Fall 2015 COMM 2103-001

Writing for the Media

Prof. Suya Yin
Personality Profile
Final Draft
Jess Speese
Nov 1st, 2015
Word Count: 787
Paragraph Count: 21
Retired teacher trades in grade-book for paintbrush
By Jessica Speese

Photo by: Jess Speese

Trudy Vernon, retired teacher of Camden County,

shows off her collection of unfinished ceramic pieces
before her painting class on Wednesday, October 28th, 2015.
Ceramic pieces fill the metal shelves lining the walls of the makeshift art studio in Somerdale,
NJ. Pale blue veins decorate the bare feet bounding through the drafty garage. Echoes of The
Wheel of Fortune reverberate through the studio as the 66 year old woman offers guidance to her

painting students. 5 years post retirement, like metal to magnet, Trudy Vernon is forcibly drawn
back to the classroom.
I like helping other people see the talents that lie within them and feel the pride of doing
something they didnt know they could do, says Vernon while stippling paint onto this weeks
project.
Before Vernon was spending her Wednesday nights painting wooden boxes with holly leaves, she
started creating a home within the walls of Glen Landing Middle School.
After graduating from Glassboro State College in 1971, Vernon was hired at a middle school in
Gloucester Township, NJ. She dedicated 39 years at Glen Landing where she taught a life skills
class and founded community service club, Hearts for Humanity.
Fifteen years into my teaching career I knew that was where I needed to be, said Vernon. I
realized I had the ability to reach kids and let them know that I was in their corner and I was
going to be their personal cheerleader.
Vernon shares stories of her students writing her thank-you notes for being their confidant and
ally. Her bright blue eyes look warm and cheerful, accentuating her porcelain skin in the
fluorescent light.
In her dimly lit classroom at Glen Landing, Vernon built common ground with her students by
sharing her own life experiences. Her guidance help a lot of students overcome obstacles in life.
Since Vernon retired students arent hearing the stories she told and the lessons she had, said
Elizabeth Speese, office aid at Glen Landing Middle School. Trudy is just a different kind of
person, and kids wont learn those lessons from anyone else.
Reaching for the Samsung galaxy in her back pocket, Vernon searches for pictures of her new
grandbaby and gushes at her screen. Her coral pink lipstick offers a contrast to her beaming
white smile.
In 2010 Vernon retired from teaching full time. However, between spending her days with her
family and creating new projects she spends at least twice a week at the school as a substitute
teacher.
Its harder to reach the children as a substitute, said Vernon as she searched the fridge for a
cold Pepsi. I cant develop the close rapport with them. When I was working full time I was
putting my son through college, paying the bills, getting the mortgage paid off, and now I dont
have to sub, not for the money, I have to sub because my heart tells me to.
Now that Vernon isnt working full time she is able to devote more effort to the painting classes
she has been teaching since 1986.

For years Vernon has offered her talents to friends and coworkers at the art studio to encourage
creativity from their daily humdrum. In the early 1980s she began taking painting classes at a
local church in Laurel Springs, NJ. When Vernon felt she had enough experience and could
handle taking time away from her young son, she started teaching small painting classes. In her
own words, from then the ball just started to roll.
Joanne Gullite, one of Vernons coworkers and painting student of 5 years, said that while the
classes are enjoyable and educational, Vernons lessons go far beyond learning a new brush
stroke.
She taught us to never give up. said Gullite. She showed us that you can achieve whatever
you want and you can always learn new things.
Her scattered and eclectic studio mirrors her personality. Vernon offers help to her peers while
absentmindedly searching the channels for a new game show. She makes suggestions for her
students to improve their work but encourages that they try what they think is best.
Whether her students are 11, or 45, she offers them lessons and inspirations, and boosts their
confidence in their work and in themselves.
Even when she isnt in the classroom, she still teaches and helps everyone she knows, said
Gullite. So she will always be teaching.
Vernon may not always be at Glen Landing, or in the art studio but she creates a classroom in
wherever she goes.
She believes that the day is far off for when she will stop teaching.
In all probability it will be a physical thing that stops me from going to school, said Vernon
while picking at her purple nail polish. Or if I felt I am going into work and not giving it my
100%.This is where my passion lies and my soul belongs.

