Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 5:00 PM Subject: Encina Update (weather/homecoming/siblings/search/classes/65/66/70/75/80/84/85/90/paul hamby/michael kramer/joe perez/john adorador/lloyd hickey/remembering/teachers/whats new/sports) ENCINA ALUMNI, This week I spent several days recovering from a computer crash at home on Sunday. Our main PC, which I use to update the Encina website, would not even boot windows in safe mode. I tried all my normal tricks to no avail. In desperation I even resorted to reinstalling windows and it still wouldn't boot! I decided to use my backup tape, only to find my backup software wouldn't run in safe mode. In safe mode my modem and internet connection and networking and zip drive were also dead. I finally decided to restore a backup version of the registry and fortunately this resuscitated my PC... That was a close call. Has anyone tried the utility Goback by Wildfire/Adaptec? Supposedly this utility keeps track of the changes you make to your system and lets you "go back" to when it was working. This is the third time this has happened to one of our two main PCs in the last year so I'm going to try installing Goback so I can recover more quickly next time. I'm looking forward to upgrading to windows 2000 someday, as I use WinNT at work and it's very stable. And before you write, no I don't want to switch to a Mac... Not that there's anything wrong with Macs. Even my mom and sister use them. I'm just a glutton for punishment. This week I received RSVPs for the Homecoming 2000 party from Encina staff members Karen McClelland Lee, Shirley Bordisso and Kathy Howser. Twenty five staff have rsvped so far! WEATHER Bruce Hunt 73 wrote from Phoenix, Arizona: "I will trade you the weather and location any time you are ready. We are in a cooling trend right now. The highs will only hit between 107 and 110 this weekend. This past week has been good, thought not record setting. Running 112-114 during the late afternoons. But we are to remember...it is a dry heat...... and like they say. The check is in the mail too." Hmmm, maybe a driving vacation to the Grand Canyon in August isn't such a good idea after all... HOMECOMING 2000 PARTY All Encina alumni and staff and their families are invited to the Homecoming 2000 party. I add this line since several have written to know who is invited and whether guests are permitted. Date: Friday, October 20, 2000 Location: 707 Commons Dr, Sacramento, CA 95825 (corner of Commons and Campus Commons) Time: 5pm to 2am (game from 7-10pm at El Camino HS) The venue is an office building located in Campus Commons at the corner of Commons and Campus Commons Dr. Many thanks to Kathleen O'Neill Cabe 79 for offering to host the homecoming party. Her husband's law offices are located are the first floor. We will have access to a small indoor lobby area, bathrooms, a small kitchen and conference rooms where we could set up tables for the potluck. There is a large terrace in front of the building along with a large lawn area between the building and Commons Dr. In back of the building is a partly covered walkway which runs the length of the building and ends in a gazebo. A large parking lot is located behind the building. The entrance to the lot is from University Ave. There is also lots of street parking available on Commons Dr and Campus Commons Dr. The building is located in a beautiful wooded area of Campus Commons. There does not appear to be much street traffic so the lawn area is reasonably safe for children. The lobby is small so I would guess we'll spend the pregame party outside on the terrace, the lawn and in the back walkway. Hope for good weather as we'd probably have trouble squeezing more than 100 people indoors... I anticipate poor attendance for a night football game if the weather is bad in any case. Last year the homecoming game was just before Halloween and the weather was very pleasant. Keep your fingers crossed. As far as the post game party goes, we can stay late but the outside areas are not lighted plus it may get cold. If we have too many people we will have problems squeezing all of us indoors. It's about 10 minutes from Campus Commons to El Camino HS where the game will be played. There are pictures of the bulding here: Note that this party is free and being organized by volunteers. We're going to need lots of help to make this a successful party. There are about 30 folks on the homecoming party mailing list who have volunteered to help. If you wish to help or participate in the discussion on the mailing list let me know. HOMECOMING RSVPS We have about 175 RSVPs from Encina alumni and