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Monday, February 8, 2010
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Finding her true calling EVERYDAY PEOPLE Staff Writer CROSBY - When Pam Stock was in college, she planned to enter the seminary to become a Lutheran pastor.
But she found her calling somewhere else.
Stock has spent the past 26 years as a special education teacher. She is now in her 23rd year of teaching in the Crosby-Ironton School District. This is her seventh year of teaching at the high school; she previously taught at Cuyuna Range Elementary School.
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Pam Stock, Crosby-Ironton Ranger Store coordinator, assisted eighth-grade students Joey Serfling (left) and Max Snook on Thursday as they rang up purchases for student Felicia Joyal.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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While in college, Stock switched from a religion major to teaching special education after discovering she felt drawn to working with children with special needs. She had worked at a camp for children with disabilities during college and her mother was a teacher's aide who works with special needs students.
Even 26 years later, Stock said she enjoys her job.
"Everyday they make me laugh and make me appreciate the little things in life I sometimes forget about," said Stock. "I never tire of my students. I love working with them. I love how they remind me to not get shook up about the little things. Their honesty blows me away sometimes."
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Pam Stock, a special education teacher at Crosby-Ironton High School, loves her job and her students.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Stock is a developmental cognitive disabilities teacher, which means she works with special education students who have higher educational needs.
Since she previously worked at the elementary school, she's had some of the same students for many years. This is her 14th year with one of her students.
Stock said she stresses with her staff that their primary goal for their students is independence since one day they will be out of the school system without school staff to guide them. She said structure is really important each day for her students, to know what is expected of them.
In her free time, Stock enjoys the outdoors, loves to bicycle, go camping and raises an organic garden at her north Brainerd home. She recently sold her motorcycle but hopes to buy another.
Her 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, is involved in Just for Kix and Stock, a proud mom, enjoys watching her daughter's dance shows and listening to her play the piano.
Pam Stock
Age: 48.
Family: She lives in north Brainerd with her 11-year-old daughter, Sydney.
Occupation: Stock has spent the last 26 years as a special education teacher and is now in her 23rd year of teaching in the Crosby-Ironton School District.
Favorite music: Melissa Etheridge's music and music from the 70s. I'm a huge 70s freak, Stock said with a laugh. I live for WJJY's all 70s weekend. I'm a leftover hippie, I guess.
Her green thumb: Stock enjoys growing flowers and vegetable gardens at her north Brainerd home.
Her favorite veggie: Beets. I love to grow beets and freeze them. I eat them all winter long, said Stock. Her daughter, however, dislikes beets.
Her dream retirement home: There is a small cedar-sided home, complete with a wrap-around front porch and swing, located on a hill along Highway 52 between Rochester and Dubuque, Iowa, her hometown. The home has a small creek and bridge. She would love to live there.
Where you'll find her on a Friday night: The Brainerd Family YMCA playing women's dodgeball. She plays on the Pine Shadows team. Women's dodgeball at the Y rocks, said Snook. We've had concussions. ... It's an absolute blast.
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Stock is also her daughter's Girl Scout leader, a family tradition. Stock's grandmother was her mother's Girl Scout Leader and her mother was Stock's leader. Now it is her turn to lead her daughter's troop, a third generation Girl Scout leader.
Stock is active at her church, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Brainerd, where she serves on the Christian education committee. She also serves on the County Transition Interagency Committee, made up of people who work with young adults with disabilities who are transitioning from secondary school into the adult world.
Stock also is coordinating the new school store at C-I High School, the Ranger Mine.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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