learning that…my thought was then we need to regroup and figure out where we need to go from here. So, I was calling on the district… first of all…to find out (what their) process was…and somebody was supposed to get back to me…and never did. I found out…again, like I said, this morning as I called back to that person…and she informed me that there was no process…and her words were…things just start and they somehow snowball…which was very disheartening for me because, as I said, we wanted to go through the process…we didn’t want to do anything that would impede the process…and we wanted to make sure that we had our i’s dotted, and our t’s crossed. So…when you asked me what our timeline is…I don’t know. I’m still trying to get in touch with people. I left messages throughout the district…and waiting for callbacks… some I’ve gotten…but I haven’t gotten any real information about the lack of process. I have been leaving messages and hoping that we get some return calls, so that we can get some assistance…and get a direction… but right now we are still planning to get the petitions out. I have all the copies of the petitions…and we are still going to get the petitions throughout the district. One will be going to the principal at East High School, because at some point I was told that is where it should start, and that person would be instrumental in also pushing along the process. I also plan to present petitions to individual members of the board, and to the superintendent. Celeste: In conclusion, do you have any final comments for the readers? Vallery: I think what we are doing is a labor of love for a woman who has given 40 years to the Des Moines School District…who has helped everybody she could along the way. Everything that she has done…has been done because she cares about people, she cares about causes…and she is not necessarily looking to be in the spotlight. We are talking about a woman who has written 200 plays…who has started so many, many programs in the Des Moines School District, and each of those programs has been helpful for the students at East High School and throughout the district. Not only that…we are talking about a woman who has also worked throughout our community. Everything she has done…she has done well. We are talking about a woman who is a Representative at the statehouse…she has been the ‘Teacher of the Year’…and she is just a dynamite woman who I think deserves to be honored by having the East High School’s new auditorium named after her. Celeste: Thank you, Vallery. NOTE: To sign the petition go to https://www.change.org/p/ east-high-alumni-rename-thenew-theater-at-des-moines-easthigh-after-40-year-teacher-rep-ruthann-gaines.of this effort? Celeste: Thank you, Heather. Vallery P. Griffis, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, worked for Des Moines Public Schools for thirty-three years. A former English and African American Studies teacher, she retired as a high school administrator in 2010. Mrs. Griffis’ teaching experience includes middle school, high school, community college, and university levels. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in English (psychology minor) from Alabama State University, a Master of Arts Degree in English with a concentration in African American Literature, and Administration Certification from Iowa State University. Additionally, she studied at Drake University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Heather Ryan is an entrepreneur and Political Scientist who resides in far eastern Polk County, Iowa. She has worked in Washington, DC, appeared on many Reality TV shows and ran for congress in Kentucky. Heather is a well known political and social activist and has traveled the world on various television shows and for causes.
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