Paul Elwell’s School Days’ Memories 2024

Paul Elwell’s School Days’ Memories 2024

“You’re the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave”
Quote by George M. Cohan

“The flag of the United States has not been created by rhetorical sentences in declarations of independence and in bills of rights. It has been created by the experience of a great people, and nothing is written upon it that has not been written with their life. It is the embodiment, not of a sentiment, but of a history.”–Woodrow Wilson

By Christina Reed
The Hired Pen

Bishop, CA—A typical “middle school” teacher really doesn’t exist, just like there are no “typical middle schoolers.” It’s a dynamic age in life for young people, and the last years of “elementary” school for most. And, teachers of middle schoolers are unique folks, able to see both the young child and the emerging adult. 

Paul Elwell is finishing his last day at Home Street Middle School, in Bishop, CA, and it’s his last day at the Bishop Elementary Schools, where he’s been teaching for the past 23 years. He’s retiring. Elwell took some time, with his teaching colleagues, Anna Ramos and Gabriela Hondo, to talk about his experiences as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, playing his guitar for the students and singing, and as the last day of the school year wrapped up, he answered The Sierra Reader’s yearbook-like questions. Enjoy.

Moving to “a different bell for me,” says Paul Elwell

1. Most Likely to Do Next: Elwell: “I’m going to work at Bishop Coin. [Open since 1991, when his father, Bill, opened its door] I’m going to take over the 33 year business.”
2. What crazy activities do you dream of trying someday?:Elwell: “Travel more.” He adds, he has United Airlines travel miles.
3. “I’m going to miss…”: Elwell: “I’m going to miss the kids.”
4. “I could not live without…”: Elwell: “I could not live without my family.”
5. Favorite part of the school?: Elwell: “The classroom.”
6. Favorite part of the classroom?: Elwell: “The students. It’s where my students are. Whose the learner here? [Elwell’s question]”
7. What was the most creative excuse you’ve ever heard for not having a homework assignment?: Elwell: “My mom didn’t do it.”
8. Favorite activities at school?: Elwell: “Playing guitar and singing.”
9. What would you like to be known / remembered for?: Elwell: “I think the qualities that make a good teacher are patience and humility. Education should always be fun.”
10. Can you share any advice or wisdom for first-year teachers / students as they prepare for their futures?: Elwell: “The biggest advice I could give. Never stop learning. Curiosity.”

For those of you who would like to continue chatting with Elwell, catch up with him at Bishop Coin, where he and his father are doing business. And, with the motto of “language is the basis of our world,” it seems the Elwells will continue the “kind, gentle, and helpful ways,” and surely for Paul Elwell, his signature question. “Whose the learner here?” Congratulations, Mr. Elwell!