Lest anyone think that a significant mentor can’t enter your life early on, I’ve got other thoughts on that and wanted to share someone who was very influential to me at a tender age. How young?

How about kindergarten?

I was blessed to have the one, and only Mrs. Sipe lead the way in the humble confines of the Faxon-Kenmore church basement in the late 1960s.

It was there that a foundation was beginning to form. My classmates (some I still stay in touch with!) and I were comparable to raw clay; Mrs. Sipe and her assistant were to take us and shape us. Actually, there was plenty of playdough on the premises. I love that smell of playdough! Some of us were more “pliable” than others. Some kids were like cracking a rock — stubborn, cranky, moody.

In other words, Mrs. Sipe, and all other kindergarten teachers round the world have had plenty to look forward to each morning.

Let me give you several reasons why Mrs. Sipe stuck to her game plan and lesson plan and how it has affected me so many years later.

1. She cultivated creativity; she didn’t stomp it out. When asked to draw or finger paint, many of the other kids stuck to the “conventional.” Dogs, cats, houses, an occasional fire truck, a cartoon character. I was penning up dream cars, show cars. Vehicles that could sprout wings and fly, ones that could change color by pushing a button on the dashboard, others that could change height. As she peeked over my shoulder, she never hesitated to say “interesting,” or “well done,” or “keep it up!” Encouragement at a young age is crucial to building self-esteem. She knew I was a dreamer, but never shot down my pie in the sky ideas.

2. Nap time meant rest time. When Mrs. Sipe told us to grab our pillow and blanket and go lie down for 15 or 20 minutes, she was allowing us to take a “time out” from a hectic day. Back then, it was hard to understand what she was trying to do. I mean, 30 kids bristling with enough energy to move a locomotive and she’s telling us to power down with eyes and mouths closed. Now I know what she was doing. It was for us (and her) to recharge. We adjusted to that routine, and it made the day go by in better fashion. Refreshed. We actually had more energy to finish out the day! These days I sometimes wish I still had that pillow and blanket to take a siesta!

3. Mrs. Sipe coordinated special events that I still remember to this day. One was having our fathers visit us during class time. Each of us had to bring in a favorite photo of our dad and post it on the bulletin board by the steps in the hallway. On that hallowed day, our dads would shuffle in and sit with us, and we’d have refreshments and show them what we did for the day. I think Mrs. Sipe did this not only for parents to see how we were progressing, but to make us realize not to take our parents and their sacrifices for granted. One particular photo stood out: a young father standing next to an olive green Bell Huey Cobra helicopter in Vietnam. Alas, he was one of a handful of dads who couldn’t be there that day. Mrs. Sipe made it a point that his child, and the rest of us, knew he was serving our country. My father made it, albeit a tad late. Now they have “take your child to work day.” Mrs. Sipe was ahead of things. It was “have your parent to school day.” Numerous field trips (like the pumpkin patch) also took place during the year.

4. She knew the importance of fruit and fiber in your diet. One day I brought her a nice, shiny red and ripe apple for her. She declined and said, “I had mine already, you eat that one as it keeps the doctors away.” Footnote: I have eaten many an apple, but it hasn’t exactly kept the doctors and nurses at bay.

5. Mrs. Sipe kept things popping and interesting week in and week out. Special guests would come to class for various presentations. And, of course, the famed “show and tell.” One day a week we brought something to class (in a discreet brown paper bag of course) to show and then discuss its relevance. Mine? One week I took a Tonka toy garbage truck and showed everyone how it picked up trash and loaded it into the large rear compartment. Just like “Big Blue” up the street — a local Loyalsock garbage hauler who named his truck that.

Yes, those were the days. It could have been a mundane passing of time, but that teacher made it right by me. I pass the Faxon-Kenmore church on a daily basis and wonder what is downstairs where our old classroom used to be. The little stone alley next to the church remains. It’s where our parents dropped us off and picked us up.

My mother was there in her white Chevy Corvair convertible. Susan Mock’s mother came daily in a way cool 1955 Buick sedan. It was way before minivans and crossovers and SUVs hit the scene. Then again, if I review my old artwork I probably “designed” something to their effect. Even if it didn’t sprout wings or change color “on the fly.”

I regress. Thank you, Mrs. Sipe, for not stifling this adult who is still more kid than anything else. My life can be considered a continual kindergarten of sorts. Fun, adventure, work, play. Even do “show and tell” with my toys when the fancy strikes. Mentors cannot really come any better and at such a crucial time to help mold the raw clay.

Let’s all hope your children are experiencing the same type of teacher wherever they attend. All of us could stand to use a bit of Mrs. Sipe at some point.