Slice of Life-A Chance Reunion

By CHERYL KIRKING

Last week we celebrated national teacher appreciation week, which historically takes place in the U.S. the first full week of May.

A couple weeks ago a serendipitous reunion took place between a popular regional country singer, Joe Sherman, of Beaver Dam; and the beloved teacher who taught him in her fourth grade class in Beaver Dam. This chance meeting took place at the Mesquite Community Theater on April 20, at the Country Roundup concert.

That afternoon the Mesquite Recreation Center’s Lifelong Cloggers group headed to the theatre to do a run-through for their appearance at the country music concert.

As the team of eighteen cloggers waited to take the stage to rehearse, Joe Sherman was doing a sound check. Miriam Brandt, the oldest and definitely one of the most energetic among the dance group, whispered to her fellow cloggers: “He was in my fourth grade class 17 years ago when I taught in Beaver Dam!”

Miriam taught for nine years in Beaver Dam, AZ, starting with 4th graders and later teaching 2nd graders during her nine years there. A beloved teacher, she is still inspiring others with her boundless energy, wit and contagious enthusiasm!

Joe, now 28; and Miriam, who is 82; had a bit of time to catch up before the big show and share some heartfelt memories.

Miriam delighted in hearing how far Joe has come with his music, which began with small gigs in high school and grew into his current profession.

Joe was amazed at how Mrs. Brandt had seemingly hardly aged and was as enthusiastic and inspiring as he remembered her!

What teacher might you reach out to this week, to let them know they inspired you, just like Mrs. Brandt inspired Joe?

This week is the perfect time to let our teachers: past and present, know how much they mean to us!

“Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.”
— Irish poet W.B.Yeats