[The Oracle]
5
A Thank You to Mrs. Cummons
news
[05/13/16]
Honoring The Oracle’s most valuable staff member WRITTEN BY OLIVIA SICILIANO & CAMERON HENKEL Often, the women who don’t seek attention times and it warms my heart that I can call her are usually the ones who we should be giving and her family part of my family.” our attention to. For The Stratford Oracle, Numerous co-workers of Cummons have this woman is Janice Cummons. She has truly gained an admiration for who she is and A Picture Worth A Thousand Words Overcome with emotion, this priceless been teaching here for 35 years, 34 of them all that she is achieving in her position. Darrell photo was shot by a newspaper in journalism. Her dedication to her role as a Pickard, grade level counselor, has known photographer at school the during the teacher and mentor does not go unnoticed. Cummons for over 20 years. He considers her precious moment Cummons found out Bradley Cummons, her husband, says that to be “a great friend and colleague,” and feels she was to be a mom. ‘she lives for Journalism’ is an understatement. she “views her profession not as a ‘job’ but as “While in college, she often would talk about her life’s calling.” Pickard also mentioned that working for the New York Times. When she “Janice tells me she’s slowly taking over the took over the Journalism Department at world with her program and students.” Stratford High School, she was so excited. Sara Russo, teacher and NHS sponsor, 1 Our vacations would take us to antique stores believes Cummons’ “ability to read people, where she would look for old newspapers and her kindess, and her sense of humor” all yearbooks she could use in class.” We’re sure contribute to making her a good teacher, everyone who has spent time in room 120 will friend, and colleague. She also said that agree that those antique trips were well worth Cummons makes “a constant effort to make the time. Bradley has “gotten to see firsthand Stratford a home for current and former the depth of her knowledge, dedication, and students.” 2 quick wit. She has always been my creative Lynch, friend to Cummons since 1985, sounding board,” he said. believes that “Janice is truly dedicated to The two have built a family together her students’ well-being and success.” Her through the adoption of their two children, students agree that she always goes out of her Jason and Jocelyn. Cummons is one of the way to keep students in the room engaged first SBISD employees to be granted paternity in the progress of the newspaper, and never leave when adopting a child. Kim Lynch, hesitates to stay after school whenever a 1) Traveling Buddies Cummons’ dear friend and partner in the student needs extra time. Cummons has Lynch and Cummons travel together all Journalism Department said “She was at a heart that has the capacity to care for the time, on school-related trips or just school, working late on a newspaper deadline, everyone, and she strives to connect with for fun. Always rule-followers, they were when she got the call that they had a baby boy her students on a personal level that makes standing beneath a No Standing sign in to come pick up from the adoption agency. room 120 feel like a second home. As one of New York City. One of her newspaper staff photographers her current students said, “There is truly no shot a photo of her on the phone, crying, person like her. I could not be more grateful 2) Sweet Smiles talking to the caseworker as she found out for her guidance as my teacher, and for all of Cummons and her daughter Jocelyn she was a mom for the first time.” (see photo the wonderful, funny, and happy memories smile for a selfie together at Jocelyn’s right) we have made as friends. She never fails to university, Northwest State in Louisiana. Lisa Schwartz, a longtime family friend put a smile on my face, and laughing with her and business associate to Cummons, said that is something that always brings joy into my “There truly are no two people in the world day.” who are better suited to be parents than them. What other current students have to say about Mrs. Cummons: Watching and observing their absolute joy on “Mrs. Cummons is one of the best teachers anyone coming learning about Jason, and then Jocelyn, is the “Mrs. Cummons is the experience of a lifetime.” through Stratford could have. She embodies every characteristic most caring teacher I Joceyln, Cummons’ daughter, said that “My mom has done so much for others and of the ideal teacher, but does so much more than just teach. She is have ever had.” a mentor. She loves her students, and her couch is always open if made sacrifices to support our family. My brother, dad, and I can hold our own, but a student needs it. I’m so thankful to have had her.” sometimes Mama knows best, so we aren’t “She is always there to help you while also running around like chickens with their heads “She is the sweetest teacher I’ve ever had. She characterizes making it fun. She cares about everybody. cut off. I personally have the best relationship people in the most hilarious ways, and actually cares about her I’m lucky to have her as a teacher.” I could have with my mom. She is the one I students. She’s the best.” turn to when I need guidance. She keeps me level-headed and taught me to love all, love “Mrs. Cummons is the most honest and loud teacher I’ve ever met. In a good way! She doesn’t nature, and love myself.” hold her opinions back and she won’t accept anything less than your best because she knows Besides her remarkable impact on her family, Cummons has touched the lives of the potential that students have and what they can achieve when given a little push. Her wit and her friends, co-workers, and students too. humor never fail to turn a bad day good. Just don’t ask about her red sound box!” Schwartz describes Cummons as a “warm, funny, caring, loving, and a beautiful ladyA note from the editors: “She is one of the wittiest, most caring teachers I’ve ever had and inside and out.” Tom Clancy, a former SHS Mrs. Cummons, we so admire the person that I’ve loved learning through her insight on writing and carefree teacher and longtime friend, said he has you are, and appreciate everything you do (big been blessed by how “terrific of a friend she outlook on life. I’ve always appreciated having her to keep us and small) for your students and the Oracle. has been to me. Janice and Brad have always motivated and looking for that spark of motivation in our work.” This paper wouldn’t be the award winning opened up their home to me for dinner or to stay over - especially during the holidays. My publication that it is if it hadn’t been for your “Mrs. Cummons doesn’t act like a normal teacher, family is not around and they have always years of dedication and service spent teaching she acts like our friend, because she truly cares about asked me over for Thanksgiving dinner or the hundreds of kids who have been lucky Christmas. I have taken up on their offer a few us and always has something funny to say.” enough to call the Oracle home. Thank you for
all that you do!