Page 7 - San Diego Woman Magazine Digital Version

Women of Distinction

Gail Illingworth

A TACTICAL

APPROACH TO

EDUCATION

By Lisa Lohani

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Lohani.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach at Desmond’s, a popular retail adventure to Wisconsin, where tence. It made me feel good to be
able to see that process of learn-
chain, to put herself through she substituted part time in Hal-
me, and I remember. Involve college. “I was never a strong lie and lived the challenging, yet ing. Especially in the younger
me and I learn.” student. I had to work my tail off educational experience of life on grades; I could see it in their eyes.
(Benjamin Franklin) to get B’s and A’s.” Working and a hobby farm. “When I look back They would just light up. It was
attending college full time was on our move to Wisconsin, it was seeing the feeling of accomplish-
f you have ever been around not easy, and she pulled many scary. We made it work, and we ment in their faces. That was my
children, you have undoubt- all-nighters studying for her had fun. It was enjoyable, chal- favorite part of being a teacher.”
Iedly seen proof that this classes. Her diligence and deter- lenging, and exciting because Not surprisingly, Gail’s cur-
statement is indeed true. As an mination throughout her entire it was all brand new. You don’t riculum was primarily a tacti-
educator for over 30 years, Gail education mapped the way to the really think of it at the time, you cal, hands on type of learning.
Illingworth has influenced the influential, hard-working teacher just enjoy it.” It was here that “I believe in physically doing
lives of many students, having that she would later become. she learned how to make many something in order to learn. The
guided them through a hands Without realizing it, Gail’s things from scratch, including sense of sight, and touch stays
on learning environment, thus career actually began during her butter, soap, clothes, toys, etc. with them better. I always tried
building long-lasting knowledge last semester of college, where she These were some of the skills that to make sure they had something
and skills. was a student teacher at an ele- she would later take with her to physical to work with because
When Gail was a child, she mentary school in El Monte. The use as part of future curriculum when you are physically involved
loved to get outdoors to explore, teachers she had assisted in the in her classes. with something, you retain it bet-
play, and “just do things.” “Play- 1st and 6th grades were so happy In 1983, Gail and her family ter. Sitting and listening, it just
ing school” was a popular game with her work, they submitted moved back to California, carry- doesn’t work.” One of the ways
with her and her friends. Having glowing recommendations to ing on the country living in rural Gail ensured interactive experi-
admired her teachers and main- the Superintendent at the school. Valley Center. Gail worked close ence was in the front of the class-
taining a good rapport with them “After my student teaching was by in a small district in Pauma room on the rug. “Work on the
throughout her education, she over, the Superintendent and I Valley, where she taught full time Rug was extremely critical. We
decided at a young age that she chatted and he asked, ‘So what for another 22 years. would start on the rug because
wanted to become a teacher. Be- grade would you like to teach?’ As we all can imagine, a they were close and could see bet-
ing a teacher also meant that she I said I wanted 2nd grade, and teacher’s job is very challenging. ter. Since the rug was big, there
would have the opportunity to he said, ‘Okay, you got the job.’ I Gail mentioned that teaching was room to put things in front of
be active all day, rather than sit- didn’t even have a formal inter- “takes a lot of my patience.” So, them to work on together. I also
ting at a desk, just like when she view.” Gail taught 2nd grade at why do they do it? When asked used the chalkboard a lot because
was young. Gail’s love for school, El Monte for five years, and then what she loved most about teach- it was something tangible the kids
her teachers, and her exploratory another five years teaching Kin- ing, Gail responded, “My favorite could use. I made sure they inter-
active play attitude would later dergarten in Cucamonga, with a thing was watching a child light acted with me, rather than just
shape her curriculum as a tactical few years in-between subbing in up, when suddenly, they are able me talking to them.”
hands-on educator. Cucamonga due to having her to do something they couldn’t do Parents don’t always see the
As a widowed mother, Gail’s own two children. before. Usually, it was in reading amount of work that goes into
mom was unable to pay for her In the late 1970’s, Gail and when they would figure out a
to attend college, so Gail worked her family went on a four-year word, or just read a complete sen- 7