for the field of educational consulting, I cannot imagine any career which brings about more satisfaction on an almost daily basis. What could feel better than knowing that you really effect positive change in young peoples' lives? I treasure the parents who've entrusted their children with me -- well, most of them! And the students -- some quite accomplished and headed towards exciting futures, others struggling to get through the maze and oftentimes difficult world of adolescence -- are what it's all about. I adore them all -- certainly those who give me big hugs and tell me they would never have found a school they loved so much without my guidance, and yes, even those who snarl and turn their backs on me when I encounter them shortly after their arrival at their new therapeutic school!
Being associated with the bright group of men and women who make up IECA has been a constant pleasure and stimulation, and I surely hope to continue these long-standing friendships. PLEASE keep in touch! I plan to be in Boston for probably my last IECA meeting, and will truly look forward to seeing each of you. I am enjoying doing some outside consulting with some schools, which allows me to keep somewhat current in our exciting and always-changing profession. But mostly, I am loving having more time to spend with my two precious granddaughters, Olivia, 7, and Lily, 4, and taking better care of my husband who must have made ten thousand trips to and from the airport with me. It gives me enormous pleasure that my two children have both ended up in the "schools business" -- Sloan at SUWS and Grant at Carlbrook. Thank HEAVENS I am retired, for I am currently super-busy with our daughter's wedding in a few weeks.
The most exciting news of all is that two genuinely committed and dynamite women, May Peach and Louise Slater, are now running The Price Group. They are both already Associate Members of IECA, are working to become full members, and are demonstrating the same excitement and eagerness that I felt some twenty-four years ago. If you haven't met them yet, please look them up. They'll be in Boston too.
Many thanks, dear friends, for all of our good times together. I will miss you terribly!