Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Fitzgerald Takes On Student Problems and Schedules After spending three years as a principal at a Catholic school, I decided that wasn't the position I wanted. So I thought about what I liked about being an administrator, and that was talking to the students and their parents about their problems. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to be a counselor.” explained South House Counselor Charles Fitzgerald. At that same Catholic school he spent six years teaching English to sixth and seventh graders before becoming principal. He also taught English to sixth graders at Olle Middle School. Mr. Fitzgerald was a counselor at Alief Middle School for three years and at Olle for one year. I needed a change. I had spent 15 out of my 16 years in the education field with junior high aged students. I have found that the high school students are more sophisticated and can After belngacounseloron the junior high level, Mr. Fitzgerald decided it wastime for a change. Photo by B. Mitchell JV football Coach Pless, and a new sophomore football and JV baseball. Coach Bess, pride themselves in winning teams. Photo by K. Groves find the words to discuss their problem unlike the junior high students, revealed Mr. Fitzgerald. The two factors that influenced me in becoming a counselor were reading in psychology and human growth and development; and secondly, my friends told me that I was an intentive listener.” From counseling I have received two things, longtime friendships with students and staff, and the satisfaction of playing a role in the student’s life. If Mr. Fitzgerald wasn't a counselor, he fantasizes himself as a writer of novels and plays. Part of me never fully developed the ability to write. My teachers in high school and college told me I had the talent. I just never disciplined myself to do it. Mr. Fitzgerald still has many outlines of short stories and plays he wants to write. Mr. Fitzgerald is a native Houstonian and attended St. Thomas High School. He later attended the University of St. Thomas for his bachelor’s degree in English; Sam Houston State for his teaching credentials; and the University of Houston for his masters in guidance and counseling. While in high school Fitzgerald swam and participated in speech and drama. He was voted best actor twice, made the Honor Roll, and when he was a senior, the faculty voted him as one of the best top 10 in high school. His hobby was gardening. He claims his yard was mostly a giant flower bed. but he plants vegetables, too. He loves to read, and his favorite book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, a Russian immigrant. Fitzgerald also enjoys traveling. He has been all over Southwest Texas. California. Mexico, Arizona, and Louisiana. By Felicia Wasylina. Reporter Faculty 227

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After learning the proper way to cut wood, Junior Lee Cates made a clock in Mr. McKie's award-winning woodshop class. Photo by M. Spillcr Mrs. Moore Has More Essay Winners, Enjoys Books, Travel Appointed five years ago by Elsik’s first principal Ann O'Donnell. English Department Head Mrs. Kay Moore has applied to the National Council of Teachers of English, to make Elsik a center for excellence. “The goal for the department is mainly to get recognition for both the students and teachers. We had more students enter and win essay contests. explained Kay Moore. Mrs. Moore was born in McKinney. Texas, a small town outside of Dallas. In high school. Mrs. Moore was in NHS. “We didn’t have sports for girls, otherwise I would have been on the track team. she said. Also while in high school, she belonged to a 30 member club called TAC, Teen Ager Club for Camp Fire Girls. In her senior year. Mrs. Moore was the class salutatorian. She went to college at North Texas and complete her masters degree in New Orleans at Loyola College. Mrs. Moore taught 9th and 12th grade English for eight years. She spent 10 years teaching English. American History and Government in New Orleans. Austin and Dallas. “I like teaching for the obvious reasons of working with students, and for the fact I enjoy reading! said Mrs. Moore. Mrs. Moore also Over vacation, English teachers, Beth Kennedy, Kay Moore, and Donna Lauter traveled to Colorado. enjoys aerobics, running, gourmet cooking, reading, and traveling, she and her husband were in a literary club. “The club gets together at least once a month. We read a book and discuss the plot, theme, and character types.” They have also traveled to South and Central America. England, and France and hope to go on a photo safari to Kenya. Africa. By F. Wasylina, Reporter Not only has Mrs. Moore climbed Long’s Peak in Colorado, but she also has been to Europe. 226 Faculty

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From Translator to Teacher Muckleroy Experiences Life To The Fullest At one time she wanted to be a translator for the government. But Mrs. Jean Muckleroy. 30 years ago. changed her mind and became a business teacher. It was more practical to be a business teacher because if I were ever out of work, I could probably get an office job.” explained Mrs. Muckleroy. She also wanted to be home with her children. Mrs. Muckleroy has been married for 30 years to Roland Muckleroy. They have two sons. Ted. a Dallas contractor, and Jeff, a senior at the University of Texas. Mrs. Muckleroy and her mother had a Mrs. Muckleroy's family con- sists of Roland. Randy, Brenda. Ted. and Jeff, a senior at the UT. close relationship, and started teaching at the same time. Her mother taught English in Nacogdoches. They also went on a trip to Europe visiting France and England. She loved to travel and has also been to Mexico. She enjoyed seeing if her Spanish was accurate and if she could understand it. Mrs. Muckleroy's interests included classical art and history. While in Europe, she visited museums, galleries, and cathedrals. She attended art and history lectures at the Fine Arts Museum, and for history lectures, she attended meetings for the Sons for the Confederacy at the Briar Club. The art lectures are very interesting and there’s something new to learn about each one. Instructors would show an art slide, and tell what was happening in the artist’s life and the country around him. They would also talk about wars, economics, and leaders.” explained Mrs. Muckleroy. She planned on returning to Europe when Jeff graduates from the UT. He also wanted to go to law school. I seriously considered being an interpretor in high school, because I love to travel and meet people, but I married young and it just didn't seem practical and the teaching business did. Mrs. Muckleroy taught typing. Gregg Shorthand and Notehand. I don’t have a favorite class to teach, each one has something different about it to make it interesting,” said Mrs. Muckleroy. I feel students should be aware of their potential because each one has something unique about them whether they realize or not.” The most rewarding thing is helping the students, not just in the classroom but also to realize they need to learn to love themselves so they can learn to love others. expressed Mrs. Muckleroy. She finds it interesting when she runs into former students. She taught Art teacher Mrs. Graham at Westbury High School. Mrs. Muckleroy also attended administrative classes j with South House Assistant Principal Frank Jarrett. She gave him credit for bringing her to Alief. “Alief is one of the | best school districts in Houston and students have very good reasons to have pride and spirit in Elsik and they should show it!” By F. Wasylina, Reporter The President of Galveston Heritage Society spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Muckleroy at a charity dinner at a Greek Revival Mansion. Muckleroy's fifth period to meet her expectations Notehand class works hard Photo by K. Groves 228 Academics Faculty