RE Log - Spring 2020

His knowledge of and appreciation for the world and its cultures is part of his soul, and he shared his experiences with his students. Always ready and willing to travel abroad with his students, Guillermo made learning come alive. Penny and Guillermo have seen the school change over time. Penny misses the intimacy of the smaller school when there were “fewer kids to square footage,” and Guillermo finds that the kids are more stressed about colleges and school. He often finds himself wanting to say, “You are all smart students; relax and enjoy life!” Yet they also recognize that the school has changed in good ways, with better facilities, more opportunities for students and faculty, and increased focus on inclusion and acceptance. It also seems that as the school grew and the quality of the educational experience swelled, so did their dedication to the school. They stayed on. Penny and Guillermo look back at their time at Ransom Everglades with pride and a genuine sense of gratitude. I recall my first encounter with Guillermo. Smiling widely and with a gracious handshake, he said “I want you to know that Ransom Everglades is a teacher’s paradise.” That paradise kept him here these many years. For Penny, it was “the moment of understanding; the twinkle in a kid’s eye when they get it.” And it was also the wonderful community of fellow educators that provided camaraderie, friendship and humor. Support is a word they both use often. It would be hard to find two individuals who are by nature more enthusiastic about working with kids. The students they have worked with responded positively to them because they knew that they cared about them and wanted them to do well. Penny and Guillermo have been fully present from start to finish, and they have contributed enormously to the overall success of Ransom Everglades. We will miss them. When we asked alumni for reflections on Penny and Guillermo, we were inundated with responses. What follows is a sample. If your note is not included, please know that it will be shared in its entirety with Guillermo and Penny. “Urbina goes down in the books as my favorite teacher at Ransom Everglades. He made eighth period the highlight of my school day by encouraging me to be myself, which made me comfortable speaking Spanish in public for the first time.” – David Jelke ’15 “Only Mr. Urbina could manage to combine his militant syllabus with humor, cheer and respect for all of his students. His effectiveness was unparalleled. He was the best Spanish teacher I ever had.” – David Gellman ’09 SPRING 2020 Ransom Everglades LOG 27 GuillermoUrbina