
Donald PearsonAlbuquerque,
New Mexico
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