When Judy Patterson’s husband Ronnie was offered a transfer with his company, it was an opportunity that was Heaven sent.
“We had decided to see if we could get closer to our daughter and son-in-law, who have two young children,” Patterson explains. “I was driving to Arkansas about every other weekend to see the grandbabies, and help out when needed.”
At that time Patterson was employed as a high school guidance counselor in the Dexter school system.
“Ronnie had interviewed on November first for a position that was opening up in Arkansas,” Patterson recalls, “and the deadline was approaching for me to give early notice of intent to leave the school district.
“It was definitely a God-thing,” Patterson goes on to say, “because after weeks of waiting, on the night before my deadline, he was notified that he would have a job in the Arkansas plant.”
After 30 years in education, Patterson submitted her intent to retire, and began preparing to leave Southeast Missouri..
“Now, the grandkids are about 45 minutes away in Springdale,” Patterson observes, “so we are not close enough for me to act as a daily babysitter; however, I certainly am more accessible than I had been, and am readily available to help in emergency childcare situations.”
She adds that the grandchildren are frequent visitors to their grandparents’ country home, and enjoy their time in the rustic, outdoor setting.
In her early 50s, Patterson was not ready to walk away from the career she loves. The long-time educator began to research the steps she would need to take for Arkansas teaching certification, and began to inquire about possible job openings in her new home area.
“I discovered that through reciprocity, my Missouri certifications would all be recognized,” Patterson explains, “and the only additional step I had to take was to have a background check.”
Before the end of the 2017 school year, Patterson had secured a position at Berryville, Arkansas, high school.
“During the 2017-2018 school year,” says Patterson, “I taught high school art and served as the coordinator for the Jobs for America’s Graduates program (JAG). I was using both my degrees — art education and school counseling.”
Patterson reflects that she enjoyed being back in an art classroom, where she had spent 11 of her 30 years.
“It was fun to be back teaching,” she quips, “but when the opportunity came to move over to middle school counseling, I decided to give that a go.”
Patterson goes on to say, “Twenty-one years ago I began my counseling career at Poplar Bluff Junior High. I never dreamed I would end my career teaching the same grade level!”
Patterson says it has been a smooth transition from working with high school age to sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
“High school is so fast-paced with scheduling, tracking credits, arranging credit recovery, staying on top of scholarships, and all the other things that go along with active high school students working toward graduation,” Patterson observes.
Patterson says she was pleasantly surprised by some of her new home state’s ideas regarding the role of school counselors.
“Arkansas requires that schools have test coordinators on staff, which means those responsibilities are overseen by someone else,” explains Patterson. “I am able to focus on the students and their needs.
She goes on to say that because of the diverse population of her new community, there is great emphasis on getting parents into the schools and making them feel welcome.
“One of my responsibilities, along with other team members, is to plan activities that are family oriented,” Patterson reveals.
“Getting parents and guardians involved in their student’s school life, is a universal problem among most schools,” she reflects, “and I really enjoy that aspect of my new job.”
Patterson says she is looking forward to the upcoming school year, which, for her, begins July 22.
Patterson is a graduate of Dexter High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art education; master’s degree in counseling; specialist degree in counseling; and is certified as a psychological examiner. She began her education career as an art teacher in Richland and New Madrid. After completing her school counselor certification, she spent two years at Poplar Bluff Junior High; then, an additional 17 years at Dexter.
Patterson and her husband now reside in rural Berryville, Arkansas.