Zecora Wilcutt and her fifth graders with their teacher and Zecora's mentor, Mrs. McDonald

                    C A D E T   T E A C H I N G

One of the highlights of my senior year was Cadet Teaching at Alabama Avenue School. Miss. Hammond was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional honorary society for teachers, and as sponsor of SHS Future Teacher of America (F.T.A.) she tried to expose our club members to anything pertaining to the teaching profession hoping to encourage us to become teachers. We were included in many of the DKG activities and programs.

 Mrs. Tempie Neff, principal of Alabama Avenue, was a member of DKG and decided to create a Cadet Teaching program so that senior girls could come to her school for one hour each day during study hall and work with students one on one. Each of us had to provide our own transportation. For me that meant walking since I did not have a car and was the only Cadet Teacher that period. Sometimes a student running an errand for a teacher or Mrs. Vines' student teacher would give me a ride to the school. I would walk back to SHS rain or shine

On February 13 our great adventure began with Peggy King assigned to first grade, Sara Tidwell to third, Joanne McMoran to fourth and I was assigned to fifth grade.

Mrs. McDonald was a very kind soft spoken teacher. She seemed elated to have me in the classroom to help. The students were loving and very eager to learn, and I fell in love with those fifth graders immediately. The slower students and I would go to the library to work on spelling and reading the first 30 minutes and then the time left was devoted to helping in the classroom.

For Valentine's Day the students had made a large heart shaped envelope for each student, their  teacher and me. Each envelope was filled with valentines, one from each child. Mrs. McDonald had provided valentines for the students who could not afford them. It is now 50 years later and I still have my valentines in a scrapbook.

As graduation approached, Mrs. McDonald asked if I would send a graduation invitation to the class. I found out later that she used it as a lesson in etiquette. The invitation was sent as requested and to my utter surprise the last day with the students they presented me a lovely desk set and an Autograph Book that each had signed. Some wrote little personal notes and some wrote the "Roses are red, Violets are blue" poems but to me it was precious words from the hearts of precious children even the proposal from one little boy. Yes, I have the Autograph Book and from time to time I read all of those little notes again and remember those sweet faces.

Mr. Boley and our SHS teachers worked so graciously with Miss Hammond to schedule and provide this wonderful opportunity for the other girls and myself. I will treasure the experience forever.

Ten year later my first job as school secretary was at Alabama Avenue School and Headstart. Mrs.Neff had retired as principal, but returned three days a week to serve as volunteer librarian. Again we worked together as I learned the State Board of Education's method of bookkeeping. That was the beginning of 35 years service to Sheffield City Schools!!!!

It was my honor to work at Alabama Avenue School the last three years of its existence before  merging with the new W.A.Threadgill Elementary School. The old school has been remodeled and now is home to the Sheffield Board of Education. Gone are the beautiful hardwood floors and the lovely rotunda, the classrooms have been divided into offices, the library is now storage for old textbooks and the little office that I called home for three years is now the Board of Education Conference Room. The sound of children's voices has long been replaced with the hum of copy machine, faxes, computers, and ringing telephones but to me the memory of happy, laughing children eager to learn is foremost in my mind.

                                                                                          Zecora Wilcutt Sanders

Joanne McMoran (now Joanne McMoran Jefferys) with her class of fourth graders.

Ed. Note:  Of the four classmates whom Zecora names as being selected to be in the first group of SHS students in the Cadet Teaching program, three have had careers in education.  Peggy King taught math at Sheffield High for her entire career.  Sara Tidwell became a college placement director, and Zecora was school secretary and bookkeeper in Sheffield City Schools for 35 years.  Joanne McMoran became a R.N.