Lorena Scalph

I was born and grew up in San Antonio, Texas, during the Beatle years and the death of John F. Kennedy.  I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher ever since I started teaching my dolls at age 4.  I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1967, and three years later after receiving my B.A. from Trinity University, I was "on the other side of the desk," just 20 years old, teaching 11th-grade English at the same high school.  (Some of my students were almost older than I was!)  I also had my own dance group,  "The Teen Beats," and I taught ballet and tap lessons, studying under ballet master, George Zoritch and Hollywood dance director Nico Charisse.  My dance group and I performed at many places and functions including: Lackland, the USO, Fort Sam, Randolph, and "Night in Old San Antonio," where I was a can can dancer.   I also represented San Antonio in the Miss Teenage America contest.   I moved to Alaska in 1971, and began subbing at Orion on EAFB.   Then, I was called to sub for a teacher at Clark who was leaving the state.  That's where I've been ever since teaching Language Arts, French, typing [for 11 years], Study Skills, and Skills for Living, French Culture, and a variety of other subjects.  

Over the years, I've won many awards such as "Yellow Rose of Texas,"  "Outstanding Young Woman for the State of Alaska in 1984," "Outstanding Alaskan for 1984," "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" for: 1998, 2005, and 2006, and the Sheri Stears Outstanding Teacher Award for 2003, and others.  However, my greatest honor and love is teaching and my students. I just completed my 35th year of teaching at Clark Middle School.  I am now thrilled and excited to begin my 37th year of teaching at the fabulous new Begich Middle School!