Hi, and welcome to fourth grade at White Oak Intermediate School! My name is Mrs. Z. Let me tell you a little about myself before we get started.

I am one of those Texans who is not a native, but I got here as soon as I could. My husband, David, and I moved from Wisconsin to Texas in 1981 so that he could attend LeTourneau University to pursue a degree in aviation. After he completed his education, we decided that we liked it so well here that we just stayed!

I was raised on the shores of a lake in southeastern Wisconsin where the landscapeis much like East Texas. My father was the superintendent of a summer resort, and my mother taught math and language arts at a residential school for hearing impaired/deaf students. After I graduated from high school, I attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to earn degrees that allow me to teach elementary, mentally handicapped, and learning disabled students. I taught for six years in
Wisconsin before coming to Texas. I worked in Longview and Gladewater for several years, but I have taught in White Oak for more than two decades.

My husband is a corporate pilot and flies to a variety of places from coast to coast.  He especially likes to fly to cool destinations during the hot Texas summers.  Our oldest son, Michel, and his wife, Julie, live in Allen, Texas, where he is a firefighter/paramedic, and she teaches preschool deaf/hearing impaired children.  Philip, our youngest child, and his wife, Erin, live near Phoenix, Arizona.  He teaches middle and high school English while Erin teaches French and algebra.

Now, if you have done any math as we’ve gone along, you’ll know I’ve taught since “before dirt.” However, I view teaching as my calling and not just a job, each year as a new experience, andlearning should never stop. I am grateful to be part of the team at White Oak, and I anticipate a wonderful year for all of us!