I left home at the age of 15 when I was a freshman in high school. I moved into the basement of the social studies teacher. His name was Denis F. Carey and he not only encouraged me to stay in school, but my grades improved and he sold me on the idea of college, first an AA in Fine Art, then a B.A. Edc. from the teacher’s college EWU with a double major and double minor, language arts. Then my Master’s in Education diverse learners, then my PhD in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University. I started out going into the nurses program at the local hospital…and later going to several colleges for other programs as well. I am the first male out of 3 siblings to graduate high school little alone college, I have 5 sisters and only one of them graduated high school, but didn’t go on to college…my dad dropped out in the 5th grade, his father made it to the 3rd…my mom got a GED and went to beauty college. I have to give credit where it is due…Mr. Denis F. Carey of Millwood Washington just outside Spokane.He was a good and decent Catholic man who was there for me when I needed him most…and still is some 40 years later. I also had a great first grade teacher, named Miss Meyers at Eugen Fields Elementary in Neosho Missouri…she taught me to love learning and not to be afraid of school. Teachers have far more impact on young lives than they may ever really know. The illustrator of my children’s books is also a teacher…retired after 40 years…Dorothy M. Speiser DMS Galleries in Estes Park Colorado…she was the classic example of what a teacher should be. If you have any questions you have but to ask.