Reflecting back on a 29-year teaching career including eight school districts, Patrice Christian has officially retired from Dublin ISD where her educational journey began in 1983 as a DHS grad.
“If anyone would have told me I would retire from Dublin ISD I wouldn’t have believed them! It has been a wonderful place to work with very caring co-workers and understanding, thoughtful administration. I wouldn’t have been able to find this anywhere else,” Patrice said.
“Patrice Christian has such a huge heart for children and has brought so much joy to our lives,” Superintendent Melissa Summers said, about Christian who has taught at DISD for two years.
The educator knew she wanted to become a teacher at the age of 12 when she was teaching a Sunday School class to younger children in Lordsburg, New Mexico with her friend, Stephanie Camacho.
Starting her degree at Tarleton State University, as a single mom of three, Patrice moved closer to her own mom for grandparent assistance in Pottsboro.
She attended Grayson County college for her basics and then completed her bachelor’s degree in general education/Special Education at Oklahoma Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma.
Patrice completed her student teaching at Sherman ISD at Washington Elementary School and started her first teaching job here right after she graduated college in December 1994.
“My first position was teaching 4th grade mid school year. My youngest daughter was in class and boy she can tell you some stories!” Patrice said.
After teaching 4th grade for a couple of years, she moved to a Special Education position for reading and math resource at the same school for a year.
It was at this campus that Patrice was asked by her special education director if she wanted to teach children with visual impairments for Sherman ISD.
“I didn’t have a clue what V.I. was or about. I accepted his proposal and took summer classes in Austin held at Texas School for the Blind taught by renowned professors such as Virginia Bishop and Alan Koenig. I would return to Austin for the next three summers to complete my course work. I was absolutely in love with the field of visual impairments,” she said.
It was the love of the field and the students that continued to inspire Patrice throughout her career, working in many different districts.
The educator taught V.I. in Sherman ISD for one year and then moved to Sanger ISD working for the Denton County Co-Op for five years.
While she was working for the co-op, Patrice worked toward and earned her Orientation and Mobility Certification.
“I then moved to Lewisville and taught with a group of the most wonderful people calling ourselves the “Dream Team!” We still meet with each other at least once a year and continuously stay in contact with each other. I taught in Lewisville for five years,” she said.
Patrice then moved to Frisco ISD as a V.I. and Orientation and Mobility specialist, working there for two years and learning so much from Millie Smith that trained the district’s self-contained teachers to work with children with special needs.
At this point in her career, Patrice had traveled to a friend’s wedding in San Antonio who was also a V.I. and O&M Specialist.
“She said, there are two positions open in Floresville ISD co-op and that I should join the team. My friend and co-worker from Lewisville and I applied for the positions and were hired. We moved to San Antonio and started a new adventure,” she said.
She taught for the Floresville ISD Co-op for two years until it was dissolved. She then began teaching at Southside ISD in San Antonio where she taught for eight years.
For Patrice, it is difficult to pinpoint her favorite memories throughout her career, but seeing her students grow, learn and become more independent has been incredibly rewarding, she said.
On a personal level, her adventurous spirit has been fulfilled throughout the years including a spur of the moment trip to the Grand Canyon over spring break with a friend and co- worker.
Patrice enjoys life with her kids, Jon, 42, who lives in Reno, Nevada; Laurie, 39, who lives in Arlington; and Amy, 38, who lives in Denton. She also raises her granddaughter, Maliyah Brooks, who is 13.
“I love spending time with my granddaughter. Taking her snow skiing, to the Golden Gate Bridge, whale watching at Monterey Bay and Estes Park Colorado for her to experience life has been wonderful! We will continue to travel and experience life as she grows to be a young adult,” Patrice said.
Ending her career as a Visual Impairment Specialist for Dublin ISD has been a chance for her story to come full circle, and a chance to help her mother who has dementia.
“It was time for me to retire to help take care of her and spend more time with Maliyah, my granddaughter. I plan to do more traveling when time allows. Ultimately, I would like to World School Maliyah and live abroad. I want her to learn to think outside the box and know the whole world is open to her. I want to give her a different perspective. I also tell my students that they have the whole world open and don’t limit yourself!” she said.