Joan Walter
Joan Walter was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. At seventeen, she attended the University of Chicago where she met her husband who was on the GI Bill. Together they came to California in 1951 to join er family, who had also emigrated there two years before.
When her husband died twenty-one years ago, Joan became a public school teacher, teaching mostly English and Social Studies in Middle School (6th, 7th and 8th grades.) She had raised six children, volunteered often, and had been a classroom aide for six years so she knew her way around schools and kids. Also, being older, she could take a pretty reasoned view of "school politics" and the people she worked with.
Upon retirement, she returned to teaching as a substitute. She also traveled a great deal, as she has children and grandchildren in Spain, New Zealand and Norway. Two others live in the Los Angeles area. There are now six third generation Walters.
Her book, "The Rotten Apple Gang" wrote itself. One day several years ago Joan sat down to the computer, and it just started. She admits, however, to a compelling urge to tell a teacher's side of things. Education and the environment are very important in Joan's life.