staff, not counting guests or family! The rsvps are distributed as follows: staff: 25 1961: 6 1962: 1 1963: 2 1964: 3 1965: 6 1966: 1 (Kathy Cooper is first to rsvp from 66) 1967: 2 1968: 3 1969: 2 1970: 5 1971: 4 1972: 5 1973: 20 1974: 4 1975: 6 1976: 3 1977: 6 1978: 7 1979: 5 1980: 5 1981: 8 (up from 1 last week!!!) 1982: 3 1983: 3 1984: 1 1985: 10 1986: 10 1987: 1 1988: 3 1989: 2 1990: 7 1991: 2 1992: - 1993: 1 1994: 2 1995: - 1996: - 1997: - 1998: - 1999: - 2000: - Kathy Cooper 66 rsvped for the class of 66, so that all the classes are represented except for 92 and 95-99. The class of 81 made a run this week, going from 1 to 8 rsvps. The class of 73 is still leading with 20, while the classes of 85 and 86 are tied for second with 10. Chantel Beck 90 will be flying up from Southern Cal to party with the 90 contingent. Karen McClelland Lee, my old yearbook teacher, will be attending with her daughter Amy McClelland 86. I worked on the yearbook my senior year under Karen. Karen has email. Shirley Bordisso, Encina attendance secretary, will be attending with her daughter Sharon Bordisso Patten 78. Shirley had four children who attended Encina: Joe 77, Sharon 78, Kathy 80 and Michael 83/84. Shirley has worked at Encina since 1995 and was at Jonas Salk for 13 years before that. Shirley has email. Kathy Howser, Encina's librarian's assistant, will be attending. Kathy's two sons graduated from Encina. I met Kathy last year while Steve Palmer 74 and I were taking pictures in the library. Staff RSVPs: Eleanor Brown Jack Bassett Shirley Bordisso (new) Jack Carey Eric Dahlin Don Day Jack Dutton Evelyn Fedler Laverne Gonzales Kathy Howser (new) Bob Kirrene Christine Kojima Rees Lee Vince Marelich Karen McClelland Lee (new) Susan McGuire Joe Patitucci Marilyn Carlson Spartz Terry Reed JoAnne Smith Larry Stallings Bob Trathen Tom Wilde Judy Wilson Stephanie Woo New alumni RSVPs: Pamela Russell Scully 65 Kathy Cooper Luken 66 Linda Copley Mullen 67 Pam Deason Thomas 70 Kathleen Ketcherside Arceo 73 Debbie Lopes 73 Sharon Bordisso Patten 78 Virginia Hill Lockett 79 Bob Bjorklund 80 Kim Bettencourt Bjorklund 81 Sue Cantwell 81 Jim Dallas 81 Rob Henderson 81 Laura Storm Wiemer 81 Jolanne Tierney 81 Tena Wells 81 Veronica Spencer Hawkins 86 Geoffrey Shumway 89 Chantel Beck 90 (from Southern Cal) Please RSVP if you think you will be attending the homecoming alumni party this fall: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming_form.htm I'll keep the RSVP list on the Homecoming 2000 page up to date so you can check and see who's going: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming2000.htm SIBLINGS Becky Brandalick 93 is in contact with Kirstie McCranie 93 Scott Knight 80 wrote: Bill Knight 76 Marty Knight 78 (deceased) Scott Knight 80 Ray Crandal 71 wrote: Richard Crandal 70 (deceased) Ray Crandal 71 Annette Crandal 74 Jill Finlay 80 wrote: Susan Finlay 72 Mark Finlay 74 Lauren Finlay 76? Jill Finlay 80 Chris Harrold 69 wrote: Fritz Harrold 67 Chris Harrold 69 Steve Harrold 65 (cousin) Patti Margott 80 is in contact with Arlene Gamble 80. ALUMNI SEARCH Please write if you know how to contact any of these folks: Sue Barrett 65 June Halsted 65 Susan Green 66 Evelyn Neilson 80 Christy Sexton 88 Karen Woodhouse 88 Erin Yeast 88 CLASSES 1965 REUNION Date: August 19, 2000 Place: Unitarian Church 2425 Sierra Blvd (between Howe and Fulton) Sacramento, CA 1966 REUNION I heard from Kathy Cooper Luken, who said the 66 reunion committee is starting to plan their 35 year reunion for next year. Kathy was the first to rsvp for the class of 66 but hopefully not the last. 1970 REUNION Pam Deason Thomas wrote that the reunion committee is still looking at October 21 but they have not yet signed a contract and are investigating other options. She'll let me know when things are finalized. Pam will be attending the homecoming party! 1975 REUNION Where: The Sutter Club (1220 9th Street, Sacramento) When: Saturday, July 15, 2000 Time: 630 - 1130 pm Contact: Jenny Bender Bittner (916-972-8530) Jay Michael (916-978-9611) 1980 REUNION The mailer went out and I'm already hearing from 80 alumni who have checked out the website. Where: The Firehouse When: October 14, 2000 1984 REUNION First planning meeting for the 20th reunion: Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2000 Time: 730pm Place: Susan Hobson's home 1985 REUNION The class of 85 has the second largest group RSVPed for the homecoming 2000 party this week. It looks like the 15 year reunion will take place at the homecoming party... 