Sharon Peterson Clark

After High School:
In June of 1958 I headed for Sam Houston to start my undergraduate life. I graduated early in December of 1961, then began teaching in Spring Branch ISD and loved it. I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for three years and taught school there, too. The school I taught in was in the south valley with all low income kids. We were a professional development school for the University of New Mexico. I learned so much about teaching while there. Albuquerque has a teacher’s union, too, so I learned a lot about how unions operate. I closed loans at a title company in Albuquerque for a year waiting for a teaching job. Now that was an interesting experience. I closed a loan for a local mobster. My boss told me I should keep the papers in my car trunk. I didn’t think that was nearly as funny as he did. I loved the climate in Albuquerque.

After that I lived in London for six months. I planned to go to cooking school there, but had a baby instead. I had married my college boyfriend while in school at Sam and he was doing some research at the British museum. Soon I lost my Texas accent and everyone there thought I was Australian.   I came back to the states with Shannon (my daughter) when Air Canada was on strike.  Our plane had to refuel in Washington, DC before heading to Chicago then Los Angeles, where I planned to stay with my brother for a while. The entire trip was eight hours longer than scheduled because of the strike.  I was never so happy in my life to see my brother waiting at LAX. If you want to hear the rest, at the reunion ask me about the ice storm in Chicago and deplaning from a 747 on steps to the tarmac with a baby on one shoulder and a suitcase on the other. Oh yes, we also we had to be towed into deplaning position at LAX, but at least we had a walkway into the terminal.

My family moved to Waller and lived close to my parents on the family farm. I wanted to raise Shannon in the country. I commuted to Spring Branch ISD for a year, and decided to work in Waller ISD. I became a teacher in Waller, then a principal, then a curriculum director. I also worked as adjunct faculty for Prairie View A & M University. An educational company lured me away to work for them in their online graduate program. I traveled a lot when I was with them. I learned to love Arizona, where the company is located.

During my time in Waller, I divorced, remarried and had another daughter, Shelley. My husband, Ross, and I have been married for almost thirty-one years. He has three children from his first marriage, I have Shannon, and we have Shelley. We have a “yours, mine, and ours” family. He has many grandchildren and several great grandchildren. My daughter Shannon married last May, so I have my fingers crossed for a grandbaby someday.

Today:
These days I do consulting work for another Arizona company and give seminars for teachers who need to pass the state test for certification. Ross and I wrote a manual we used in our classes at PVAMU and we use it for workshops now. This past year is the first time I have slowed down and I have to say I like it. I read a lot, as always. One of my greatest joys is a “girl’s day out” with my daughters. Shannon lives in Austin, so we have to plan the days. Our last “big” trip was to Las Vegas to see the Rolling Stones. We had a blast!!! This month we are having a birthday weekend for Shelley in Austin. Ross and I like to travel, too. We have three “furry grand puppies” – all rescued and a cat. I can’t wait to see all of you at the reunion.