Mrs. Adams has been involved with the district for over two decades. She entered Muscatine Community School District in 1990 as a substitute, then got hired as a special education para in 1992. She held that position for 15 years. She then worked as a substitute teacher coordinator for the entire district. A while later, she took her current position as an attendance coordinator.
After her long career within the district, Mrs. Adams decided to retire this year to spend time with her family members.
“My husband retired in December, and we’re just going to do stuff around our place, do some traveling, and spend time with the family,” said Mrs. Adams.
Mrs. Adams learned new things from her experiences in education, especially from students.
“You never stop learning. Even if you think you know everything, you always can learn things, and even students can teach you things, so don’t close your mind off. Be open to learning and to change and to accept how every kid is different. Be in their shoes–you can learn something new from everybody,” said Mrs. Adams.
The relationship between her and the students of Muscatine High School can be best defined as professional yet friendly.
“She’s good at getting her job done and treating every student the same way,” said Maggie Halloran, a senior at MHS.
As the backbone of the attendance office, she has advice for the person who takes over her position.
“Be willing to change at the drop of a hat. Everything’s day-to-day–never are two days the same. Just always be willing to accommodate changes because it’s gonna happen, especially with attendance,” shared Mrs. Adams.
Graphic courtesy of the MHS Auroran Today Staff.
Reflecting on her extensive career, she recognized the most important thing she learned from being involved with the school district was about herself.
“It broadened my thinking, and I relate to kids within special education, but it just really makes you know the background of things. You try to teach that to other people so they’re not so narrow-minded. I guess they are just like every normal kid, you know, because they are normal kids.”
Mrs. Adams reflects on her favorite moments within teaching from her time as a para.
“When they couldn’t do a job or couldn’t do an assignment and then when they finally get it or can accomplish that, it’s just you feel as if it was your accomplishment too. Because it was like, oh we worked on that together,” reminisced Mrs. Adams.
Transitioning into the Attendance Office allowed for a different perspective on the education system.
“There’s a lot of kids that have graduated and went on, and I still see them. Now, their children are here or have gone through here, so it’s just kind of nice to know the whole family. It’s just kind of a cool thing to know that, hey, I had your dad, or I had your mom, and now, you know, you came through, and so it’s just kind of a neat thing to see the generations of kids and students go through,” said Mrs. Adams.
As she thinks about retirement, Mrs. Adams has several reflections on time.
“I’m pretty pleased with everything that has happened, and it seems like some days I think, ‘Oh wow, where did the time go?’ And other times I think, ‘Oh, it’s been so long, I’m ready to go,'” stated Mrs. Adams.
