Mrs. Pauline Jonason

525 Banyan Road

Vero Beach, FL 32963-1730

Dear Mrs. Jonason,

It feels like forever since the afternoons in your art classroom at Hicksville Senior High School, in Hicksville, NY.  I can always remember your smile, ready to greet all of us morning, noon or night.  Because of you I dared do volunteer work, fundraising and got involved in school politics.  I can’t help remembering all the long afternoons working on the senior prom committee, class trips to Florida and Montreal, CANADA and the yearbook.  I remember as clear as day when you thought it would be a great picture for the yearbook, if the class officers and helpers went up on the roof and posed.  So here we are 6 high school seniors and 1 54 year old class advisor climbing out the third floor window and trying not to laugh.  It did make a great picture, you were right as usual.

All of your students and seniors affectionately referring to you as “Mom,” we all had mothers, they didn’t understand us like you seemed to.  You dealt with us like we were adults, expected things from us, and held us accountable, you respected us and we respected and loved you.  I always felt a little sorry for the next few classes that came up after us that they never got to experience you; we were the lucky ones, you retired the year we graduated.

Your classroom was so comfortable, all of our art was displayed, we knew we always had a place to come during study hall, after school, during lunch; your door was always open.  As a teacher you were so supportive without being overly critical.  You would tell us about working on the LuLu cartoons in the 40’s, your first job as a voice over artist.  You had so much life experience we all loved to listen as we drew our assignments.  You would coast around the room stopping to work and discuss technique or next steps.   It was a very intimate exchange you knew each of us as people as well as students.

I didn’t ever use my art for a job like I had hoped back then, but what I did use was the skill you taught me about sharing what I know with others and making them feel comfortable enough in their own skills to share with me.  It has served me well in all my jobs and hopefully it will in my new career as a teacher.  I think you’d be proud that I have chosen to teach, I think you always knew I could.

 As a parent, I know that I want to protect and give my children everything; I want them to stay children as long as they can but I also want them to turn out to be good adults one day too.  I learned from you that it doesn’t happen overnight, you have to start with a little at a time, lessons without lecturing, love without strings.

I love you and I miss you Pauline, I hope you are well.

With Love,

Kelly M. Staten