Hello. I'm a retired Texas teacher.

I have been a lurking reader on DU for ten years. DU has always been the first news site I check everyday. Now that I've retired from public school, I hope to have the time to be more actively involved. I taught in Houston schools for 33 years, mostly second grade, but also fourth and fifth grade science. I retired because I couldn't bear the teacher abuse or participate in the destruction of public education any longer. I'm now teaching preschoolers at my house. It is heaven. I am a dedicated democrat and a devout atheist. I am very happily divorced and have one grown daughter.