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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

When I was contacted about assisting Mrs. Whatley with her book, I had no hesitation about doing so for I was familiar with her
work via Tajiri. While I did not attend Tajiri, I knew about the school and knew fellow students who participated. Moreover, I knew

about Mrs. Whatley via my mother, who spoke fondly of "Ms. Hitchmon" when they worked at Midway Elementary School: Mrs.
Whatley as a teacher and my mother as a substitute teacher.

During the course of working with Mrs. Whatley to produce this comprehensive memoir, I have encountered her great passion for
the arts, storytelling, and most importantly, people. Her memory is full of people's names and how they helped her bring a performing

arts school to Sanford, Florida.

Mrs. Whatley retained a good number of articles and photographs throughout her life, and it is this authenticity that I would like to

note. Every crease, every handwritten note, and every coloration are a testament to Mrs. Whatley's full, and at times, most outrageous

life. I have laughed out loud (the old kind, not the new), cried, and been caused to pause in silence at her story as it has sometimes
looked a bit like my own.

Some literary liberty has been granted in the style of the book, as I believe that a book's layout should help tell the story.

May you experience the authentic passion of Mrs. Patricia Merritt Whatley between these pages and be inspired, determined, and

fearless to live your own full life worthy of telling.

L.D. Robinson, Owner

Ladero Press