Bio: Odell Durham Kolb, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by John W. Harris, Brooklyn, NY ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Source: Winn Parish Enterprise, May 23, 1968 Each Child Given Chance To Pursue Knowledge In Mrs. Kolb's Class by Wanda Cornelius Show me a class of second and third graders who have a zeal for arithmetic and I'll show you a dedicated teacher. When a freckle-faced third grader with a baseball bat and glove near his desk says it's a toss-up between baseball and arithmetic in the favorite things to do category, then there is bound to be an outstanding teacher around somewhere. In this class and in full control is Mrs. Odell Kolb, a favorite in her class, school, and a candidate for outstanding teacher in the parish. She will retire at the end of 40 1/2 years of teaching at the end of this term. Sentimental, yes, Mrs. Kolb gets misty-eyed as she thinks about next year when there will be no class of eager children waiting for her guidance. Before interviewing Mrs. Kolb, this writer mentioned to some parish school teachers and principals a story was being planned about her. One teacher said she was his second grade teacher, and she indeed was a good one. Not one person said she was an ordinary teacher. It was more like - well - third grader Steve Collins explained it very well when he said, "If there is something special you want to do, she is interested in it too, and she will help you find out what you want to know. If there is a part you don't get, then she will help you get that part. She does about anything she can do to help you." Steve is interested in arithmetic, reading, and science. Most of all he is interested. Here are some of the other things her students said about her: Dana Ferguson, third grade, "She is nice to you."; Allen Dick, third grader whose favorite subject is math, "She helps me with my reading too"; Michelle Ferguson, third grade "She helps you when you are in trouble"; John Collins, third grade, "Sometimes she gives us new books to read"; Brenda Teal, third grade, "She gets us new books, I like mystery books best"; Third grader Timmy LeJeune, when asked why he liked his teacher said, "I don't know why, but she lets me do a lot of arithmetic." Tina Shelton, second grader, was happy because her teacher helped her in spelling. John Shelton, second grader who will be going to Germany this summer, said he liked Mrs. Kolb. He even left his picture for her so she wouldn't forget him. She won't forget him or any of the others. Even Kenneth Wayne Barton, second grade, who admits his favorite thing to do right now is play baseball and his favorite subject is P.E. The Math bug has already hit him. One of the finest assets about Mrs. Kolb is that she doesn't think she is anything special as a teacher at all. "I just love children and always have." she said. She is interested in the child as an individual and works with their weaknesses. No aspirations are faded in her classroom. If the student shows an interest in any particular subject, she will explain and find supplemental books for him or her to read and kindle the interest. Mr. J. W. Barr, school principal, had this to say about Atlanta's "Outstanding Teacher" selection: "She has a deep understanding of the children, she holds their feet to the fire, has a good sense of value and teaches them something besides facts in books. They learn to know themselves." Mrs. Kolb is firm and diplomatic in dealing with all people, whether it be school official, parent, or child. She doesn't have time for gossip and she is genuinely interested in every child. "She has a nice professional attitude," Barr said. Mrs. Kolb's roots are in Atlanta. She began first grade in the Atlanta school, graduated in Atlanta High school (there were ten in her class). She went to Tech upon graduation, "back when a teacher could get a diploma and start teaching in two years." She started to Tech in the summer following graduation and the entire next year, at which time she "took" a School at Macedonia, where she taught seven months. Then she returned to Tech, and at the end of the summer had her diploma. In the fall of 1926 she began her teaching career at Atlanta. Except for a few months leave when her son Charlie was born, she has taught at Atlanta continuously. Mrs. Kolb is not the only dedicated teacher in her family. Her son, Charlie, 6th grade math and science teacher at Highland Elementary School in Monroe, is completing his third year of teaching there. He is also a coach. Charlie "likes teaching better every day". He will receive his master's degree this summer. His wife, Carolyn Martin Kolb, will also graduate from Northeast this spring and will begin teaching this fall. They have one little daughter, Cassandra Kai Kolb, her grandmother's pride and joy. Mrs. Kolb's sisters, Mrs. Loura Selph and Mrs. Annabelle Shofner, are both retired teachers, Mrs. Selph teaching over 40 years in Cotton Valley and Mrs. Shofner 30 some years at Natchitoches. So the three sisters alone have taught over 110 years, when the years are added up. Joe Durham, Mrs. Kolb's brother, taught several years in Winnfield and Sikes. She has nephews and nieces who are teachers. Mrs. Kolb is admired and respected by her contemporaries, who include other teachers also known by their devoted dedication to the teaching profession. But to them she has another talent which pleases their palates. Mrs. Kolb is known as the best potato salad maker in Atlanta. Whenever the school function called for potato salad, her potato salad has been "an experience", as the gourmet would say. "It's going to be hard to get along without that potato salad, after so many years of good eating" one teacher said. Submitted by: John W. Harris Brooklyn, NY Jwharris60@aol.com