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Today's Featured Biography

 
Donalee Burkhart Knowlton

I completed my 20th year at Crownhill Elementary School in Bremerton in June 2005. I have been a Counselor/Interventionist for the past 5 years, but spent 15 years as a fifth grade teacher. I created (along with two other teachers) and worked in the Challenge Program for gifted students, teaching 5/6 for four years, and spent two years as a fourth grade teacher at Haddon Elementary before it was closed. Prior to that, I had worked at the former Navy Yard City School, Olympic View Elementary, and Armin Jahr Elementary, teaching grades 2-5. I learned so much from so many people!
I had the thrill of writing and publishing, through Time/Warner, a musical play with former Paul Revere and the Raider Jim Valley and raised money so a student of mine could have a motorized wheelchair in 1986. I have worked with some of the finest students in Bremerton, many of whom have gone on to become class officers at our local high school and personal and professional successes. I devoted everything to the profession and tried to be the best I could be for my students. I created many traditions at Crownhill including a school store, annual Talent Show, Champ program for self-managers, Top Dawg Attendance awards, monthly Spirit Assemblies, and just a lot of school spirit, with lots of student support! It was such fun!
I am married to a former teacher who had a dream dealing with hydrogen and a combustion engine and has secured himself numerous patents. He presently lives 2500 miles away during much of the year, mainly because his business keeps him there and mine kept me here. We have managed to make this work and keep our relationship strong since 1987 and celebrated our 25th anniversary on October 10, 2005. We don't have any children of our own, but have worked with and know over 600 students and we love every one! Our two dogs passed away last year, and that was difficult for both of us. On our anniversary, we brought home "Foxy", a 18 month old border collie/sheltie mix, who keeps us hopping!
In the spring of 2005, the district had budget cuts and they have decided to split my job between two buildings. I thought I'd be here at least two more years, retiring when my last fifth grade class graduates from Bremerton High School, but I decided to retire and spend more time with my husband. The thought of the commuting and trying to do what I did in two schools just seemed more than I wanted to handle after 32 years. So, I packed up my room and retired as of July 31, 2005. We will be dividing our time between our house at the ocean at Copalis Beach and the one in Whitehall, Michigan. My husband and I are looking forward to travelling and other new adventures that we gave up for our personal pursuits.
As Bob Hope once said, "Thanks for the memories." The experiences and opportunities I've had over the past 32 years are immeasurable!! I have SO many wonderful memories and have been so blessed! Many of you were a very big part of making each day new, exciting, and fun. Each and every time I run into one of my students, the hugs in greeting mean SO much! Assemblies, awards, committee work, etc. have all been SO fun!
Hopefully, more students and former classmates and associates will be online and able to keep in touch. There are many lives out there that mean the world to me. Thanks for what you have given to mine!

***SPECIAL NOTE. Dreams don't always come true in the ways we hope for. I did retire and fortunately, Jim and I had a great year and a half together before he passed unexpectedly from complications Nov. 2006 while he was in MI and I in WA. Since that time, I sold the Copalis house the end of 2007, moved to Michigan, and am living in a small house I purchased about two miles from the Knowlton family home, which is presently being readied for sale. It was old and needed many more repairs than I could do or afford and...it was time.
My new home is smaller, on 2 1/2 wooded acres of oaks and white pines, and filled daily with beautiful butterflies, numerous varieties of birds, and plenty of squirrels and chipmunks to keep Foxy busy all day. I feel very blessed to have found it.
I volunteer at a local downtown store four times a month, at a theater in Muskegon when needed, sing with a small group of seven women known as the Choral Belles which is fun, and with the larger White Lake Chorale. A couple of my "yoga friends" and I created a group called Beads, Beauty and Beyond and that has been incredibly rewarding. I learned to make clay beads and create fashionable jewelry which is donated to women going through cancer treatment at the local hospital each month.
I am starting over at making friendships, but still discovering myself and what I'd like to do when I grow up. We'll see what that brings...
I am getting more settled and centered now. If you had tried to contact me over the past two years, please forgive me for not responding and I do hope you'll try again.
Take care, best wishes, and blessings to you all.

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