October 13, 2004

Dear Teacher Corps Friends:

Since it’s not likely that I’ll be able to join you at the reunion, here’s a rundown on what’s been happening in my life since I last saw you: 

• You may remember that I was the first trainee to resign (I truthfully couldn’t stand the C.S. from EPISD (y noestoy hablando de “con safos”). I sincerely hope that the EPISD people are much more enlightened thirty years later!
• Shortly afterwards, Salvador Valdez, Arturo Franco, Alberto Franco, and Guillermo Acosta also resigned (I know that some of them later returned to teaching). Together we published Nosotros Magazine until 1974.
• After a short stint at El Paso SER as a GED instructor, I spent the next six years (until 1981) working at Montgomery Ward in Cielo Vista Mall; part of that time was as a leased department manager and later as the customer service manager.
• In 1981 – 1983, for about a year and a half, I was news and production director for the Spanish-language radio station XEZOL, working out of the El Paso studios (best job I ever had, except for the money).
• From 1984 to 1989 I was first a teacher, then academic dean at Durham College, which used to be at the corner of Wyoming and Cotton. As dean I instituted programs in Import-Export Specialist, Bilingual Secretary, and Small Business Management (I taught the Spanish courses as well as some other subjects). Unfortunately, the redneck owners from Tennessee didn’t see the value of the aforementioned programs (which were well-attended) and cut them within a couple of years.
• From 1989 to 1996 I taught computer classes (as well as a few other subjects, mainly in the business English area) at International Business College on Zaragosa. I left El Paso for Albuquerque in March 1996.
• Other than jobs, while I was still in El Paso I cut a record in 1973 and continued my career as a semiprofessional mariachi singer/composer until about 1983. I also assisted Bert Salazar with the publishing and editing of the monthly tabloid El Paseño between 1985 and 1990. And I married the former María Gómez in 1990 (we’re still married).
• My first four years in Albuquerque were mainly dedicated to working as a software instructor at Computer Corner, which provides service and training in addition to retail. Since January 2001 I’ve been the Chief GED Examiner at Albuquerque TVI, the local community college. Things have been going well for me at TVI; I make it to El Paso at least twice a year to see old friends and my wife’s relatives.
• No children of my own, but I helped raised María’s two daughters and one son, and at this point we have four grandchildren (the latest was born August 30). And I’m still enjoying a completely bilingual-bicultural lifestyle.

Unas palabras al final: Me renuncié del Teacher Corps única y exclusivamente porque no toleraba la política del EPISD. Me encantaba trabajar y estudiar con ustedes y tengo muy buenos recuerdos de todos; también de los alumnos y los padres de familia. Que se diviertan todos en la reunión.

Su seguro servidor, 

Don Pearson