About the "Teacher Feature"
The Teacher Feature is designed to acquaint you with "another side" of our Academy teachers in addition to their professional lives. Each month, an interview and a few photo clips of a teacher will appear in the Teacher Feature. We have great people serving here at the Academy, and we want you to get to know and appreciate them. - Mr. Zimmerman
The following article was published on Nov 12, 2008.
Miss Alison Gooding
What do you do for fun?
I play Scrabble with my mother in the evening - her eyes just light up when I suggest it. To be informed, I like to read the Bangor Daily News and the Maine Sunday Telegram. Mum and I take a Tim Hortons lunch and eat at one special spot. We visit family in Presque Isle; I have a cousin and her family, an aunt, and a 97 year old grandmother who still lives independently there. When there are no stinging insects, I enjoy a little gardening and keeping a bulb bed at the cemetery.
What books or books have you recently read?
I have recently read Lost on a Mountain in one sitting to see if my memory of it was accurate. I was struck by Don Fendler's faith. Irwin's book , Blind Courage, makes faith more clear. What Happens When Women Pray was insightful; I enjoyed employing my predicting and previewing skills.
How did you spend the summer?
The theme was paint - at home and at school. With the help of the senior class, we painted room 207, my classroom. It took forever to dry because it was so damp this summer, but the room came out beautifully. I like order and tidiness, so the various stages of home repairs have been a real challenge; this summer, parts of the house have been in a state of disorder due to bathroom renovations. That part's been kind of a new experience. This summer, we had a number of home improvements done, including the building of a new ramp/step structure that won't float away in the next flood. In June, I went to a high school graduation for a friend's son. I also enjoyed attending an auction where I could just sit back, eat chocolate chip cookies, and listen to the auction chatter. When I go to auctions, I always have an eye out for antique Wedgwood and glass paperweights - not that I bid on them very often. I do have a particularly attractive glass millefiore paperweight in my collection, though. The center of it looks like a thousand flowers.
Of what church are you a member and in what ministries do you participate?
Military Street Baptist Church. When I am able, I sing in special-event choirs such as the one for the DC Washington concert and one for the "Hallelujah Chorus." Since my mother has an entire collection of photographs of church bulletin boards she has made, the missions team has consulted us about the creation of them. I have also enjoyed proofreading DVD scripts. Although I teach high school students here at GHCA, I have served as a VBS group leader for younger students (ages 6 -12) because I enjoy seeing the contrast in those age groups. This summer, as part of the "Not Quite Ready for Prime Time Players" drama group, I took part in a Reader's Theater presentation. Participating in our church's Faith in Action activities and going to a small Bible study group are also some areas of ministry I really enjoy.
Do you have a life verse? Why have you adopted it?
Jeremiah 29:11. When I rededicated my life to the Lord, I received a card from a friend with that verse. I found it to be so encouraging.
What have you done recently to better yourself professionally?
I am very pleased with how the laptop initiative has been seamlessly incorporated. It is already adding to classes as I have found opportunities to use it. We've had fun using laptops in class, and I've learned how to use the s-video connection to show students web pages on the room's television. For instance, when I needed it for class, I Googled a website for the 126th Aviation Air Ambulance Company C and put it up on the class television so students could see the people to whom they were writing.
What makes you want to get up in the morning?
It varies from day to day. In the early years when I was new to teaching, it was a praise and worship song and the sense that someone was praying for me. Different praise songs got me through the difficult times. Now, I have a sense of "there's a job to do." I have a mental (and written) "To Do" list. Late at night, I figure out what extra resources I need to take with me to school in the morning. Since I am not a morning person, I drop something on the floor the night before to remind me of what else I need to pack in the car. When I see the tissue thrown on the floor, it reminds me to grab the white gloves for the class play. That sounds a little weird, but it works for me.
What do you like about GHCA?
Lots of things. We have a spirit of unity, yet we will always have to cultivate it. I treasure our differences and our shared respect for one another. My days are different from one another, which allows for spontaneity. My days encourage me to use "mental gymnastics," as I did when I was the director of Literacy Volunteers. I value the fact that the staff, faculty, and students are committed to the same goal.
If you could design your dream school, what would it look like?
Well, I could design a "dream school," I suppose, with plenty of space and resources, but I figure we have the people God has ordained "for such a time as this" already in place here. If I had a dream school, I would find where I fit, what my niche is.
