February 28, 2021
February 28, 2021
When I first met Val well over a decade ago, she was making punch for a graduation ceremony. She greeted me with a beautiful smile and a friendly hello. I asked how I could help and that started our tradition of cutting cake and serving punch together for every graduation as well as and other school events. It also began our long friendship. At that time, Val and I were not working together. She was a Para-Educator for another Education Specialist. I was overjoyed when I found out at the beginning of the next school year that Val was going to become my Para-Educator. We became partners and worked together ever since.
To me Val was an angel on Earth. I always told her that. As others have mentioned in their posts, she was a dedicated hard worker and was always there to help out. She did not have her children in our school, but she donated countless hours to support our school and students. Most people do not know that Val usually came to work early each day and left well pass her required time. I could never thank her enough for all of her hard work and dedication.
I have so many memories of working together and she will be irreplaceable, but my favorite memories are of our friendship. It is all of the little things that I am going to miss the most. Greeting each other every morning, laughing together, a lot, celebrating the special moments in our family’s lives, being dedicated mothers and wives. We loved being moms and were so proud of our kids. We enjoyed eating lunch every day together and with our friends. We loved to talk about our favorite shows we both watched; Walking Dead, Vikings, and the Last Kingdom to name a few. We would sometimes cry together, vent our stress to each other, we always had each other’s backs, and we often knew what each other was thinking.
We both love to organize everything and she was a pro. She was also a brilliant scheduler. We have spent countless hours over the years working on schedules. She was always able to find the solution when we were stuck. She was also an excellent mover. We must have changed our room around 7-8 times over the years. We were well practiced and we liked to joke that we should open a moving company.
A several years ago, Val went back to school to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. I was so proud of her. It is not an easy task to go to school when you are working fulltime and a wife and mother of four children. Val also cared for and supported her extended family members during that time. Amazingly,Val attended the same college as my daughter and graduated the sameday so I was attend her ceremony and she her graduate as well.
Val was my rock and she was always right there to help and support me. She would remind me not to work too hard and sit down and eat my lunch. She would tell me not to worry or stress out. I could always count on her as she was an excellent teacher and so kind and caring to our students. She always wanted to do something special for them. So we would plan celebrations for them at the Holidays. She loved to do a camping theme unit at the end of the year. The kids always loved it as she made s’mores in the microwave. It was one of their favorite treats. They would ask if we were going to have them at the end of the year. The students loved and adored “Ms. Val”.
Val was such a bright light in this world and I cared for her so much and I will miss her terribly. Words are not enough to describe how amazing she was. She was an exceptional partner, true friend, and she had such a beautiful caring soul. I know she is soaring with the angels.
To me Val was an angel on Earth. I always told her that. As others have mentioned in their posts, she was a dedicated hard worker and was always there to help out. She did not have her children in our school, but she donated countless hours to support our school and students. Most people do not know that Val usually came to work early each day and left well pass her required time. I could never thank her enough for all of her hard work and dedication.
I have so many memories of working together and she will be irreplaceable, but my favorite memories are of our friendship. It is all of the little things that I am going to miss the most. Greeting each other every morning, laughing together, a lot, celebrating the special moments in our family’s lives, being dedicated mothers and wives. We loved being moms and were so proud of our kids. We enjoyed eating lunch every day together and with our friends. We loved to talk about our favorite shows we both watched; Walking Dead, Vikings, and the Last Kingdom to name a few. We would sometimes cry together, vent our stress to each other, we always had each other’s backs, and we often knew what each other was thinking.
We both love to organize everything and she was a pro. She was also a brilliant scheduler. We have spent countless hours over the years working on schedules. She was always able to find the solution when we were stuck. She was also an excellent mover. We must have changed our room around 7-8 times over the years. We were well practiced and we liked to joke that we should open a moving company.
A several years ago, Val went back to school to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. I was so proud of her. It is not an easy task to go to school when you are working fulltime and a wife and mother of four children. Val also cared for and supported her extended family members during that time. Amazingly,Val attended the same college as my daughter and graduated the sameday so I was attend her ceremony and she her graduate as well.
Val was my rock and she was always right there to help and support me. She would remind me not to work too hard and sit down and eat my lunch. She would tell me not to worry or stress out. I could always count on her as she was an excellent teacher and so kind and caring to our students. She always wanted to do something special for them. So we would plan celebrations for them at the Holidays. She loved to do a camping theme unit at the end of the year. The kids always loved it as she made s’mores in the microwave. It was one of their favorite treats. They would ask if we were going to have them at the end of the year. The students loved and adored “Ms. Val”.
Val was such a bright light in this world and I cared for her so much and I will miss her terribly. Words are not enough to describe how amazing she was. She was an exceptional partner, true friend, and she had such a beautiful caring soul. I know she is soaring with the angels.