1990 REUNION Date: Saturday, October 21, 2000 Place: TBD Denyce Bellinger wrote that classmates should plan to attend the Homecoming 2000 party on Friday, October 20th and the 10 year reunion on Saturday, October 21st. PAUL HAMBY 74 Mount McKinley (aka Denali) is the highest peak in North America. According to one website, the weather is more severe here than anywhere else in the world and many lives have been lost attempting the ascent. Here's Paul Hamby's report on climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska: "I am in Talkeetna right now waiting for my equipment to be flown out from the base camp. I did not summit the peak, but was as high as the highest camp at 17,400 feet. It was very cold, and the wind was extreme, so I decided that the summit will have to wait. Four from our group did summit, but two of them ended up with frostbit fingers and toes, one person severly enough that NOVA's film crew even did a shot of him in the medical tent at 14,200 feet (Al Treacy). We barely made it out from base camp. The skis on the airplane were heavy in the fresh snow, but we eventually made it into the air. One hour and a half later, an aircraft flying the same route with three rangers and the pilot aboard had a tragedy; the cloud cover lowered and closed in on them and the aircraft was not heard from again. Last night many planes searched, but all are assumed lost (dead) since no radio contact has been made, and the electronic identifier signal has not been heard. The trip was a good adventure for me though. I am glad to be not sleeping in snow and ice after more than three weeks of it. I have a beard, and am skinnyer than i was before. I met some great people from all over the world; made friends with some Bavarians who allowed me to travel with them on their rope during some of the more difficult parts... The thin air was very cold up high. I am still a little spaced out from all the action, but had the best tasting beer ever last night following the best tasting cheesburger ever." I'm glad Paul made it back safely and I've asked him to send a more detailed trip report when he gets home. MICHAEL KRAMER 84 Occupation: Owner of Com Tech Communications Bio: I was Executive Chef for 7 years in the Bay Area after finishing my studies at the California Culinary Academy. I also have been coaching Varsity football for 11 years, starting with Oakland High School then Encina where we were the first division 4 team to beat division 1 El Camino since the 60's. It was especially sweet to beat my former high school coach at Encina Mike Gardner who is now the Head Coach at El Camino. I have been at Hiram Johnson for the last three years. I have also owned a chain of Tanning Salons in Sacramento called Summer Breeze Tanning. I am in the process of selling them however to pursue my new business Com Tech Communications. We are a Computer Network Cabling company.We did a half a million in sales our first year and we hope to double that this year with new contracts with bebe woman's fashion stores. bebe has become one of our major accounts and we install there computer networks world wide. CNA Insurance, North American Title, Wilsons Leather,HSI Productions are just a few of our other accounts. Joe and I both own the company and all of my brothers work for us as well as other family members. Trivia: At 21 I was the youngest Executive Chef in the entire Bay Area. Hobbies: All types of sports, coaching football, raising my two girls. Kids: I have two daughters, Lauren 3years old and Danielle 1 years old. Grade_school: Thomas Edison Junior_high: Jonas Salk Favorite_memory: Beating Del Oro who was undefeated in football before we spoiled there perfect season or getting the winning touchdown to beat RIO AMERICANO our arch rival on Homecoming my Sophomore year. JOE PEREZ 71 Occupation: Communications Manager Bio: U.S. Air Force Flight Crew, 6 yrs, Concurrent with employment at KXTV as a Broadcast Engineering and management, 1971-1992. Numerous brodacsting positions over the years, Sacramento(KXTV, KMUV),San Diego, San Jose,Santa Rosa, owned an FM radio station and a Community TV station. Married for 19 yrs, 2 boys, 18 and 15 yrs old. Divorced. Currently with partner for life, Deirdre. Employed with County Of Sonoma in Santa Rosa last eight years, consulting extensively on side, www.joeperez.net. See resume at site. Trivia: Private pilot, multi engine, instrument, love classic aircraft and warbirds. Founding member of aviation museum in Santa Rosa. Own and restored a 1948 Stinson Flying Station Wagon, four place "taildragger" aircraft. Friends: Kent Randles, Jeff Javelet, Susan Bly, Fred Bly. Have not seen Jeff in thirty years!. I know he is a dentist in La Jolla. Hobbies: Flying, computer