LIBERTY — Linda Mauldin walked into the library of Morgan Elementary School Thursday afternoon expecting a casual reception to recognize her for teaching 15 years at the east Rowan school.
Instead, she had to endure a wailing siren as a paramedic ran out with first-aid gear. Balloons floated up from behind tables. And in one twisted skit after another, other teachers replayed scenes from her career.
“Have you seen Mrs. Mauldin?” one teacher shouted as she flailed a cap gun over her head, a toy school bus tucked under her other arm. “She’s got my kindergartner, and when I find her, I’m gonna kill her.”
A teacher assistant rolled out former Morgan Elementary Principal Wayne Taylor in a little red wagon.
“I’m back,” he shouted over the din of laughter. “But I’m just in for the ride.”
After 34 years of teaching at Morgan and Rockwell elementary schools and in other school systems, Mauldin moved into an administrative job this year. She’s helping educators teach reading to children throughout Rowan County’s 17 elementary schools.
But folks at Morgan Elementary made it clear Thursday that they haven’t forgotten her.
Former students gave Mauldin cards to thank her for recording herself reading short books on tape. Morgan Elementary Principal Tim Smith praised Mauldin’s energy.
“She’s been in it 34 years, and it’s like she’s just come out of college. She still has the same creativity and enthusiasm,” Smith said. “She’s the kind of person that if you’re feeling down, that’s the person you go to.”
Mauldin is one of many educators in her family. Her mother taught biology at Hickory High School. Her husband, Bill, is an assistant principal at North Rowan High School.
One of Mauldin’s daughters, Katie, was named teacher of the year and now presides over a kindergarten class in Richmond, Va. Her other daughter, Meleah, is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Mauldin said kindergartners enter school today better prepared than ever before.
“Children know a lot more than they used to. With computers, they’re already coming to school knowing a lot of their letters and sounds ... But they don’t seem to read as much.”
Above all, elementary schools should teach children how to think, Mauldin said. They can’t prepare them for careers.
“Whatever job they’ll have will be different. That’ll be 10 to 15 years from now.”
Contact Brad A. Hodges at 704-797-4266 or bhodges@salisburypost.com
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