Ms. Alice Brock retired this spring after teaching first grade at Wilmore Elementary School for the past 43 years. Ms. Brock began teaching at Wilmore in 1954 in a room constructed behind the stage in the old red brick building.
But that was not her first teaching position. Ms. Brock began her career in a one room school house at Spears, Kentucky, before transferring to Wilmore. Ms. Brock has served six principals and has influenced more than 1300 children.
Alice Reynolds was born to Edward and Mae Reynolds of Mackey Pike in Jessamine County. She attended the three-room Providence School through the eighth grade. Her mentor and inspiration to become a teacher was Mrs. Lucille Cassity who taught her in grades three through eight. Ms. Brock's favorite subjects at the time were English and reading.
She went on to graduate from Nicholasville High School in 1951, and received her bachelors degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1958. She was awarded a masters degree from EKU in 1964 and later eared her Rank I. She married Ray Brock who passed away in 1979.
When asked why she chose teaching as a career, Ms. Brock replied, "I felt the Lord called me to a life of teaching. I had eleven brothers and sisters and I was always going home from school teaching them what I had learned. Mrs. Cassity would tell me, 'You're going to become a fine teacher someday!'"
Some of Ms. Brock's most memorable moments include the sad experience of two men appearing at her classroom door to inform one of her first graders that his father had been killed in the service.
On a lighter note, she remembers one of her pupils who crawled out of a window in her coat room, stole a bicycle, and ran away from school. Soon the police showed up with the bicycle and a very nervous boy. Ms. Brock turned the situation over to her principal, Dan Glass. She was sure that little boy would not try that trick again.
When asked what she enjoyed most about teaching, Ms. Brock noted the uniqueness of each child and the challenge to meet all the different needs presented to her. She had several chances to leave Wilmore and even earned her certificate to become a principal, but chose to stay in the classroom in Wilmore because she felt she had the world coming to her through all the different children that travel in and out of our town.
Ms. Brock's plans for retirement include a continued active role in her church, East Hickman Baptist, where she will be involved in Bible School and Kid's Camp and will help oversee the building of a pavilion for homecoming events and children's and youth activities.
Ms. Brock's advice to anyone beginning their career as a teacher includes being a good listener, loving and caring for the children, and trying to meet the needs of each individual child.
Ms. Brock, we salute you on an outstanding career at Wilmore Elementary School and thank you for enriching the lives of so many of our children in the Wilmore community.
Councilman Bill Glover