technology, amateur radio, bike riding, golfing Kids: Oldest is 18. Has founded a company, Integrated Consulting, www.nb-ic.com. His name is Alex. Lives eats and breathes computers, web hosting, hardware consulting, programming. Other son is Adam. 15 years old. Loves BMX bike riding and golfing. Superb golfer. Darn good bike rider. Uses computers to play games and do his homework. Is thinking about a career in video editing, post-production Grade_school: St. Ignatius, St. Philomines, Sacramento Grade_school_friends: None Memorable_teachers: Jerry Sando, Counselor. Guided me to carrer in electronic related activities, Broadcasting. La Verne Gonzales, great guy, great Spanish teacher, tennis coach. Not that it ever did ME any good. Let me borrow his BRAND NEW Porsche 911T for DAYS! (I had to put a AM/FM radio in it in trade). He WAS the hombre (man)! Probably still is! Favorite_memory: The day the seagull deficated on Jeff Javelet's head in the midst of having a class picture taken in the Quad! Heard_about_website_from: Kent Randles, '70 JOHN ADORADOR 92 John wrote: "Just wanted to let you know that your outstanding work on the encinahighschool.com site is appreciated! While I was down in Sacramento, I hooked up with one of my high school friends Ashraf Abasi from the Class of 1993. We had a really good time catching up with one another and reminiscing on old times in photography class with Mr. Botello. If it wasn't for your web site, it wouldn't have been possible for 2 friends to see each other after 6 years of lost contact." John made my day! LLOYD HICKEY 73 Jolie Ostrow Baron 73 wrote that Lloyd Hickey 73 passed away this month. Jolie saw his obituary in the Bee two weeks ago. There were no details. REMEMBERING Kathie Kloss Marynik 67 has been busying honoring those alumni who have passed on. Many of the directories now have date and county of death for the deceased. Kathie has been contacting the reunion contacts for those classes with little information about deceased classmates. Please cooperate with her as she is passing on the information to me. TEACHERS Ben "Wenzel" Ruhmann 65 teaches at Apple Valley HS in Minnesota. Ben wrote: "By the way, I'll be attending the National Education Representative Assembly in Chicago the first week of July. I know that our class produced an unusually large number teachers. Is there any way to find out if any one from our group will be there in the California delegation?" Let me know if you'll be attending this assembly. TEACHING Speaking of teachers, there was a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal this week about teachers. It's quite long but I can't publish just the link as the WSJ is a subscription website. June 20, 2000 Silicon Valley Puts Its Teachers Through School of Hard Knocks By JONATHAN KAUFMAN Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL MORGAN HILL, Calif. -- Classes are over for the day at Burnett Elementary School in this Silicon Valley enclave, and Tammi Abad is in parent-teacher conference with Sherry Austin. When the subject of the rambunctious and sometimes disruptive behavior of Ms. Austin's first-grader arises, Ms. Austin offers to buy Ms. Abad a copy of "The Schools Our Children Deserve," a critique of traditional teaching methods. "You need to read this book," she says. Ms. Abad remains polite but is fuming inside. She had read the book when studying for her master's degree in teaching. "You wouldn't go to see your doctor and say, 'This is how you should treat my child. You need to read this book,' " the 28-year-old teacher says later. "When I was growing up, teachers were revered. Now we are being challenged and questioned all the time." In America, teachers have nearly always been short-changed relative to other professionals. Now, with the nation in its longest economic expansion on record and the New Economy creating new levels of wealth and new class divisions, the ignominy is only worsening, financially and in other ways. The pay stinks. Parents are often pushy. And social status is slipping. "Among well-educated and wealthy parents, there is a pervasive, unspoken condescension bordering on contempt toward the less well-educated and less-wealthy teachers who work at their schools," says Tom Sobol, former school superintendent in affluent Scarsdale, N.Y., and now a professor at Columbia University's Teacher's College. Several years ago, Mr. Sobol recalls, an outside speaker told a meeting of Scarsdale teachers: "You represent everything in the world the people in this community don't want their children to be." According to Dismal Sciences, a West Chester, Pa., economic-consulting