Would-be rebel ends up in same profession as parents
Carrie Gilmore
Carrie Gilmore did not originally plan to be a teacher. With two educators for parents, the artist describes teaching as “something I did not want to do” when she was a rebellious youngster considering future careers.
Nevertheless, Gilmore obtained her teaching certification as a back-up plan at their urging, after first obtaining a master’s degree in art. And in early 1980, when her husband—also an educator—could not find work in Ohio due to ongoing teacher strikes, she and her family relocated to Houston.
“I tried to be a practicing artist, but life happened,” she explained. “I thought, ‘Well, I guess I’ll be an educator for a few months,’ but I was blessed to be put in a school where children were so enthusiastic about learning. They just soaked everything up like little sponges. I fell in love with the children and with teaching art. It was a perfect fit.”
Gilmore has now taught art to HISD students for 35 years, the first 14 at River Oaks Elementary School, and the remainder at The Rice School, where she has been since it opened in 1994.
“I’m enjoying it, too,” added Gilmore. “It’s not like I have any regrets. All of us are made to be creative in some way. And I haven’t met a kid yet who doesn’t like art. My goal is to give them the confidence that they need to trust their creative juices. If they do that, they can do marvelous things.”
Gilmore officially marked her 35th anniversary with the district on April 21, but a few other employees also observed theirs over the past few weeks (April 19–May 2). See if you know anyone on this list:
30 years
- Jerry Agnew, maintenance team lead, Construction & Facility Services
- John Burrisk, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Deborah Gouge, teaching assistant, Anderson ES
15 years
- Rose Hernandez, teaching assistant, Briscoe ES
10 years
- Joann Chavira, crossing guard, White ES
- Charles White Jr, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Queen Taylor, teacher, Roosevelt ES
5 years
- Nana Baffour, teacher, Welch MS
- Claude Johnson, associate teacher
- Rage Mohamoud, associate teachers
| Check back in future editions of eNews for more Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
Congrats Carrie! The easy smile on your face reveals that for 35 years you have indeed been “blessed to be put in a school where children (are)…enthusiastic about learning.” In such an environment kids will always “soak…everything up like little sponges.”
Congratulations Rose Hernandez! It has been GREAT working with you almost all this years!
Blessings!