'Just a drop; not a lot' - 28 years of teaching

Pam Cole has taught kids all over the world, from Florida to Jakarta, Indonesia. But she's spent most of her career teaching elementary school kids in Sisters, and it's from here that she is retiring after a 28-year career.

Cole's career was so peripatetic because her husband Greg's U.S. Navy service took them all over the world. She seldom had a chance to establish herself longer than three years in any location. However, there were some wonderful experiences.

She recalls the International School in Jakarta with a kind of wonder. Resources for teachers were seemingly inexhaustible.

"It was like Disneyland for teachers," she said.

A school in Westfield, New Jersey, was also special.

"They were having their 280th anniversary," she recalled. "It used to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. They were so steeped in tradition."

Cole aced every interview she ever had, got every teaching job she tried for. Eventually, she settled at Sisters Elementary School, where she would spend the next 15 years teaching grades 1-4.

"I like where every day is different," she said. "We have a little routine, but you never know what's going to happen."

Cole's fellow teachers - many of whom she recommended for hiring - love her.

Joni Stengel has taught right next door for years and she chuckles at Cole's never-ending efforts to keep second-graders from making a giant mess with their glue.

"I always know when she's doing art, because I hear her say 'Just a drop! Not a lot!'" Stengel said. "It comes right through the wall. I always smile when I hear that."

"Her organization and skills of addressing all needs of kids makes her a master teacher," said Kathy Powell. "She brings a great balance of compassion and care while holding all students accountable to achieve their very best."

Cole has loved her time in Sisters, especially the opportunity to watch her students flourish in their school career.

"That was the thing I always missed when Greg was in the Navy," she said. "It's been a real treat to see kids graduate - and get taller than me."

Cole knew it was time to hang it up this year as she felt the passion for teaching start to wane just a bit.

"It's just been this year that I started thinking maybe I'd like to be doing something else today," she said.

Greg, who is a human resources manager at Black Butte Ranch, is also planning to retire, and the family is planning an Alaskan cruise to celebrate the Coles' 40th wedding anniversary.

Cole will miss teaching in Sisters, and she'll miss the colleagues for whom she has profound respect.

"This town is very special," she said. "They're very lucky to have some wonderful, wonderful teachers here... some of the best teachers I've ever worked with. And I'm going to miss them a lot."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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