firm, U.S. teachers' average annual earnings from 1991 to 1999 rose 19.7%, to $27,340. That's roughly in line with the pay gains of food-service and building-service workers and compares with a 154% increase for financial-services workers, 48% for telecommunications installers, 41% for electrical engineers and 62% for morticians. And once adjusted for inflation (using the 22.3% rise in the consumer-price index for the period), the wage gain for teachers becomes a loss. Small wonder, then, that nationally, 20% of teachers leave the profession after three years, according to a survey of U.S. Census data by Education Week magazine. In part, many parents' frustration reflects the sinking performance of schools across the nation. And that frustration has only grown when teachers, backed by strong unions and hidebound by bureaucratic attitudes, are inflexible and unresponsive to suggestions for change. That resistance has prompted the recent boom in charter schools, the growing popularity of private and parochial schools, and the support for vouchers that would give parents more choice in choosing schools. Here in Silicon Valley, where millionaires are multiplying apace, the division between newly wealthy parents and struggling teachers is all the wider. Gov. Gray Davis last month proposed exempting teachers from state income taxes. And some Silicon Valley cities are planning to build subsidized housing for teachers, a gesture that vividly underscores their declining status. "What am I going to do -- go live in the 'teacher projects?'" says Steve Spencer, a special-education teacher in town. 'Stepping on Our Toes' Daphne Renelle, a second-grade teacher at Jackson Elementary School in Morgan Hill, adds that, "When I first started teaching here in 1977, teaching didn't pay well, but it was a respected profession. Now people see us more like the mailman... . And we have to be very tactful even though they're stepping on all our toes." A few months ago, Ms. Renelle recalls, she told her students they wouldn't have school the next day because the teachers had to attend training sessions. An eight-year-old girl approached Ms. Renelle and said, "You're lucky. You get a day off." "No," Ms. Renelle explained. "We have meetings. We have to be in class just like you have to be in class." "No," the child insisted. "My mom said you just play on those days. You don't really work." "Out of the mouths of babes," Ms. Renelle says. A few weeks ago, a father complained to Ms. Renelle after the school secretary refused to pull her out of class to come to the phone to answer a question about when a math test was scheduled. "These parents are used to instant answers," says Ms. Renelle. "They feel their needs should be met immediately." At Montclaire Elementary School [our best friends' child attends this school] in Los Altos, relations were until recently on a downward spiral. Caroline Marley, a third- and fourth-grade teacher at the school, says, "There was an attitude that teachers needed to be available to parents at all times. They would show up sometimes and say, 'You are going to talk to me now.' It was kind of a hostile arrangement." Last year, parents raised $130,000 to hire a full-time teacher and six aides to reduce class size and also organized volunteers to do filing and other tasks to ease the administrative burden on teachers. One group of mothers now delivers doughnuts to teachers during teacher-training days, when their children aren't at school. In Morgan Hill, much of the pressure on teachers such as Ms. Abad comes from economic transformation. Once a sleepy agricultural community, its fields now bloom with expensive new homes. More than half the town's residents commute to Silicon Valley jobs. A new private school, Morgan Hill Country School, opened two years ago, charges $7,600 a year for tuition, and has a waiting list for every grade. "A lot of us would send our kids to private school if we could afford it," says Ms. Austin, the parent who advised Ms. Abad on reading material. Ms. Austin is insistent and unapologetic about that encounter. "I respect teachers as much as ever," she says. "But now more than ever, we have to really advocate for our children. What the teacher says is not the final word. I feel like I am my children's teacher also, and I have to speak up for them," she adds. "More of the recent arrivals have a private-school perspective on public school," says Robert Davis, principal of Burnett, where test scores lag in part because about half the school's students still come from poor and immigrant families. "Some prospective parents walk in the door with proposed