Meet the Teacher

My name is Patricia Lavender and I teach the Dyslexia Program at Big Sandy Elementary School.  I am a graduate of Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English.  I have also completed graduate work at the University of Texas in Tyler.  I have taught school for thirty-five years--all of them in Big Sandy!  I began my teaching career in a Title I classroom but after three years I moved to the Special Education Department and spent the next fifteen years teaching Elementary and High School Special Ed.  When I was ready for another change I moved to the Elementary School as a Second Grade Teacher.  I taught Second Grade for the next sixteen years.  I retired from teaching in May, 2004 but returned in October of that year to teach in the Dyslexia program at the Elementary School.  I really enjoy helping students develop reading skills.

I have been married to Richard Lavender for thirty-seven years.  We live between Tyler and Whitehouse.  We have two sons, Micheal and Steven.  Micheal graduated from Texas A & M University with his Bachelor's Degree and also earned his MBA there.  He works at a Tyler bank.  He is married to Erin who is also a graduate of A & M.  She is a Real Estate Agent.  They have two beautiful daughters, Campbell and Abigail.  Micheal, Erin, and their daughters make their home in Tyler.  Steven is also a graduate of A & M, and will graduate from Montgomery County Junior College with a Nursing Degree in May of this year.  He is married to Cheryl (also a graduate of Texas A & M) who works in business.  They make their home in Bacliff near Kemah on Galveston Bay.

I believe that teaching is one of the most important things I can do to make a difference in our world.  I love working with children and helping them unlock the keys to learning.  Helping students who struggle with reading and teaching them tools for decoding words is truly a wonderful way to spend each day.

I thank the parents of my students for sharing your children with me.  I hope that I teach them not only to improve their reading skills, but to love learning so they will continue it throughout their lifetime.

To love what you do and feel that it matters--

how could anything else be more fun?

                        ~~Katharine Graham