It is always difficult when we lose great people in education. Recently, Jim Goggin, a principal in Houston Independent School District (HISD) died at age 55. Several years ago Jim hired me to work as a consultant at his school, Herod Elementary. I thank him for the opportunity to work with his teachers there on guided reading and literacy work stations. It was also one of the places where I worked with teachers on how to set up their physical space, too.
At his memorial service I learned so much more about this fine man. One person whom I met at his service remarked, “You must be a really top-notch educator, because he was really choosy about who worked with his students and teachers.” His friends have set up a memorial page on Facebook.
Times like this always make me reflect about what others will remember about us after we’re gone. I’m reading a book, One Month to Live, by Kerry and Chris Shook. It addresses the idea of how we might live if we only had a month left in our lives. Carpe diem!
Debbie Diller 