12/15/2023 0 Comments Rosa kindergarten copWhen my son, nieces and nephews share stories, it takes me back to my days in the frog room.” “It’s fun talking to my brothers about all the memories we have. “It’s amazing how many families she’s inspired and educated,” said Bryson. Her two older brothers, her son, now 13, three nephews and two nieces all had Trotter as well. Jamie Bryson was in Trotter’s class in 1995. Trotter said she modeled her classroom environment on the one she experienced in Bean’s class in George Gray Elementary in Wilmington, which no longer exists. One of her favorite teachers growing up was her own kindergarten teacher, Ruth Bean. He was an entrepreneur who started multiple businesses including a deli and corner store, while also working in real estate and construction. Her father lit her passion for knowledge and helped her establish a gritty work ethic. “My mom ran her private daycare and I would often read books to the children who were younger than me.” “I realized that I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher at 8 years old,” she said. Trotter says her interest in teaching and compassion with children stems from her mother Mary’s profession: a childcare worker. “I took courses and worked closely with school principals,” she said, “and I just knew that being in the classroom, working directly with the kids, was what I was made to do.” It was more than 30 years ago, when she became interested in moving up into school administration. Trotter, whose calm, soothing voice and demeanor come through even during a telephone call, said she only thought once about leaving the classroom. “We, too, had somehow blended into the room, and I felt perfectly at home.” Inspired by parents Pennington still remembers the flashes of bright green nail-polish that blended in with the classroom decor. “Above the happy clamor was the jingling sound of the multitude of bracelets that lined Mrs. Our singing grew louder and became interspersed with giggles,” Pennington recalled. “Her eyes and smile welcomed us to join in, and soon, the room was filled with the discordant murmur of 20 kindergarteners accompanying Mrs. On the first day of class, Pennington recalled, Trotter asked her students to make a circle around her, and began to sing, “Miss… Ma… ry… Mack, Mack, Mack…” while moving her arms along with the music. “She incorporated a lot of music into her teaching which really brought life and spirit to the room,” said one of her former students, Ashley Pennington, who’s now a senior at a college in London. They not only will remember all those frogs, but a cheery, encouraging woman who sang to and with the children, and often played music while students worked. Her students would end up spanning several generations, with Trotter often teaching many people from the same extended family.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |