1.
On a cloudy, central California December day, armed with a
crisp, new teaching credential and barely twenty-two years old, Robert
Spagnolo walked proudly through the door of the human resources department,
dripping with idealism, and down a path he’d never even
imagined.
Tired and frustrated, Barbara James, the human resources director,
faced with a teacher who was taking a maternity leave, was
struggling to fill a half year vacancy. After interviewing several district
substitutes, she finally realized why they were perennial subs, never to
work their way up the educational food chain. When Robert walked in,
freshly filled out application in his hand, Barbara whispered to her secretary,
“Looks like we finally got a live one.”
Robert had that fresh teacher look, smiling and enthusiastic,
bubbling over with the urge to make a difference in the lives of children.
He was quite handsome, Barbara noted, in a boyish, not a rugged
way, far better suited to this fifth grade position than, say high school,
where the girls, not much younger than him, would be actively trying
to seduce him. He also had all the right answers, the proper buzz
words, the right attitude. Besides, winter break was only a week away,
and Barbara wanted to get this done and enjoy the holidays with her
family.
So, a deal was struck, and Robert was hired as a temporary
teacher, with the vague promise that if he worked out, there might be a
permanent job for him in the fall.
For Robert’s part, while teaching elementary school wasn’t his
final life goal, it was what he wanted for this part of his life, a chance
to get real world experience and to make some money for graduate
school some time in the vague, but not too distant future.
He was taken to see the teacher he was replacing, an attractive,
but very pregnant, young woman. She would fill him in on what had
been going on the first semester and the general plan for the rest of the
year.
The principal showed him in and introduced him to the teacher,
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who turned to the class and said, “This is the teacher who will replace
me for the rest of the year, Mr Spagnolo. Say hello,” which they all did
in unison.
Then a freckle-faced little red head with a broad smile spoke
up. “I’m so glad you’re going to be our teacher. That is so cool. I’m
Kelly. Don’t forget.”
Robert smiled and assured Kelly that he wouldn’t forget, and
he made a mental note to call her by name on his first day, some three
weeks hence.
After the