Welcome Back...to school

 Things are officially crazy right now. I am needing to be full-on teacher Cathy for a while. I decided to move to the High School. It has been quite a chore - moving all of my 42 years of teaching to a new building, setting up a new classroom, getting used to all of the NEWS and figuring out what High School Teacher Biebs looks like!

I am loving the high school, even with all of the extra work. I love the staff. They are all so kind and devoted to our kids. There are so many reasons why I love working with Multilingual Learners. I was a bit afraid that the kids wouldn't be glad to see me again - I had them all in Middle School. However, they are welcoming me with open arms. What a blessing it is!!! 

I am hopeful that I will get to write again once the dust settles...

Just Like Jerry

 I am having a great time editing this old friend. There are some pretty major changes to be made. First of all, I have to figure out how to get the amazing history of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi into the story without having it sound like a history lesson. 

Also, there is no evidence that there were actually indigenous people within the house at any time. However, given Shepard's sense of justice and his liberal views - he educated the children of the tribe - I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the story I'm telling has more truth than just the Trail of Death facts. There is something about this house and this tribe that speak to me. I'm hoping that they will speak to an agent or editor some day.

 Hello again!

So, I stopped writing for a while. You may have noticed. A lot has happened. My agent decided to stop being an agent, my mom passed and I decided to go back for a second Master's Degree. My mom's death has hit me very hard. She was my best friend and biggest cheerleader. I miss her every single day.

I am loving my TESOL certification and feel very passionate about welcoming and helping our nation's immigrants. Teaching Multilingual Learners has fulfilled me in a way that I hadn't felt in a while. Teaching has certainly changed since COVID. There are so many students who don't know how to socialize or co-exist in a school setting. However, working with my MLs has been more than rewarding.

 never stopped writing. I am still the person who wakes up in the middle of the night with story ideas. It feels very good to write again. I have also decided to start submitting again. Wish me luck!