THE AUTHOR: On a Personal Note
Born a Methodist preacher's kid in Bryceland, Louisiana, the daughter of Benjamin Paul Durbin and Annie Sanders Durbin, I heard my father preach several times each Sunday while he pastored a five-church circuit. On Sunday afernoon wherever the family was invited to eat lunch and remain until the evening worship, I would gather the children around me (a front porch swing was an ideal pew) and preach to them what I thought my father preached that morning. You can be sure that my little brother Paul Guy Durbin, my charge for the afternoon, would be sitting in the "pew." I could wax eloquent on the sermon based on "And Lot lingered. . ." Ever since that time I have been teaching and preaching.
Centenary College, my choice of schools, provided me a ministerial scholarship.
At Centenary I was a member of the Centenary College Choir, Maroon Jackets, a non-Greek fraternity, the Student Senate, and the Ministerial Club.
When I married Fred, a minister, I taught kindergarten in the church's weekday program and attended North Texas State University on nights, weekends, and summers until I received my master's degree.
Moving to New Mexico where I taught third and fourth grades for the Dulce Independent School District, Fred pastored a mission church. I attended night school at a branch of New Mexico State University to complete requirements for a New Mexico teacher's certificate. That year I awaited a call from North Texas State University offering me a student fellowship so I could pursue the doctorate. Early into my second year of teaching, I was invited to become a reading specialist at the Pupil Appraisal Center which became my work for the next two years as I completed my doctorate.
Eastern Kentucky University was the only university to which I applied following graduation and I readily accepted a position in the Department of Elementary Education with the understanding that I would be able to teach early childhood courses. For eight years I taught human development, early childhood and curriculum courses, and supervised student teachers. One year I served as campus ombudsman, a cherished position.
Other educational experiences include: graduate studies at Scarritt College, Nashville, Tennessee; East Texas Baptist College, Marshall; East Texas State College, Commerce.
My work experiences include: educational director, First Methodist Church, Texarkana, Texas; educational director, Broadmoor Methodist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana; elementary teacher (grades 7and 8), McLeod, Texas; elementary teacher (grades, 6, 7, and 8), Avinger, Texas (Fred's hometown); music director, First Baptist Church, Whitewright, Texas; kindergarten director, Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Gainesville, Texas; Professor, Southeastern College, Durant, Oklahoma; professor, North Texas State University, Denton; preschool curriculum manager, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tennessee.
I have been a member of SACUS (Southern Association on Children under Six) in which I served as vice president of publications; NAEYC (Nationl Association for the Education of Young Children); OMEP (World Organization for Young Children); NEA (National Education Association); IRA (International Reading Association); ACEI (Association of Childhood Education).
My writing includes numerous articles published in professional and sectarian journals and periodicals along with several other books not advertised on this website. Among these are: Teaching Preschoolers the Bible, Moral and Spiritual Development for the Young Child (coauthor), Understanding Today's Preschoolers.
Having taught all ages in school and church, I happily admit that I consider it a high privilege to teach preschoolers, especially babies and ones.
Fred and I have three adult children: Fred Donald Waldrop, Jr. who lives with his wife Delilah, and children Heather and Eddie in Richmond, Kentucky; Ava LeAnn (Mrs. R. McIntyre) Bridges who along with husband and children McIntyre, Rachel, and Carrie live in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Mark Durbin Waldrop who lives with wife Rhonda and son Joshua in Smyrna, Tennessee.
I share this information in hopes that we might get better acquainted and that you might find some connection. Just today going to the mailbox, a new neighbor driving by stopped to chat. When I learned that she was a university professor, I mentioned that I had taught at Eastern Kentucky University. She immediately responded with delight as she told me that she had a friend there. That friend was someone I knew well whose family was in our church when we lived in Richmond, Kentucky. A small world after all!

CLICK HERE to find out more about her newly released edition of the excellent book, "Getting Good at Being You."
©2001 - 2003 Sybil Waldrop