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Graphic Design and Photoshop teacher Carole WallSimmons’ passion for teaching from her grandfather. BY MEGAN OSTRANDER PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
read, [he] sounds like Carole.” During Wall’s sophomore year of college, her grandfather died. He was her rock, one of the only constant people in her life. He helped her take care of her mother. After his death, Wall had to face many tough times. “Through all his problems growing up, to having to deal unbelievably with my mother, he just kept going,” Wall said. “I pray all the time about the incredible blessing God sent me, my grandfather and the gift of teaching. If not for the grace of God giving me Chauncey I couldn’t have survived.” Wall graduated with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and English. While teaching at Grandview, Wall’s student publications became All-Americans, only given to the top 1.2 percent of high school publications in the United States, and Pacemakers, the National Scholastic Press Association’s preeminent award which less than 1 percent of high school publications receive. In 1983, Wall received the Missouri Journalism Teacher of the Year Award. While giving her speech, Wall spoke about her grandparents and how they shaped her life. Wall’s grandmother, Sara Lewis, was there, and received a standing ovation. “I am so glad she was there to see it. She passed away suddenly the next year,” Wall said. “But I know Grandfather was looking down and saw all of it. I imagine he gave a big sigh and said ‘She made it. I can rest’.” While teaching journalism at Grandview High School for 20 years, Wall impacted many of her students’ lives. Krista Klaus, former business editor at KMBZ 98.1 and former reporter at KCTV, KMBC-TV and WFLATV, was an editor under Wall at Grandview High School. Currently, Klaus owns her own consulting company in Kansas City, Missouri. Klaus appreciated the way Wall identified and connected with her students and how she invested in the young women she teaches. “[Wall] basically planted the seed for my love of journalism. She taught me how to have a nose for news,” Klaus said. “She just really nurtured that curiosity within me and that love for sniffing out information and the story, and then sharing it with other people and presenting it in a creative and interesting way.” Missy Pinkel, another former editor at Grandview High School and current publisher of L-O Profile Magazine, spoke about Wall in the same way. Pinkel valued Wall’s passion for what she was doing and what she was teaching. This passion filtered down into her students and made them excited to come to class. Her passion for media inspired Pinkel and even influenced her in her future career. “I try right now, in this position that I have as publisher of my own magazine, to emulate her through my staff,” Pinkel said. “I just think ‘What would Miss Carole Wall do in
this situation?’ So a lot of what she was in the classroom to me, I’ve tried to be in the office and in my staff.” In 1999 the Grandview School District hired a new superintendent, Dr. Tony Stansberry. As the superintendent of other districts he always had a Public Relations Director. However, Grandview had never had one. Stansberry looked at Wall’s publications, her awards and knew her because she had taught his daughter, and wanted her to be the Assistant to the Superintendent for Communications. “I had nine schools to cover and report on in eight major publications that I wrote in and produced myself,” Wall said. “I had to go to every school board meeting, every city council meeting and every Chamber of Commerce meeting.” After her first year she won the Golden Apple from the NSPA, which is the highest award given nationally for starting a public relations campaign. “I found myself going to conventions, nationally and statewide, and competing again with publications. At first I liked it because I did the publications all myself and didn’t have to worry about kids, meetings or deadlines,” Wall said. “But then I realized this is not what my life is about. I wanted to teach.” After 32 years in the Grandview School District, Wall decided to retire. After retiring she briefly taught at both the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Longview Community College. However, in 2007, she was interviewed by Elizabeth Middleton and Kay Walkup for a teaching position at Sion. They wanted Wall to enhance the journalism program at Sion. Wall accepted the position, taking on both the newspaper and yearbook, along with other various journalism classes. Wall taught yearbook photo editor and senior Katia Hauptmann in Layout & Design her sophomore year. Hauptmann said her and Wall formed a good balance where she would rile Wall up while Wall calmed her down. “I often find myself in Wall’s room after school ends just talking to her for hours about things I couldn’t talk to other teachers about,” Hauptmann said. “Wall is always willing to offer advice and her own odd personal story behind her wisdom. Behind her dark outfits and intimidating demeanor, Wall truly has a very approachable personality and a kind heart.” Overtime, she has chosen to lessen her class load. However, her impact on students hasn’t changed. Looking back, Wall remembers what her grandfather told her before enrolling in college. “[Chauncy] looked at me and he was crying,” Wall said. “Because I didn’t have any brothers or sisters he said ‘Honey, someday you’re going to be all alone. But if you teach and you’re a good teacher, the kids never leave you’.”
LOVING MENTOR Chauncey Lewis, pictured above and right holding Carole Wall-Simmons as a young child, influenced and positively impacted Wall’s life growing up. Lewis was Wall’s maternal grandfather. Her grandfather’s influence continued on through Wall’s life as a young adult (pictured left). Photos submitted by Carole WallSimmons.
LE JOURNAL December 2016
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