Remembering Eleanor Vargas

I first met Eleanor Vargas at Murchison Elementary School.

It was the late 90's and I was on the PQR (Program Quality Review) 

team for the district.

We were at Eleanor's school for it's review.

*I can't recall how I got invited to be a part of a district review team, 

but I remember it was an amazing learning experience.

I went to schools as the teacher rep with a wonderful administrator named Chet Hanley.

Schools would share data about their programs and outcomes with us.

I remember Murchison.

As I sat in the office waiting for Chet's arrival, 

I noticed a news article hanging on the wall.

"LAUSD teacher wins $25,000!"

When you are a teacher and you read a headline like that, 

you take note.

Eleanor was that teacher.

The Milken Foundation was the organization 

that presented her with that check.

I was in awe of both!

A few years after that,

I was involved in a California teacher leadership group through

The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning.

Once again, I don't recall how I was invited to participate.

Classroom educators joined education leaders and policymakers

from across the state to discuss important issues in education.

Eleanor was also a part of that wonderful group, 

as were other Milken Educators from California.

I didn't have much to say back then,

I was new to policymaking as an educator so

I just soaked up the knowledge and experience around me.

I did remember Eleanor and her award

and began a special friendship with her.

As luck would have it, a few years later

I was lucky enough to be named a

Milken Educator as well.

Eleanor was invited but couldn't go.

I told her I'd probably would have freaked out more if I saw her!

For the next 15 years,

Eleanor became my Milken Educator Carpool Buddy.

She had since retired from LAUSD, 

but continued to teach and shared her expertise 

in special education with new educators at the university.

The drives on the 10 and 405 were long and often congested,

but I looked forward to them.

I knew every year, I would get to soak up some of her knowledge

and gain insights about life from her.

During our many drives to Milken notifications, 

events, dinner, and forums,

she became a role-model, mentor, and friend.

I could ask her anything and she would tell it like it was.

When I adopted my first son Daniel

and learned that he would have special needs,

Eleanor understood.

She gave me strategies, provided information, 

and offered support as both a resource I could use

and an advocate that could go with me to his IEPs.

She listened with an understanding ear

as I complained, vented, and shared the ups and downs

of raising two challenging boys on my own.

She had also raised boys and assured me it was going to be okay.

She listened as I shared my experience of

watching my mother go through cancer.

She had fought and won her own battle 

with breast cancer years before.

The last time I heard from Eleanor was in September.

I had invited her to a lunch with the newest Milken Educator.

She politely declined saying she had just gotten out of the hospital.

I was hoping it wasn't anything serious and let her know

I was just down the street if she needed anything.

Last week I received an email from her son that she had passed.

I will miss my friend.

I will miss our annual talks in the car.

I am grateful that I knew her.

She was a bright light in the lives of students, families, and colleagues.

*Sharing photos of us at Milken Educator Events...

At Shannon's notification (Milken Family Photo)

At Jackie's notification (Milken Family Photo)

Pinning Jackie at Charlie's Trio

Pinning Jen Smith #2

At Matthew's notification (Milken Family Photo)

CA Milken Meeting (Milken Family Photo)