Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka DKG Recognizes Two School Volunteers

By SANDY FONTAINE

Special to the Sentinel

In celebrating America Education Week, Thursday has been designated as the day to recognize the many Educators for a Day who enrich our school programs. The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Iota Chapter, would like to acknowledge two longtime volunteers in the Sitka School District, Nancy Ricketts and Pat Eliason. 

Although the Sitka School District is fortunate to have the considerable support of many, many parent and community volunteers, these two women stand out for their continued service to our Sitka children and schools over many years. 

Nancy Ricketts first came to Sitka in 1940 as a sophomore in high school with her mother, but they returned to Monterey, California, after just a few months. Nancy returned to Sitka in 1974 as the wife of a Forest Service employee, and she has lived here ever since. Asked what has kept her in Sitka, she smiles and says,” This is home. I love the people, I love the vistas, I like everything about it.”

Nancy Ricketts

Early experiences with her father, marine biologist Ed Ricketts, gave Nancy a feeling for nature, and for order and organization. Her father would give her and her siblings the scientific names for sea creatures, and she loved learning the specifics and details about these animals.

As an adult, Nancy turned to the detailed work of archiving, beginning in Carmel, California, and then in Sitka, working as an archivist both for Sheldon Jackson College library and for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. She also wrote a history for St. Peter’s Church, finished and published in the year 2000. She continues to work periodically with archiving projects in the UAS Whale Lab, working closely with her friend, biologist Jan Straley.

As well as her archivist work, for 23 years Nancy volunteered two or three times every week at Baranof Elementary School, reading and working with first graders on an individual basis. She saw an article in the newspaper asking for volunteers, and decided to help. She worked with many teachers over the years, and as they retired she kept finding new teachers who wanted her expertise in working with students. Nancy says that she did not care if students were “good readers, struggling readers or whatever. I just wanted them to love reading, because that is the way to become a good reader.”

Nancy has also gardened extensively throughout her Sitka years, and has taught neighborhood children how to plant and care for flowers and shrubs.  She feels as though sharing knowledge and talents is a wonderful way to relate to people.

Nancy, now 94, recently moved into the Pioneers Home, and stopped volunteering at Baranof only a few years ago, when walking on the ice from her Biorka Street home to the school made working there “just too risky.” She has also read with seniors at the Pioneers Home for over 40 years, (many years before moving in), and continues to be available for reading to other seniors in the Home.

Pat Eliason, 81, is still volunteering every school day in the kindergarten classrooms at Baranof Elementary School. Every morning she comes prepared to run an activity with small groups of active 5- and 6-year-olds, and has become very familiar with the kindergarten curriculum. She knows the routines of the various teachers so well that she can help substitute teachers in locating various materials, and in running an activity, if needed, and is an expert in relating to the children. 

 She says that “No matter how tired I am when I get up, when I walk in the school doors, I become a different person. I am just totally involved in what I am doing.  It feels so good to be a part of their learning, and when you see it happen, and know they are going to carry it on with them for the rest of their lives…well, it is just very rewarding.” 

Pat Eliason

Pat first came to Sitka in 1983, 35 years ago, with her husband Richard (Dick) Eliason. She was busy at first with fishing with her husband, and supporting him in his Alaska legislative career as a state representative and state senator. She had begun volunteering in the public schools when they wintered in Palm Springs, California. She wanted to do something besides play cards and golf, and found that she enjoyed working with young children very much. So, later on, when she and her husband began staying in Sitka all winter, she talked with Marcia Hirai, the Baranof Elementary teacher who was teaching Pat’s grandson, Garrett Eliason, and she decided to volunteer in the kindergarten here. That was over 13 years ago, and Pat has been helping almost every school day since then.

Pat also serves on the board of the Center for Community, and has been active on it for many years. She also enjoys crocheting, knitting, reading, and spending time with her family here in Sitka.

Pat enjoys living in Sitka. A former resident of the Chicago suburbs, she truly appreciates the beauty of the mountains and oceans, and the way of life our small town offers.

The children of our Sitka community are fortunate to have these two accomplished and giving people among our residents.