Welcome to my Homepage. It is truly a work in progress.
This is my first brave attempt at creating and updating a website. I'll be happy to listen to any comments or suggestions that you may have on how to make this page more usuable. Please understand that while computers have made some aspects of my life much simpler they also try my patience and sanity.
About Me
I graduated from Fowlerville High School a little bit ago. Being the oldest of five I wanted to put some space between me and the family so I headed over to Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University. It was at least a two hour drive at that time and it meant mom and dad and kids couldn't just hop over for a "visit." While I was there I signed up for Geo Sci 116 as part of my basic classes. What I heard and learned there gave my life a new direction. At that time the Theory of Plate Tectonics was just brand new and I thought that it was pretty amazing. Suddenly all the mountains and volcanoes and earthquakes and continent shapes and island arcs made sense. The picture was astounding and I wanted to be a part of it.
The geoscience field wasn't exactly populated with women at that time but there were a few of us brave souls. I couldn't see myself slogging out in the mud and chaos of an oil field, digging into a mine or sleeping on the edge of a volcano, but I could see myself sharing this exciting information with others. Geoscience also provided me with some unique opportunities for class work like rafting the Colorado River (Grand Canyon) twice, backpacking in Glacier National Park, and touring the Michigan iron mines on a campus bus. I was hooked. I signed up for the teacher training program. I had to collect rocks, play with stream tables, go on mini field trips and work with some of the best down-to-earth professors in the world. (pun intended) I also got to do my student teaching in the American School in Schevinengen, Holland and at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Summer Day School. I got my teaching certification in Earth and General Science through WMU in l972.
My first teaching position was at Bullock Creek High School just down wind from Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, MI. I became engaged that year and the summer of 1973 married Ray Merrill and was hired by Hartland Schools. I started teaching at the middle school since husband and wife, at that time, couldn't work in the same building. (Believe it!) I taught 8th grade Science for three years and coached 8th grade girl's basketball (three successful seasons!). In 1976 there were some severe budget crunches, some staff were layed off and I found myself teaching first and second year Chemistry at the high school and coaching Varsity Volleyball (its first year- ask Mrs. Devitt and Mrs. Lashbrooke about it!). Um, yeah . . it WAS the first year (1-11).
It took some time but I finally got to teach Earth Science. Hartland is one of few schools that requires Earth Science as part of their graduation curriculum. We were already ahead of the game by the time the state decided that it should be one-third of the MEAP science test - soon to be the MME.
Yep, I'm where I want to be, teaching what I want to teach, to the kids I want to reach. It can't get any better than that!
By now, you're probably either asleep, bored or actually wondering what I do with the non-school hours of my life.
Ray and I have two children- Kelly and Jeffrey.
Kelly is an Occupational Therapist in Kalamazoo. She is also a nationally certified medical message therapist. A-h-h-h-h. She met her husband Brent, an electrical engineer, at Western during a Sunday night Gathering. They are active in their church and have been able to go on several mission trips to Honduras and the hurricane damaged region of Mississippi.
Jeffrey is a sophomore at GVSU. He loves drama (two plays last year) and sings with the University Arts Chorale. The UAC has three concerts per semester so we often find ourselves headed west for an enjoyable afternoon or evening. Reports are that The Meadows, GVSU's own golf course, is a great place to unwind.
Church activities at Shalom Lutheran Church in Pinckney get a big part of my non-school time. We sing in the worship choir at both the "Traditional" and "Celebration" services. I love the music and the energy of the Celebration services. Ray writes dramas for the worship services which I have participated in and run some tech for them, too.
Last March, Ray and I flew to the Mississippi Gulf coast for a long weekend to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Check out the God's Katrina Kitchen website for info. The devastation was still unbelieveable six months later. My nephew and I headed up an effort to collect sweatshirts and jackets for the families of Long Beach, MS. We were able to collect about 700. Last spring I helped the Student Government collect tuxes and formal men's wear to dress the young men at Long Beach HS for their prom. The clothes were greatly appreciated.