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A pioneering educator leaves a legacy of caring

By BILL STEVENS
Published June 9, 2007

Joan Palma was an educator in Pasco County for 27 years. She died last month and was honored this week by the School Board, which named the media center at Cotee River Elementary in her honor.
	[Handout]

Parents pitched tents to preserve their place in line. It had the feel of a rock concert or major sporting event. But these campers jockeyed for position simply because they wanted the best education for their children.

Such was the power of Richey Fundamental School when my first-born arrived at kindergarten age in 1987. Should we stand in line to get our names high on the list?

Joan Palma read our stories about Richey, which at the time boasted of a disciplined program in which parents signed a promise to participate in their child's education. She didn't like the implication that Richey was better than other schools, and in a stern voice made me feel like I'd been summoned to the principal's office.

"You come to my school," she commanded.

I did.

Mrs. Palma met me at the door at Schrader Elementary School. In the next few hours, she proudly pointed out the good work of her teachers and students, the heavy involvement of parents. One thing was certain: This school had a strong, passionate leader. What could be more important?

Some years later I was amused to read that Mrs. Palma had accepted the job of principal at Richey. Then, in 1994, she moved to head up the new Cotee River Elementary. Typical of Mrs. Palma, she showed up during construction in a hard hat and directed men working on the media center.

This week, the Pasco School Board named that media center in Mrs. Palma's honor. And on Thursday, which would have been her 67th birthday, dozens of her former teachers joined with friends and family members to celebrate the distinguished educator, who died April 29 after a long bout with cancer.

One by one they described a firm, demanding woman with high expectations. But mostly they remembered a tireless advocate for handicapped children. Mrs. Palma was a pioneer in Pasco for including special needs children in regular classrooms. She insisted that these children be removed from their isolation and given opportunities in music, art and physical education. They ate alone before she brought them into her cafeteria to be with the other children.

Mrs. Palma retired eight years ago. She and hubby Richard, whom she met many years earlier when they were students at the University of Tampa, bought an RV and took off to see America. They got to Colorado and fell in love with the mountains. In short order, they called daughter Susan Girsch in Florence, Ala., and said they had bought a house near Pikes Peak.

Four years later, Susan developed a blood disease and the Palmas moved to Florence. Susan, a teacher, noted the irony:

"Mom moved to care for me and she got cancer."

Throughout her ordeal, which began in November 2005, Mrs. Palma regularly sent e-mails. Her dear friend Mary Fuller kept them all. No matter how dire the situation, Mrs. Palma wrote with humor and optimism and about her faith in God.

On Oct. 5, she shared the good news that Susan had been named teacher of the year at Harlan Elementary School.

"I think you all know that just to be recognized as being a real contributor to a child's life is all that is needed to keep you going another 30 years, " Mrs. Palma wrote. "Education is one of little recognition, little compensation, but richly rewarding to the soul. I am so very proud of each and every one of you that are reading this note, as you have contributed much to everyday life also, whether recognized or not. Love to you, and you go be energized to work another miracle in a child's life."

Susan, a product of Pasco County schools who graduated from Hudson High in 1983, shared a story during Thursday's ceremony that left everyone crying -- and laughing -- at the same time.

"In her last week, I took off from work and crawled up in bed with Mom every morning. We'd lay there talking, laughing, arguing, crying. She was okay with everything. One day she said, 'Susan, I just can't believe I'm going to die of cancer. I always thought a teacher would get me.' "

On the contrary, teachers loved her. She challenged them, made them better. And on this warm summer afternoon, with thunderclouds billowing in the east, many of them gathered in the Cotee River Elementary courtyard, sang Amazing Grace and let slip blue balloons that rose quickly and silently over the roof of the Joan F. Palma Media Center.

[Last modified June 9, 2007, 00:59:15]