As we get older and more mature and experienced in life and in all of its lessons, we at times reflect back to the formative high school years and to our friends and teachers who had such an impact on our lives. Perhaps we didn't realize it at the time, but looking at where we are today could somehow be traced back to those special people who knew exactly what they were doing. Enter Joan Schneider, stage right; smart, thoughtful, perceptive, creative, impactful. Great laugh. Piercing eyes. Many layers. Intimidating. Open. Honest. Gracious. I was fortunate to spend time with her as a student in her classroom and a student on her stage. After high school, she, Gary Brzuchalski and I created a performing group named Aurora Productions. I got to know "Joanie" as a friend and a woman, and still a student, but now of life. I remember how uncomfortable I felt when she said I could call her Joanie instead of Ms. Schneider. She respected us all as equals and saw things in us we had not yet discovered in ourselves. I have so many memories of our times together which I will cherish and reminisce with tears and laughter, and I know I am not alone in this. All who have met Joanie and who have been a recipient of all that is Joanie know exactly about what I'm saying. Thank you Joan Schneider. Thank you for being my friend, my cheerleader, my motivator, my means to my therapy sessions on stage. I, Wallenpaupack High and the community will forever be indebted to you for influencing the lives of so many of us and for creating such outstanding productions on stage and of people. You will be deeply and sadly missed and will continue to live on in all of us. Brava to an unprecedented performance! Heaven, look out! Joanie is in the house! We will all anxiously await the angels' revival of Jesus Christ Superstar! Only the best director for all that is holy!

Ms. Schneider always told me I was the best (probably one of the thousands she had said that to). She just knew how to make a student feel good. By her saying that, I grew to love going to theatre class (so much so that I had run out of classes to take with her, so my senior year, I repeated a class I already took). I had so much respect for her. She was very real when she spoke to a class or to you privately. I remember the year the school did Wizard of Oz, MS. Schneider asked some of us football players to be in the play, which I think all of us were happy to help out. I remember opening up the program they hand out and looking at the area where people were recognized for their monetary donations and sure enough there was a donation with the words Joey Andersen, you're the best (not sure of the exact wording in the program). It was anonymous, but I knew it had to be from her. There were so many times I wanted to stop at her house on my way to work ( I'm now a teacher at Wallenpaupack, Ms. Schneider being a big inspiration) but wasn't sure if she would remember me. I regret that now but just want to thank Ms. Schneider for everything. You were the best.

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One never liked to disappoint Joanie. During  rehearsals for "Mister Roberts", Joanie said to me "I'd love to have a real goat". (This was for the scene when the drunk sailors come back on board after liberty).    I made a call, and borrowed  "Georgie", who lived with my family for the weekend of performances. He was quite a hit!  

However, goats also poop pellets, pretty much constantly; many of the cast took turns following  him around with paper bags during his off-stage moments.

National Forensic Tournament  May 2003 (?).   Joanie and Ann Marie Simons coached a great team and we took two vans of competitors and judges to Washington, DC.   Forensics means a lot of time preparing,  and a lot of time waiting for decisions, to find out who goes on to the next round.  So this is a very typical photo of Joanie, surrounded by the best of the best !