Nearly half a century ago, in the small southern Illinois town , one of the many Cathy Johnsons of the world was born . To find out just exactly which Cathy Johnson we are referring to, read the following information on this home page!
Being born a middle child in a large family (seven in all, counting "yours, mine, and ours") has helped develop the "mediator" side of me. Learning to wait, to be patient, and to never give up, are all characteristics that have been nurtured throughout my life. And true to the sign of Libra, I am a lover of beautiful things: beautiful music, beautiful scenery, beautiful environments, beautiful books, beautiful moments in time, etc.
As a child, my siblings and I were always playing school. The rest of my bio will show you that throughout my lifetime I have continued to play school.
Having been educated at Earlville Elementary School, Mendota High School, Augustana College,Western Illinois University, Illinois State, and Governor's State, (all Illinois schools) has helped make me a well-rounded individual and productive citizen of society.
I have often said my life has been gently shaped by many events. My typing skills were developed greatly in high school (a necessary must for what I do now). My love of music was groomed by a master, Mr. Robert Baile (now retired), music director at Mendota High in the 70s. In fact, I began my college career as a music major at Augustana and later modulated (that's a musical term for changing your tune!) into education. Just for fun, I still sometimes write my own songs and can be found pounding away at any piano within sight!
It was during my sophomore year at WIU that I became Mrs. Jerry Johnson. We lived in married housing, both held part-time jobs, and completed college degrees. My husband of 25 years, Jerry, currently teaches 7th grade Science at Reed-Custer Middle School. He was principal of Balyki High School until its near death experience in the late '80s. We left the Havana/Bath area one year prior to the closing of the doors at Balyki...sad, but true, Balyki no longer exists!
Jerry can now be reached at Reed-Custer Middle School, where he is the Seventh Grade Team Leader and Science teacher. You can see two of his online projects listed under "Our Friends" on our main page.
My definition of mid-life begins at the time I graduated from college and continues until the time I see my own children successfully complete college and ready to begin their adult lives .
Wow! For me, that spans the years 1974 - 2004!!!
Beginning with the year 1974, I graduated from WIU with a double major in Elementary Ed/Special Ed (EMH,TMH). For the first seven years of my educational life as a teacher I taught kindergarten in the small rural Central Illinois town of Havana, fifty miles southwest of Peoria, IL. During the spring of 1978 I also gave birth to my first child, a son, Ryan - a name that means "little prince". For the next seven years of my teaching life I graduated to teaching first grade - along with giving birth in 1982 to my second child, a daughter, Sarah - a name that means "little princess". On this day in April, 1998, my son is finishing his second year in college. My daughter, on the other hand, is looking forward to a great year keeping the phone company in business by talking to her friends, as well as going online and enjoying high school.
It was during my first fourteen years of teaching and giving that I nearly experienced burnout to the point of quitting the profession. Calling upon all of my resourses, I returned to teach school after the birth of each child, as well as returning to college periodically to acquire new knowledge. It was also during this educational "rebirth" time period that I became a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year (1988-89). As a result of this recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education I have became a member of the Illinois Cadre of teachers who meet once a year. Since that time, I have earned certification in LD and BD. I taught fourth grade at Custer Park Elementary School in Custer Park, Illinois for seven year. This year was my first year in third grade. During the total twenty-two years I have been teaching, each year bring a new faces , new challenges, and I love it!
I often hear educators say: "Is there really life after school?" In my opinion, life IS school and school IS life! Learning takes place every hour of every day. That is not to say we should not have interests and activities that revolve around non-school issues, however, we need to realize that teaching, learning, and living are integrated concepts. I consider myself a practicing life-long learner in every sense of the phrase.
When I am not in school, I love to travel with my family and read. In the summer we relax by the backyard pool with a nice cool drink; in the winter we relax in front of the fireplace with a good book or a good movie and a warm drink.
These days I'd be lost without my trusty Apple
computer!
Lately (1995) I have spent quite a few of my leisure hours learning how
to write html documents. (1998 update: forget html...I have PageMill
and ClarisHomepage now!) Learn to create homepages has been time well spent
- a skill that undoubtedly come in handy as we move into the next century.
I passed this skill on to one or two of my gifted fourth grade students
in 1995-96 who are just dying to create their own home page! We have fifth
graders now (1998) working on homepages.
Over the past few years, I have become involved with increasing the use of technology in my classroom, thanks to being a member of the Illinois Cadre, sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education. As part of this team, I meet with other exemplary educators in July or August each summer to learn more about improving student learning through technology.
As I became involved with integrating technology in my classroom, our elementary Science teacher, Ann Johnston, and I began to put our ideas together. As a result, we have presented at conferences and completed instructing a class for Bradley Elementary School District. We often refer to ourselves as Johnson JohnsTon!
As a women of the '90s, I find it a constant challenge to balance the many roles in life I have been so graciously granted!
At home I hear:"Mom, did you wash my gym clothes?" or
"Mom, my new bluejeans aren't dry!! Now what am I going to wear?" or
"Ruff, ruff!!" (which in doggy-talk means, "I
have to go out NOW, please open the door!")
Then of course, there's always:
"Honey, it's time to go to
bed...turn off the computer!"
While at school I hear: "What do you mean you didn't have time to complete
the item analysis of the results
of the last three years of IGAP tests?" (I hope they don't ask
for the scores of the pile of papers presently resting in my schoolbag,
too!)
It seems there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything there is to do...so the days often spill over into the night. And now, on top of everything else:
enter the WEB!!
OH NO!! Now I'll never get to bed!
There is a virtual library inside my computer...
so much to read...so much to learn!!
Another web page to create...another web page to check out!
"Just a minute, honey!
Let me check out one more site before I shut down!"
As a result, there is never a dull moment around our house!
As of May 6th, 1996, (and still in 1998!) I now have trouble
getting a turn on our home computer....my college-aged son has discovered
the wonders of the web, my husband is often working on the computer (now
I'm the one telling him to get off the computer so someone else can have
a turn!), and my daughter sends e-mail to her friends (her recent boy-friend
sent her email from Florida when he was on Easter break)... it's life in
the '90s!
Question of the day: So how did you become a webmaster?
Answer: It just happened!
If you are a busy mother, teacher, or both, and can relate to any of my rambling thoughts above, send your comments and/or thoughts regarding life as a busy woman to:
This homepage was created on a late night (or
early morning) in November, 1995 on a tired and overworked Macintosh LCIII.
(1998 update: we have moved up to our son's Mac Performa, while he has moved
on to IBM compatible.) This page will be updated as often as possible.
The graphic heading on this page was created
using 
.
Last updated: April 3, 1998
Once again, summer is coming soon!