Elizabeth Brackett Zarecki

Hi Chris. Sorry for taking so long to respond. It was nice to hear
from you and you seem to have a wonderful family. I'll send pictures
of my family and I when I can.

       I live in New Bedford, Ma. with my husband John and have two sons,
Dominic(19) and Alexander(16).Dominic is a sophomore at Yale
University and Alexander is a junior in high school. They both play
the saxophone and especially love jazz. Alexander is in the high
school band and Dominic plays in a band at college. Alexander also
plays electric guitar in a "garage band" on weekends. My husband
John is a child and family therapist and I teach 7th grade Literacy
here in New Bedford. I am currently finishing up my second degree
at UMASS Dartmouth, after a career change from being a social
worker.
        My students are wonderful and lively. I have about 100 7th graders
right now and they keep me on my toes. New Bedford has a very
diversified student population as well as a high rate of mobility.
New Bedford High School has about 3000 students and up to a 30%
drop out rate, which poses some challenges for teachers. My main
goal is to motivate my students to do their best and see the
importance of staying in school through high school and hopefully
college.
        In our free time we like getting together with friends and
neighbors, and are involved in our church. I have fun coordinating
Sunday School and John teaches some adult classes and serves as an
elder. As part of having children, we have survived and even enjoyed
almost 15 years of fundraisers, chaperoning, carpooling,
sleepovers,1st,2nd,and 3rd girlfriends, and the teenage driver. Keep
in touch and have a nice Thanksgiving. Warmly, Beth