| Emma Jean tollett Howell Thibodaux, LA |
After graduation I went to Louisiana College in
Pineville, La. There I met and married my
husband, David Howell, when I was assigned as
his work study student worker. He was hired as
the head librarian and was fresh out of graduate
school at Ole Miss. My first job was as cataloger
for the Rapides Parish Library. They were not in
the building they now occupy but the main
branch was on the 4h floor of the courthouse
that we shared with criminal court. Going to
work was always an experience as they brought
in evidence to court. Everything from frozen
goat carcasses to tree stumps to match the
lumber someone cut on another persons
property. In January 1964 we left Pineville for
Mississippi Stale University with a four-month old
daughter and a German Shepherd baby sitter
who cried every time she cried, After a year or so
I started teaching Communication classes to the
education, business, and agriculture students as
an adjunct teacher. This was a semester-by-
semester job but since we were in the middle of
Viet Nam, there was no lack of young boys trying
to stay in school David’s family lived only about
an hour north of Starkville so he felt right at
home. The dairy department operated an ice
cream shop and in the spring time we would take
Denise out to the University farms to see the
lambs and piglets after they were born.
Pineville, La. There I met and married my
husband, David Howell, when I was assigned as
his work study student worker. He was hired as
the head librarian and was fresh out of graduate
school at Ole Miss. My first job was as cataloger
for the Rapides Parish Library. They were not in
the building they now occupy but the main
branch was on the 4h floor of the courthouse
that we shared with criminal court. Going to
work was always an experience as they brought
in evidence to court. Everything from frozen
goat carcasses to tree stumps to match the
lumber someone cut on another persons
property. In January 1964 we left Pineville for
Mississippi Stale University with a four-month old
daughter and a German Shepherd baby sitter
who cried every time she cried, After a year or so
I started teaching Communication classes to the
education, business, and agriculture students as
an adjunct teacher. This was a semester-by-
semester job but since we were in the middle of
Viet Nam, there was no lack of young boys trying
to stay in school David’s family lived only about
an hour north of Starkville so he felt right at
home. The dairy department operated an ice
cream shop and in the spring time we would take
Denise out to the University farms to see the
lambs and piglets after they were born.
In 1967 David was hired as librarian at Delta State University in Cleveland,
Ms. It was here in 1969 that we .added a son, Burton to our family. After 8
years it was time to move again when David received a job offer at
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. We have been here since June
of 1973. I taught Speech Communication classes at Nicholls while I
renewed my Louisiana Teachers Certificate and added Special Education
certification. My assignment was at one of our junior high schools and it
must have been made to order for me. I learned that this was an age that
appreciates a sense of humor and they worked harder than they ever
thought they would as long the teacher showed them the same respect
that the teacher expected.
Since 1984 I have been a part of the Lafourche Pupil Appraisal Center as
an Educational Diagnostician. This makes me responsible for the
academic assessment and testing of those students to determine if they
qualify for Special Education services and if so, which services are the
most appropriate.
In the 90’s I was elected Vice President and then President of the
Louisiana Educational Diagnostician's Association, our stale professional
organization. After my terms in office. I served on the executive board for
a couple of terms then handed over these responsibilities to younger and
newer faces
Ms. It was here in 1969 that we .added a son, Burton to our family. After 8
years it was time to move again when David received a job offer at
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. We have been here since June
of 1973. I taught Speech Communication classes at Nicholls while I
renewed my Louisiana Teachers Certificate and added Special Education
certification. My assignment was at one of our junior high schools and it
must have been made to order for me. I learned that this was an age that
appreciates a sense of humor and they worked harder than they ever
thought they would as long the teacher showed them the same respect
that the teacher expected.
Since 1984 I have been a part of the Lafourche Pupil Appraisal Center as
an Educational Diagnostician. This makes me responsible for the
academic assessment and testing of those students to determine if they
qualify for Special Education services and if so, which services are the
most appropriate.
In the 90’s I was elected Vice President and then President of the
Louisiana Educational Diagnostician's Association, our stale professional
organization. After my terms in office. I served on the executive board for
a couple of terms then handed over these responsibilities to younger and
newer faces
As of June 8, 2006 I retired from Lafourche Parish School Board Pupil
Appraisal Center and look forward to being able to travel in the Spring and
Fall with my husband, not just summers. David retired about 6 years ago
and has been waiting for me to do the same. Besides traveling, I hope in
catch up on my reading and sewing all the material I have been collecting
for several years. I’ve made several quilts and hope to finish the next one
in less than five years. (my record so far). Denise, our daughter teaches a
Developmental Delays chin of 4 and 5-year olds in Aberdeen. Ms. This is
David’s home town North of Starkville and east of Columbus, Ms. Our son,
Burton attended University of New Mexico and is currently a gymnastics
coach there.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you next Spring. Stay well until
then.
Appraisal Center and look forward to being able to travel in the Spring and
Fall with my husband, not just summers. David retired about 6 years ago
and has been waiting for me to do the same. Besides traveling, I hope in
catch up on my reading and sewing all the material I have been collecting
for several years. I’ve made several quilts and hope to finish the next one
in less than five years. (my record so far). Denise, our daughter teaches a
Developmental Delays chin of 4 and 5-year olds in Aberdeen. Ms. This is
David’s home town North of Starkville and east of Columbus, Ms. Our son,
Burton attended University of New Mexico and is currently a gymnastics
coach there.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you next Spring. Stay well until
then.