MEMORIES OF MRS. DICKSON

“My favorite thing was making terra-cotta warriors because we got to learn about them and she showed us pictures [from China]. Also I liked learning about other countries and the diagrams we made to show how kids in other countries and kids at Newport Heights are the same and different.”

— Ryan Standt, Newport Beach, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 2005-06

“I think the one thing I remember is she was happy, positive and outgoing. I remember in her room the ‘student of the day,’ a big old smiley face, and her library was really cool, and it was so fun to go in there and read. She had a love for her job, and you could really tell. She made learning fun.”

— Megan Fleener, Costa Mesa, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 1983-84, now teaching fourth grade at Grant Elementary in Santa Ana

“I remember something called the smiley of the day, all these smiley faces. It was fascinating to go back and see her still teaching after all these years. She remembers me, and … it’s good to see that she enjoyed teaching as long as she did.”

— Oliver Fleener, Newport Beach, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 1981-82

“I remember she was always really cheery, her room was really colorful, and there were all the art projects…. She wasn’t just a teacher; she really became a family friend, and I loved going to see her. And I always thought the photo album she gave kids was so cool — none of my other teachers have done that.”

— Brittany Sturgess, Newport Beach, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 1995-96

“Mrs. Dickson was so vibrant and really fun. Her classroom has always stuck out in my mind as one of my favorite classes and classroom — it was so colorful. Then later, being a parent, it was comforting for me because she created an environment where the kids would help [Gutierrez’s handicapped daughter] Leilani, but it wasn’t a chore…. She’s an amazing teacher.”

— June Gutierrez, Costa Mesa, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 1982-83

“I liked to read the books, and I liked all the books that she had. I loved all the cats in the classroom because I love cats, but I think Mrs. Dickson likes cats even more than me! She was really nice.”

— Leilani Gutierrez, Costa Mesa, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade 2005-06, daughter of June Gutierrez

“I loved the abracadabra room and the tissue paper map, and the terra-cotta warriors. Today, whenever I hear about terra-cotta warriors, I remember learning about them in second grade. She still is my favorite teacher.”

— Sarah Wattson, Newport Beach, Mrs. Dickson’s second grade, 1994-95

“She’s a really caring person. I think she had a way of making children feel important … and the children she taught became her family. I admired her and appreciated her professionalism with other teachers and with parents. I learned to appreciate her more for the things she was doing to help kids, and I realized how much care and concern she gave to each one.”

— Vickie Weber, Long Beach, taught for 11 years at Newport Heights

“I remember her being really sweet…. And my mom says that after I was in her class, I wanted my work to look nice because her opinion mattered to me. I just remember that it was fun to come to her class every day. And I took my son to school and introduced my son to her, which was really cool. It’s a really neat legacy.”

— Kelly Kurz, Long Beach, Mrs. Dickson’s first grade, 1978-79, daughter of Vickie Weber