changes, and they haven't even experienced schools yet. They are out making it in the dot-com world, and they come in with a schedule to get the kids into MIT." He gestures across the street where a large field will soon hold a development of $500,000 homes. "Those parents will soon be in here," he says. Many parents say that just as consumers demand greater scrutiny of their physicians and other service providers, so they want to make sure their children are receiving the best quality of education. "There has to be more accountability," says Paul Nicca, vice president of the parent's association at Burnett Elementary. "If I don't perform in my job, I'm either gone or I have to work harder." Ms. Abad became a teacher five years ago because she always loved working with children. She makes $42,000 a year -- too little ever to afford a house or condominium in San Jose, where she grew up, or here in Morgan Hill, where the median housing price is $400,000. Teacher salaries in Morgan Hill start at around $33,000 and top out at $60,000 after 30 years. With $950 in rent for her share of a two-bedroom apartment, monthly car payments and her student loan, she frequently must borrow money from her mother and stepfather to make ends meet. Each school day, Ms. Abad leaves her San Jose apartment at 6:45 a.m. for the half-hour commute. Student projects fill her classroom: a construction-paper mural depicting life in the ocean, a caged cocoon about to hatch into a butterfly, spelling lists and science projects taped to the walls. In class, she is attentive and in control, moving from table to table, prodding students in their work. "If my day were just the hours between 7:45 when the kids come and 1:50 when they leave, that would be great," she says. Students are dismissed by 2 p.m., but most days, Ms. Abad doesn't leave until five because of staff meetings, committee meetings and preparing for the next day's lessons. Two evenings a week, she attends kick-boxing class. She carries her "teacher bag" home every night with extra paperwork: plans for a field trip, laminated pictures that need to be cut out for a class project, student journals that Ms. Abad responds to every day. "She's a natural," says Mr. Davis, the principal. "She engages kids and motivates them. She's enthusiastic and animated." Ms. Abad says most of the parents of her 20 first-graders are supportive. "I'm sure some would do my laundry if I asked them," she jokes. But sometimes, she says, they step over the line between interested and intrusive. One day last month, parents interrupted class three times to talk about issues involving their children, even though Ms. Abad gives out her home number and willingly schedules conferences before or after school. While several students clamored for her attention, Ms. Abad recalls, one parent spent 10 minutes discussing problems her child was having with homework. Later in the morning, a parent dropping off a late child began an impromptu conference about her child's progress. And 10 minutes before the final bell of the day, a third parent walked in to pick up some classroom handouts because she "happened to be in the neighborhood." "I don't want to cut off communication," Ms. Abad says, "but what are people thinking?" Several times a month, Ms. Abad gets together with some college friends. Four work in high tech, make significantly more money than Ms. Abad, and often urge her to switch careers. Another is a fourth-grade teacher still living with her parents because she can't afford a house. The New Economy friends, she says, plan to send their own children to private school or "have the nanny home-school them." "I've done all this training," she says. "This is my job. I don't want to have to wait to marry some Silicon Valley guy to be comfortable." Last year, Ms. Abad brought home a fellow teacher she was dating to meet her family. "Lose him," her mother, a pharmacist, declared tartly. "Do you want to live in the poorhouse the rest of your life?" The alternative, though, doesn't appeal to her. At a happy hour in a Silicon Valley bar one evening, she recalls, an engineer sidled up to her and began to make small talk. Then he asked her what she does. "I'm a teacher," she said. "Why are you a teacher? You're so bright." Ms. Abad declined the offer for a date. "It's in your face so much," she says. "In Silicon Valley, a lot of who you are is measured by your income." She teaches summer school for the extra money, but still she says, "I totally stress myself out when I balance my checkbook." She estimates that she spends $20 of her own money every week on classroom supplies. On a recent trip