Triumphs and Trials: Teacher Tales

By Zeldena Jones Stounhout

Triumphs and Trials is an honest discussion of the day to day experiences of a classroom teacher in America. It is depiction of the joys and sorrows all educators will encounter throughout their careers. Triumphs and Trials explores the unique talents of all teachers and exhibits how a career in education is more than a job; it is a calling and a mission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665710053

Zeldena Jones Stounhout

Zeldena Jones-Stounhout hails from a family of educators. Her mother was an educator and both of her siblings are educators. She believes she was born to be a teacher; it’s not only what she does, it is who she is. Her career spanned twenty-five years. In Triumphs and Trials, she offers an honest discussion of the day-to-day experiences of a classroom teacher in America. It depicts the joys and sorrows, and the challenges and obstacles, educators could encounter throughout their careers. Jones-Stounhout talks about her successes and failures as a teacher and how her faith in God helped her teach with wisdom, love, grace, and compassion. Triumphs and Trials explores the unique talents of all teachers and exhibits how a career in education is more than a job; it is a calling and a mission.

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Copyright © 2021 Zeldena Jones Stounhout.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1004-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1005-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021915051

Archway Publishing rev. date: 08/05/2021

Contents

Dedication Page

Introduction

A Few Words on The Importance of Faith

Cobalt

A.J.’s Journey

A Hole in The Wall

Charlesetta Ainsworth: A Southern Belle in The Midwest

Book Bag Part I

Book Bag Part II

Cupcakes in The Classroom

Dr. Amethyst: Loud Leader and Quiet Friend

Dr. Artichoke: A Fountain of Knowledge and Social Awkwardness

Chaos, Catastrophe, and Finally Comfort

The Attack on Trulanda Tate

Beautiful Belle

Mrs. Stounhout: The District Is Placing You on Administrative Leave Pending Further Investigation of Allegations of Child Abuse Against You

August 2018: The Last Time I Stepped into A Classroom

Applesauce

Requiem for My Mother

Requiem for My Father

Pantone: The Outsider

Amare: Pleasing to The Eye

Celadon: Young and Gifted

Principal Cinnabar

Principal Fuchsia

The Right Reverend Mrs. Vanomi Qualmer

The Importance of Being Physical

Nurse Valeska

Byzantine: School Year 2013-2014

November 9, 2016: Part I

November 9, 2016: Part II

Q: I Cannot Stand You

Chrome: No Fear of Fire

The Right Reverend Denim

Nickel

Beige

December 2016: Francis and His Battle with Prostate Cancer

Self-Preservation and Sobriety

Crimson: The Depiction of a True Overcomer

The School Bus

Jonquil

Trayetta Crain: The Amazon Consultant

Principal Blahara Yenard

Conclusion

About the Author

Dedication Page

This book is dedicated to my mother, my father, my sisters, my husband, my first cousin, and my coworker. My father was not only my hero but a hero in the Vietnam War; that war that did not acknowledge its heroes properly, so I acknowledge him here and now. My mother who did not let her age or time stand in the way of her achieving her dream of becoming a teacher. My first cousin, who was a beloved father, uncle, nephew, and brother; he understood the true meaning of family. My husband survived a devastating illness and loved and supported me through this project and this project called life. My sisters, who held me up after the death of our parents, wept with me during my tragedies, and danced with me during all my triumphs. My coworker, Dr. MC, who listened to my endless recollections and stories and encouraged me to write this manuscript.

Introduction

I come from a family of educators. My mother was an educator, and both of my siblings are educators. It never occurred to me to pursue any other career except teaching.

I had a career that spanned twenty-five years. I had just as many successes with my students as I did failures. Teaching is not like other careers; in other careers you give 100% of yourself and that will be enough to achieve success. Not so with teaching. Teaching is a calling, a mission, that requires we give 110% of ourselves every single day to our students, our co-teachers, and our community.

A career in teaching will not bring wealth or riches. A career in teaching will not bring you fortune and fame. A career in teaching is not a typical nine to five job. Teaching will mean long hours, meetings, and mountains of paperwork. Teaching will be demanding and exhilarating. Teaching brings just as much jubilation as tribulation.

I was born to be a teacher. Being a teacher was not only what I did but it was who I am. I could not have been effective in other profession. If I had the chance to choose another career, I would still choose teaching. I faced many challenges and obstacles during my time in the classroom. Was it worth it to return to the classroom every day for two decades? Yes, it was utterly worth it, and it truly made a difference in my life.

A Few Words on The

Importance of Faith

There will be days so difficult that you will question why you ever wanted to become a teacher. You are not alone in those feelings. All teachers have those days. Believe me I know! I had so many days filled with anxiety and uncertainty, yet I was able to survive and thrive in two financially challenged school districts that were populated with several at-risks students. How did I survive for 26 years as a public-school teacher? What advice do I have for you to survive those days? Cry out to the Lord, Our God. Pray to Him. Ask Him for His Help and His Divine Intervention. Prayer and an all-inclusive relationship with Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Father will sustain you.

Teaching is an occupation that will fill you with joy and sadness. My wish for you is that you experience more days that are joyful than sorrowful. There is one thing that all teachers who experience peace and longevity in the field of education have in common. They all have an unshakeable faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Choose now to enhance your spiritual and personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ; by doing this you will truly become a master teacher. You will teach your students with wisdom, love, grace, and compassion.

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Cobalt

Cobalt was in my third-grade class several years ago. He was a charming, handsome boy with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Cobalt was a born leader and a talented athlete. However, there were times when he could be very volatile and uncooperative. Cobalt appeared to be two distinct personalities in the body of one boy. Cobalt was a good reader and a gifted artist.

I remember Cobalt causing the school counselor, Mrs. Orange to lose all decorum. He was chewing a generous amount of bubblegum during a character education lesson. Mrs. Orange left her chair and began to write the lesson objectives on the board. While she was at the board Cobalt removed the gum from his mouth and stealthily placed in the school counselor’s chair. She came back and quickly sat down in the chair without looking.

At the end of the lesson, the school counselor got up from the chair but with some serious difficulty. The students informed her that there was a wad of gum stuck to the back of her dress. Mrs. Orange reached her hand around to the back of her dress and felt the moist sticky wad of gum. She was livid. Our school counselor was a woman who dressed very meticulously.

Mrs. Orange began to speak in a rather booming voice to Cobalt. She told him he would be receiving a discipline referral and that his mother would be held responsible for her dry-cleaning bill. Cobalt looked at Mrs. Orange with a look of complete