Fall 2015 COMM 2103-001

Writing for the Media
Prof. Suya Yin
Personality Profile
Final Draft
Jess Speese
Nov 6, 2015
Personality Profile Interview Notes Worksheet
Interview Notes for Primary Source (Key Source):
Full name of primary source: Trudy Vernon
Date of interview: October 28th, 2015
Location of interview: Somerdale, NJ
Duration of interview: 6pm-7pm
Questions and Answers (At least 1 through 10)
Q1. I know from class you didnt have an easy childhood, what would you say was the
hardest thing you had to overcome in terms of your rough childhood?
A1.Having self worth, recognizing self worth

Q2. How did you start becoming interested in painting, was it always one of your
hobbies?
A2.When I married my husband we bought a house in laurel springs and at the church down
the street they would have little painting classes and I started to take the classes and when I
felt I could leave the house on say a Wednesday from 7-9 and not feel I was neglecting my
maternal duties with my son, I started to rent a studio to teach it and the ball just rolled
Q3. Can you explain Hearts for Humanity a little more in depth, did you start the
program?
A3. I did start the program. I knew that there were kids that had a caring heart, and they
wanted to help other people- people they didnt even know, and I knew that. And I knew if I
had a club I could generate some real activity as far as people caring about other people and

maybe plant seeds that would take these kids into adulthood- they would spread their seeds
just like I was trying to spread mine

Q4. Youre retired now, but you still teach at school, what keeps you coming back?
A4. I miss the kids I just miss being around young people they make me laugh

Q5. Is painting class just for fun or do you get something deeper from it?
A5. It is a lot of fun but I like helping other people to see the talents that lie within them that
they didnt know they had and seeing them experience and feel the pride of doing something
they didnt know they could do

Q6. Where do you see yourself in the future, do you ever plan to stop working?
A6. Only when I have to, and in all probability will be a physical thing. Or if I felt that Im
going to work and not giving 100%

Q7. Is there a motto/piece of advice you live by?

A7. My grandmother always said if youre lucky in life sweetie, youll get to be an old
women and have no regrets she planted that in my head/ treat other people as you would
want to be treated

Q8. How has your role as a teacher changed now that youre a sub?
A8. Its harder to reach the children as a sub I cant develop the close rapport with them.
When I was working full time it was putting Dani through college, paying the bills, getting
the mortgage paid off, and now I dont have to sub, not for the money., I have to sub because
my heart tells me to. I just love being there
Q9. Did you ever have an a-ha moment where you knew you were exactly where you
needed to be?
A9. Fifteen years into my teaching career I knew that was where I needed to be, I realized I
had the ability to reach kids and let kids know that I was in their corner and I was going to be

their cheerleader for them. Kids had begun writing little thank you notes to me and thats
when I thought to myself this is exactly where I want to be
Q10. What do you consider to be your biggest success?
A10. Never giving up, never just throwing the towel in and saying I quit- I cant do this or I
cant be that.

Interview Notes for Secondary Source 1:

Full name of secondary source 2: Joanne Gullite
Date of interview: October 28th, 2015
Location of interview: Somerdale, NJ
Duration of interview: 6pm-7pm
Questions and Answers (At least 1 through 5)
Q 1. What word best describes Trudy, why?
A 1. Generous. She doesnt have a mean bone in her body thats for sure thats why shes
still working and why everyone loves her
Q2. How long have you been painting with Trudy?
A2. About five years
Q3. Is there something specific that keeps you coming back year after year?
A3. Its fun, enjoyable
Q4. What has she taught you?
A4. she taught us to never give up, you can achieve whatever you want and you can always
learn new things
Q5 Why has Trudy been so successful at Glen Landing?
A5 Trudy gives her enthusiasm to everybody. She continuously has a big smile plastered
across her lovely face, while always in constant motion. She is generous and kind, constantly
giving from her heart. She is a true optimist.
Interview Notes for Secondary Source 2:
Full name of secondary source 2: Elizabeth Speese
Date of interview: October 28th, 2015

Location of interview: Somerdale, NJ

Duration of interview: 6pm-7pm
Questions and Answers (At least 1 through 5)
Q 1. Do you think the Glen Landing kids are different because they wont experience
her class?
A 1. Well they have another teacher, but they dont have the same life skills class that she
teaches, so the students arent listening to the stories she told, and the lessons she had. The
new teacher is good but Trudy is just a different kind of person, and kids wont learn those
lessons from anyone else.
Q2. Do you see a future for Trudy that doesnt involve teaching?
A2. Even if she wasnt in the classroom, Trudy still teaches and helps everyone she knows,
so shell always be teaching
Q3. Is the school different without her being there?
A3. well shes still here. She comes in so often that its like she still works here full time.
We cant get rid of her.
Q4. How long have you been working with Trudy?
A4. Ten years, since I started at glen landing, Ive been painting with her for 5.
Q5. Students have a different opinion of Trudy because they are in her class, do you
think that different from how her coworkers see her?
A5. No, she is seen in light by everyone, shes concerned about everybody- including her
coworkers not just her students