to a bookstore, she picks up two books for the week's project on oceans. "I probably shouldn't," she says. Last year, her parents gave Ms. Abad's younger brother, who makes nearly six figures a year as a lineman for Pacific Bell, a down payment to help him buy his first home. They offered the same to Ms. Abad. But she told them that on a teacher's salary, she would never be able to afford payments on a home in Silicon Valley. When Ms. Abad decided to become a teacher after graduating from college, her mother and stepfather enthusiastically approved. "They were very proud of me," she says. "I was in a profession that really made a difference." Now, her stepfather prowls the Sunday want ads, calling Ms. Abad with the names of companies willing to train new hires. At her goddaughter's first communion recently, Ms. Abad was teased by her mother about never having enough money and being "just a poor teacher." Her aunt, who works for Hewlett-Packard, took her aside. "All you have to do is give me your resume," she said. As the end of the month rolls round, Ms. Abad again e-mails her mother and stepfather for money. Her mother e-mails her agreement, and adds: "If you want to move back home, your room is ready." "I don't think that's OK at 28," Ms. Abad says. Prodded by her friends and family, she has begun updating her resume, still unsure what she will do. "It's a summer of making decisions," she says. Back at school, before a staff meeting, Mr. Davis takes Ms. Abad aside. With retirements and transfers, he must hire 10 new teachers this summer. He understands the tough conditions Ms. Abad is living with: His own son will become a teacher next year in Silicon Valley and is planning to live at home. "You are coming back next year?" he asks. "I'm planning on it," she says. On her desk, Ms. Abad finds a note left by one of her students. She picks it up and reads it. In the careful printing of a seven-year-old, it says: "If I had to pick my favorite teacher, it would be you." Write to Jonathan Kaufman at jonathan.kaufman@wsj.com --- If you've made it this far, you must have found this article of some interest. As some of you know, my mother Mary Lau taught at Greer Elementary school for many years. I've even heard from some of her students who were also Encina alumni. I have the utmost respect for the teaching profession and I'm proud that so many Encina alumni have gone into teaching. I'm curious to know what you teachers (and non-teachers) think about this article. Does it exaggerate? Is it accurate? Does it only apply to regions like Silicon Valley with a high cost of living. What is it like to be a teacher in America today? Please write and I'll include your comments in next week's update. Please make a note when you write if you want your comments keep private or anonymous. Looking forward to hearing from you. WHAT'S NEW 6/21/00: Steve Harrold 65, Susan Finlay 72, Mark Finlay 74, Lauren Finlay 76, Cassandra Beckstead 86, Patti Morgott 80, Christine Rea 70 update 6/20/00: Bill Knight 76, Jill Finlay 80, Michael Kramer 84/bio, Mike Pittsley 71 update, Ray Crandal 71/bio, Arby Davis 91 update, Debbie Lopes 73 update, Amy Dogias 85, Tina Willey 84, Samia Zumout 87, Jan Heintz 75, Joe Perez 71/bio, Georgia Fousek 80, Kathleen Sullivan 78, Carrie Rohde 89/bio 6/16/00: Rebecca Brandalick 93, Kirstie McCranie 93, Jill Polakoff 81/bio, Denise Thormod 75, Steve Thormod 72, Robert Horner 80, James Ferrier 65, Trudie Pool 66, Amey Bate 87 bio, Mark Hansen 70 update, Carrie Verzwyvelt 80, Jane Faubel 70, Marty Knight 78 6/14/00: Linda Terkoski 86, Dalene Weybright 75/bio, Christy Cooper 80/bio SPORTS What can you say about Tiger Woods that hasn't been said? Did anyone attend the US Open at Pebble Beach this year? Shaq and Kobe had to work hard to get a championship for the LA Lakers this week, finally overcoming the Pacers in game 6. I really don't think they wanted a game seven. I have a lot of respect for Larry Bird's Pacers after watching most of this series. A few breaks and it could have been the Pacers who won the championship for Bird. But with Bird retiring and many free agents, the Pacers probably won't be back next year. Awesome series. Awesome. Did anyone attend any of the games? I'd be interested to hear a firsthand report. Don't forget to RSVP for the homecoming party: www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming_form.htm and submit your contact information or bio: contact: www.encinahighschool.com/directory/submit_contact.htm bio: www.encinahighschool.com/submit_bio.htm Have a good weekend! Harlan Lau '73 Encina webmaster www.encinahighschool.com harlan@rambus.com