Virginia Carlin, more than two decades of service for the children
Jean Amodea Special to the Eagle Volunteer Virginia Carlin coaches student Alexa Barrett in a reading assignment.
Jean Amodea Special to the Eagle TBE student Johan Hernandez beams after understanding a concept reinforced by volunteer Virginia Carlin.
Jean Amodea Special to the Eagle TBE Principal Jory Westberry appreciates volunteer, Virginia Carlin who has been faithfully serving the school for 21 years.
Best described by Principal Dr. Jory Westberry as “a spunky volunteer who continues to be a role model for the rest of us,” Virginia Carlin has served Tommie Barfield Elementary (TBE) for 21 years.
“She always has a smile, and her positive attitude and sweet personality is infectious and well received by the children at TBE. She’s a wonderful woman who makes us happy by her presence,” said Westberry.
These days, Carlin visits TBE once a week, and spends an hour or more with students. Over the years, Carlin recounts her greatest challenge as hoping to be able to answer the issues raised by students and to understand their problems.
She said that her greatest joys have been seeing their enthusiasm and interest in reading more books “once they have conquered phonics, memory and practice.”
“Virginia Carlin is such a delightful person, with a beautiful smile and twinkle in her eye. The first grade students in Diane Jerrett’s classroom delight in sharing their independent reading books with her,” said Debbie Cooper, TBE reading coach.
“And, with the one-on-one reading experience that she provides for these young students, their reading skills and self-esteem increases as does their desire for learning.”
The rewards of being a volunteer, she said, are enjoying the contact with young minds who are eager to learn and who are so thankful for the attention.
“I encourage folks to seriously consider donating a few hours of their time every week, or more if possible, to working with children. The experience is very fulfilling, knowing you have developed a link in their lives, in helping them to succeed in learning, whatever their goal may be,” she said.
“Viewing the exciting artwork lining the TBE hallways that are so innovative and awe-inspiring makes me think that I may be walking in the pathway of future important Americans still to be discovered. Helping mankind right in our own backyard is our greatest accomplishment.”
Obviously enamored with TBE, Carlin said she’d like to see the school awarded an honor for excellence in the state of Florida and held as a model school.
“There is so much attention paid to respect and brotherhood. Rules have been posted and taught and the children have learned and follow them. It is a happy place and actually, I truly think TBE is a near perfect school.”
Carlin was born and raised in a small historic town, Joliet, Illinois, named after Jacques Joliett, who with Pere Marquette sailed down the Mississippi River exploring the states of Illinois and Midwest in the 1600-1700s.
“I loved finding Indian arrowheads in excavations whenever they were available. I have good memories of an old Civil War veteran sitting on his front porch watching the world go by in the days before television, of double dip cones that sold for a nickel at the small ice cream stand and the yearly carnival and Ferris wheel that each summer attracted people from miles around,” she recalled.
During her career, Carlin worked as a secretary and administrative assistant for several companies.
Since residing on Marco Island, Carlin, also an author, wrote a column for the Marco Eagle for 10 years, entitled “This N That” whose name eventually changed to “Chronicles.”
In 2000, Carlin penned “I Remember Marco – A Tale of Two Villages,” now in its second printing.
“It is a history of Marco with photos and interviews with early settler descendants, beginning with the Calusa Indian Culture and the past history of the Spanish settlers. I had my first book signing at Barnes & Noble,” she said.
The book is available at Collier County libraries and at two Marco book sellers as well as the Calusa Museum.
These days, besides devoting her time to TBE students, Carlin is busy writing another book about phenomena such as miracles, visions, dreams and premonitions.
“I have been collecting true stories and doing some research. I hope to complete the book before this Christmas. I have always loved to write and would also like to write a Marco mystery book. I am hoping that I will live to be 100, so I will have the time to do all that I am planning,” Carlin said.
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