Your article titled “Room Nine has new manager for fall,” appearing in School Briefs in the June 13 issue, leaves many facts unstated and a huge question unanswered.
For example, it is a fact that Room Nine began over 30 years ago and since then has offered a true alternative to traditional classrooms in the Shoreline School District. It is also a fact that it evolved over the years from a small parent-involved kindergarten class to the thriving, successful K-8 program we see today.
The greatest fact of all is that Wendy Borton has truly been the heart and soul of that program almost from the beginning. She has given 150 percent of herself and her time in order to make it prosper. Not only is she a gifted classroom teacher, but she is also a visionary administrator. It is because of her inspiration, wisdom and vision that the parents of the Shoreline School District have such a rich educational option for their children.
There are reasons for the long waiting lists to get into Room Nine today. The central reason lies in the fact that Room Nine is a true community of children and parents, whose connections stretch back over many years. This community has formed and changed many lives since its inception. Children in Room Nine thrive, learn in multi-age groups at their own pace in exciting, enriched ways and their parents have the privilege of being fully involved in their children’s education.
So, here is the question: Why would someone who played such a huge part in creating this amazing program retire just when that program comes to full fruition? Because Room Nine and its Journey Program represent a long-held and fought-for dream-come-true for many of us in the Shoreline community, I challenge the Enterprise, our community newspaper, to do a thorough investigation of all the factors that finally drove Wendy Borton to retire.
Linda Harkness
Shoreline
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