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Today's Featured Biography
Wilma Bach Palmaccio
Wilma Bach Palmaccio
This Bio begins at Cranston East.....or should I say resume?
This is how I can account for 50 plus years! Included in the 50+ years are the time at East. Unbelievable, that it can be summed up in a page.
While attending Cranston East, I worked after school in a local Pediatrician's office, assisting the Doctor. He was a great teacher and I learned a great deal about children, their normal growth and development and abnormal medical issues. I believe this influenced my career choice to become a nurse. Another factor, which I also feel played in my decision was my Mother was a Registered Nurse. She also was an East grad. This career choice was familiar to me.
I attended Nursing School, became engaged in the hospital cafeteria during my lunch break (oh so true, romantic... not? ). I married young and children followed. Shortly after my first child was born, a daughter, I became a stay-at-home mother to her, followed by another daughter and a son. Later, to "keep my hand in nursing", I volunteered in a Providence Hospital's Clinic. When my son, the youngest child went to Nursery School, I obtained a part-time position while he was in school, at Prevent Blindness. I performed vision exams at pre-schools and private schools. I went back to college and earned a B.A. in Psychology and obtained a certificate to teach this.
I became a single parent and was awarded full/sole custody of my children. I knew that I wanted and needed to be assessable to my children, who were my first priority. Therefore, I substituted in their school system. My job was to be home when they were home, so what better way than to work for the same school district that they attended? When they were out of school, so was I.
I then made a decision to go back to college again to get certified as a School Nurse Teacher. Thank God for Mom!
I completed this and received my certification from RIDE. I then secured this position in the same school district that my children attended. I worked in all levels, in many different positions and schools. At one time, I was the nurse for the high school and middle school at the same time and was responsible for a couple thousand students and faculty. I finally chose to stay at the HS level.
To be a School Nurse Teacher in R.I. I had to have a Master's Degree for my position. I began this after my initial certification. I completed and obtained that as a M.Ed. in Health Education. I already had my R.N. License and needed to have both Nursing and an Education degree for this position, with the Master's Degree. After many years in that position, I decided to career change.
In 1998/99, I decide to become a Guidance Counselor. Back to college again, to obtain the necessary education needed for that certificate. I felt that I had much to offer in this area, taking with me all my own varied education, experience and knowledge in the different disciplines, that would be so advantageous for this position. As a high School Nurse Teacher, I had counseled many students over the years. Also, having parented my own three children and having done it alone, gave me a great opportunity to help other parents, to have an understanding and empathy for those who needed it.
In 1999 , I completed an internship in the HS Guidance Department. I completed the necessary requirements and became certified. In 2000, I switched careers and moved from my office suite to the office next door as a counselor....and may I also add, I still had to fill in for Nursing when needed, even still riding the rescue occasionally. It was not easy, when the new nurse was absent they relied on me, so I got to be Nurse/Teacher, Guidance Counselor with a case load and Head of Guidance. I soon became the leader of the department and needed to obtain a Supervisor's certificate with administration courses. Back to college again at PC and officially in 2004 became the Guidance Chair. At that time, I was required to develop, implement and evaluate a new Guidance Program, working with PC and RIDE. I retired as Director in 2011 after 25+ years. On my last day of work, I worked 15 hours and had done an evening presentation, I got off the Merry-Go-Round.
Going to school intermittently from 1968 to 2004, I think qualifies me as a Lifelong Learner! I have worker long and hard.
Along the way....President of my Church Council a few times, Sunday School Teacher for 10 years, President of an Elementary School's PTO and on the Executive Board for 10 years, Secretary of my Teachers' Union for many years, Chaired Scholarship Committees, Annually ran a 30 Week Club for the Teacher's Union in the district as a fundraiser to award scholarships, Recreation Co-ed Soccer Coach and Nurse for the HS Boy's Soccer Team and traveled with them.
I went back to school to obtain the education to become a Certified Driver's Education Teacher. I taught that at East Greenwich HS for many years. At one time I also taught the Certified Nursing Assistant program at CCRI.
Working in a high school you end up taking on many roles. I became a Class Advisor for many years. I ended up taking the Senior Class to Grad Night at Disney. Disney opens the park during the night for seniors from all over the US. My job was to work the first aid center. The students' job, to have fun! We spent a week experiencing Florida. For many it was their first time at Disney or in a plane. I hope that will be in their good memory book of HS experiences.
I also became certified as a coach and coached cheerleading for many years. Not only did we focus on cheerleading, but I was able to provide the opportunity twice for these girls to travel to other countries and perform. It was a fantastic opportunity, because the students were able to converse in the natives' foreign languages, which the students were concurrently learning in HS. It was a great cultural, learning experience. Many had never flown on a plane previously. It was a great opportunity for them.
In the summer, I worked at the local Recreation Department, worked Hershey Track and Field Events, supervised field trips for the day camps and ran Golf Tournaments. Also in the summer, I worked the Extended School Year Program. Later, my summer work was just in guidance, working 4 extra weeks at school, preparing for the new school year.
Fast forward to retirement.....
I lived and worked in Johnston for 43 years and moved back to Cranston where my roots were, almost two years ago. I am the proud mother of Caryn, Christine and Carl. I have five grandchildren, the oldest is 9 and the youngest is 18 months, two attend the Cranston School System.
My oldest daughter, graduated from a Florida University, interned in a position in the courts and upon graduating obtained that position. She has a Justice Study Degree and works in the Florida Court system. My second daughter is a National Board Certified Teacher at Cranston West HS. In September, she will be starting her 20th year of teaching at Cranston West. She is the Diagnostic Prescriptive Teacher there, but this year she has a different role. In addition, she also is coach/director of the famous Falconettes and Westernettes, AKA the"Ettes". My son, also has a Justice Study Degree and works in Boston in Business Management. He began college at RWU at age 17 and soon became an Ambassador, Student Senator, worked in the Admission Office and represented RWU well. He was a ROTC cadet at RWU and at URI he completed his Military Science. He served in the Iraq War in the Army Infantry Division and was an Army Captain. I am so proud of each of them and their accomplishments and their own children. I am Blessed!
Have I hit bumps along life's way? Yes, I have hit many! Life has not always been easy! ......but who said it was?
What do I do now? I travel more every chance I get, whereas before it was only on school vacations or in the summer. I help out with the grandchildren and am so thankful for everything I have!
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