I choose to remember Heather Joy Wilson with a smile on her face, wearing black stroppy heels, black slacks and pearls, bouncing down the hallway at Rock Creek Forest Elementary, talking to everyone along the way, holding a cup of Starbucks in her hand. She had so much energy and spirit. I remember how she grew as a teacher, learning many strategies that helped her expand her skills until she became the one to teach other staff.

 Heather, along with some staff members, developed the HUGS (Help Unity Grow in School) program at Rock Creek Forest. This is a "catch them being good "program"  that announces students' names when they have been particularly respectful to people, procedures, and property. HUGS is now an integral part of our character education program and is one of Heather's legacies.

 I particularly remember her on September 11, 2001. Heather stationed herself at the intercom and as parents came in to take students home, Heather cheerfully called into the classrooms so that students wouldn't be worried about why they were going home early. She stayed at this station for several hours never losing the “cheer” in her voice. As we looked for pictures of Heather last week, I realized that many of the pictures were taken at different birthday celebrations, each one was special and each birthday meant she with us one year longer.

 Her middle name was Joy and the students, parents and I experienced that joy as she taught. She was naturally caring and nurturing with her students. Several parents wrote thank you's at the end of the school year that were copied to me. In June 2000 the Holt family wrote to Heather, "We attribute Annie's continued interest in reading and school in great part to your enthusiasm and the interest you place in your students." Another parent wrote in 2003, " Sra. Sacks and Ms. Wilson work so hard each day to give our kids the most educational FUN they can have."

 It was a joy to watch Heather. Her enthusiasm was contagious. She was able to take a "challenging" project and "run with it". Teachers told me that when an idea would come up, she would say, “We can do this." …. "I have that somewhere in my files" …. "I'll look that up on the web." Her creativity was an inspiration. Everyone remembers the Wax Museum. Even students who didn't have her as a teacher, told me last week that they liked her because she was always smiling and happy.

 Heather loved books, in fact in June she had checked out over 100 books from the RCF library. To explain, she knew how to select just the right books for her students. In addition, she had hundreds of her own books at school. This year, the PTA established a Book Nook for students to borrow, read and exchange books; a place for children to put books when they have outgrown them. We have decided to dedicate the Book Nook in recognition of Heather's love of reading.

 I told Heather many times that she was the bravest person I knew. She always had a smile and we never knew how much pain she suffered. Teaching was her life, and it gave her life meaning. I know she thought she would return to the school, and the staff at RCF believed that too. After all, she had bounced back so many times. She fought disease like a tiger. We know, to paraphrase Dylan Thomas: “[She] did not go gentle into that good night. [She] did rave at close of day and rage at the dying of the light.”

 She made a difference in many students' school lives and to the people who worked with her. She had a passion for teaching and a joie de vie that was an inspiration to all of us.

 And so, we will remember her in our hearts.

Remarks By Sandy Walker
Principal of Rock Creek Forest Elementary School at
Heather’s Memorial Service December 20, 2003