I know that anyone who had the good fortune to meet, interact and/or work with Dr. Sandra McCalla has a favorite memory of this pioneering Cadoo educator. I have mine which have become more memorable each year.
I was one of a small group who helped launch Grace Community United Methodist Church. In September 1992, we began a telephone calling campaign using a Centenary College room. That was followed by a mailing campaign directed to southeast Shreveport to generate interest in the establishment of a new United Methodist Church in that area.
The Caddo School Board graciously allowed Grace to use the Capt. Shreve auditorium and classrooms for the Church. The first worship service was held on December 5, 1992. Thereafter Grace started using classrooms for Sunday School classes and one for a nursery.
As a member of a seven person leadership group, I was tasked with setting up the classrooms for Sunday School, finding persons to lead the classes and to set up the nursery in a classroom each Sunday--and to take the nursery down, restore the classrooms, etc.
And as one can expect, sometimes the good Grace Methodists messed up the classroom seating arrangements. Even worse, on a few occasions a dirty diaper was left in the classroom serving as a nursery. Ugh! On Monday mornings I always cringed when the office phone intercom announced that Dr. McCalla was on the phone for me. Between that announcement and the time, I picked up the phone, which seemed interminable, I died a thousand deaths before picking up the phone with a forced enthusiastic "Good Morning Dr. McCalla!"
Goodness, I know her job description did NOT include early Monday mornings classroom issues caused by good Methodists. And I certainly know that certain classroom teachers probably dreaded their Monday morning classroom "surprises" as much as I did the calls from Dr. McCalla.
In March 1996, Grace moved to its location on Ellerbe Road. It was a joyous event for the Church, and me. Certainly, it was for Dr. McCalla and the Capt. Shreve facility that endured our presence. I thanked Dr. McCalla at that time and now again, as well as the school's faculty and the Caddo School Board.