As a young child, a painting of a red barn, a white horse and a mysterious figure mesmerized Eileen Reese. She would place herself inside the scene, imagining the horse was her own. As a teenager, Reese found solace sitting in a field with a herd of horses after her friends had moved away due to military base closings in Sacramento. “The horses … [Read more...]
When Joan Schreiner, of Chico, registered for college, her goal was to become a pediatric nurse. The many hours of babysitting experience she'd incurred at a young age helped her realize that working with children had to be part of her future. One summer, in-between semesters, Schreiner found a job working at a preschool. “It was so much … [Read more...]
It is the Redding School of the Arts (RSA) winter concert and 50 children from the Strings Program are ready to perform. The students stand with bows at the ready, poised to begin playing the pieces of music they’ve been rehearsing. Their teacher Sheri Eby reflects: “My goal for children is to love music. We're building tone and technique at … [Read more...]
Four years ago, Steve Williams was driving home from work when he spotted train tracks hidden in the grass on property next to a highway. He had been looking online to purchase a small train for his 4-year-old son Max. Diagnosed with a heart defect two days after his birth, Max had gone through several open heart surgeries. Steve located the … [Read more...]
When you first meet Jim Bettencourt, he immediately puts you at ease with a friendly comment and a little laughter. However, underneath that easygoing exterior is someone who has gone through deep pain and heartbreak due to the near-fatal drug overdose of his 15-year-old son, events that changed the course of Jim’s life. He wrote about his … [Read more...]
Some people seem so clearly made for the work they do that being around them is an inspiration. Redding music teacher Tom Burkett is one of those people. “I love kids, teaching and music. They go together naturally,” he says. “I’m able to share through my music a love of life and a joyful way of approaching the challenges we all … [Read more...]
At the age of eighteen, random chance led Marty Parker to a career as an instructional paraprofessional at Sierra View Elementary School in Chico. “A friend employed in special education encouraged me to apply for an aide position,” says Parker. “At the time, my various burger-flipping jobs had me in a depressed fog, so it was a relief to be … [Read more...]
April 12, 1981 was a powerful day for David Ewart, Director of the Schreder Planetarium in Redding. While thousands of Americans watched the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia on television, Ewart and his family were at the Kennedy Flight Center in Florida for the event. “The moment is still fresh in my mind as I watched the rockets … [Read more...]
Faelin Klein embodies the term “mama bear.” For 23 years, the diminutive blonde has fought long and hard to ensure her daughter has had access to the medical, educational and community resources she both needed and deserved. While this is not exceptional in itself, in many ways she has become a fierce advocate for thousands of children besides … [Read more...]
It’s no secret that statewide budget cuts have dramatically affected arts programs at many public schools. But thanks to a supportive administration, help from the community, and the passion of two teachers in particular, the arts continue to thrive at Corning Union High School (CUHS). Karen Atkinson teaches ceramics and drawing at CUHS, and … [Read more...]
