Kate Musick (L) with her former student Harleé Patrick (R)

StoryCorps NTI: Kate Musick and Harleé Patrick, Jose Catalan and Carlos Vizcarra

From: StoryCorps
Series: StoryCorps
Length: 02:50

Two stories about teachers who went beyond the classroom to help their kids. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: StoryCorps NTI: Kate Musick and Harleé Patrick, ...
From: StoryCorps

Patrick_small

For students who are struggling, sometimes the difference between success and failure can start when a teacher takes the time to listen.

In these two stories from our National Teacher’s Initiative, teachers go beyond the classroom to help their kids.

In 2004, Kate Musick was teaching third grade at T.C. Walker Elementary school in Gloucester, Virginia. When Harleé Patrick walked into the room, Musick saw a troubled child.

Harleé is now a teenager, and the two came to StoryCorps to talk about how she made it through that year.

The second story comes from Los Angeles, where 19-year-old Jose Catalan, who is studying to become a math teacher, sat down with his former high school teacher Carlos Vizcarra to talk about how they became friends.

Also in the StoryCorps series

StoryCorps: Herman and Sidney Blake (02:20)
From: StoryCorps

Herman Blake and his brother Sidney remember their childhood during the 1940s

StoryCorps: Jack and Reagan Richmond (02:54)
From: StoryCorps

Jack Richmond tells his daughter, Reagan, about being an amputee.

StoryCorps MVI: Daniel and Evelyn Hodd (02:20)
From: StoryCorps

Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd and his mother, Evelyn, talk about Daniel's decision to put aside a promising career as a pianist in order to join the Marine Corps.

Caption: Ruben Aguilar (R) and Bill Luna (L)

StoryCorps Historias: Ruben Aguilar and Bill Luna (02:01)
From: StoryCorps

Ruben Aguilar tells his friend Bill Luna about his family's deportation as part of the Mexican Repatriation Program in 1933.

StoryCorps: Dawn Maestas (04:00)
From: StoryCorps

Dawn Maestas, who removes tattoos for survivors of domestic violence, talks to a client about her work.

StoryCorps: Lucinda Marker and John Tull (02:17)
From: StoryCorps

Lucinda Marker and her husband, John Tull, talk about being diagnosed with bubonic plague in 2002.

StoryCorps: John Cruitt and Cecile Doyle (02:41)
From: StoryCorps

John Cruitt speaks with his former third grade teacher, Cecile Doyle, about how she helped him through his mother's death.

StoryCorps: Reginald Mason (01:57)
From: StoryCorps

Reginald Mason remembers growing up in Harlem with his mother during the 1970s.

StoryCorps MVI: Randy and Judy Pilgrim (02:53)
From: StoryCorps

Judy and Randy Pilgrim remember their son and Iraq war veteran, Army Specialist Lance Pilgrim.

StoryCorps: Louis and Harriet Caplan (02:19)
From: StoryCorps

Harriet Caplan talks to her husband, Louis, about how their relationship began.

Piece Description

For students who are struggling, sometimes the difference between success and failure can start when a teacher takes the time to listen.

In these two stories from our National Teacher’s Initiative, teachers go beyond the classroom to help their kids.

In 2004, Kate Musick was teaching third grade at T.C. Walker Elementary school in Gloucester, Virginia. When Harleé Patrick walked into the room, Musick saw a troubled child.

Harleé is now a teenager, and the two came to StoryCorps to talk about how she made it through that year.

The second story comes from Los Angeles, where 19-year-old Jose Catalan, who is studying to become a math teacher, sat down with his former high school teacher Carlos Vizcarra to talk about how they became friends.

Broadcast History

NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday 4/29/12

Transcript

Kate Musick (KM): What kinds of things did you have going on when we first met?

Harleé Patrick (HP): I didn’t have the best home life. Like, I was always tossed between my grandma’s house and my mom’s house. And my dad wasn’t really in the picture and mom was doing things that nobody was proud of, like drugs, and I think one of the most difficult things when I was young was my mom getting locked up. Her not being there was like, what do we do?

KM: I don’t know if you remember this, but one day you and I came out and we sat down in the hallway and you started talking about something that you had witnessed the night before. And my heart literally was breaking in that hallway and there was nothing more that I wanted to do than to protect you. But I also knew that there were certain boundaries that teachers had to work within. And I really tried to figure out a way to help you realize tha...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Now for StoryCorps' National Teachers Initiative...

Today, TWO stories about teachers who went beyond the classroom to help their kids…

Our first dates back to 2004.

Kate Musick < Sounds like Music > was teaching 3rd grade in Gloucester < GLAW-ster >, Virgina.

Harleé < Har-LAY > Patrick walked into her classroom, and Musick saw a troubled child.

Harleé is now a teenager… and the two recently sat down for StoryCorps.

TAPE: "What kinds of things did you have going on when we first met? ... And I think you know we'll always be there for you."

MUSIC

TAPE: "My name is Jose Catalan. I'm going to have an interview with my favorite teacher. ... It's pretty amazing how you are. Not only as a teacher but as a person too."

MUSIC

OUTRO:

That was Jose Catalan <> with Carlos Vizcarra <> in L.A. Before that, you heard Harleé Patrick and Kate Musick.