Et cetera : We just had to ask... Vinton-Shellsburg School Board member Angela Hazen

Angela Hazen of rural Vinton is one of the new members on the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board. Like other School Board members, she has answered our questions, serious and not-so-serious, as part of our School Board Recognition Week tribute to those who serve on the V-S School Board.

Q. Is there anything that your family (spouse, children or parents) asks you not to cook, ever again?

A. My husband does the cooking so no, there isn’t anything!

Q. Is there anything your family wishes you would cook more often?

A. Ditto from above.

Q. What happens to the missing socks in the laundry?

A. You’d think they would end up outside in a pile under the dryer vent, but they don’t. I don’t know where they go, but it often frustrates me. It’s always my favorite ones!

Q. Tell us about your favorite chair?

A. I prefer to sit on the floor so it just depends where I am!

Q. Funniest memory as a parent:

A. While on a late conference call at home, my children were supposed to be quietly eating dinner. When I walked into the kitchen while still on the phone, I noticed ketchup on the cupboards, floor, TV, microwave, etc. Apparently eating quietly included having a food fight with their French fries doused in ketchup. The hardest part was staying focused on the call and not laughing. I have a fond memory of a childhood food fight of my own, however it was at school!! Oh, they did have to clean up the mess when I got off my call!!

Q. Is there any saying your mom or dad said so often you can still remember it now?

A. From my dad, “You make me so mad I can’t even see!” I remember always thinking, really?... cool!

Q. How would your own children answer the previous question?

A. Did you hear what I just said?

Q. Best fast food sandwich ever?

A. FromClub Deli, roast beef, provolone with squirts.

Q. What was your first job?

A. AtHardee’s as a cashier…I made it 3 months.

Q. If you were to get a traffic citation it would most likely be for….

A Speeding, many times. Now I have radar detectors in every car. It was cheaper.

Q. One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit?

A. Australia

Q. First pet you remember?

A. Gigi – black poodle

Q. Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

A Mrs. Nordstrom and Mrs. Hagstrom – 10thgrade English teachers – they showed us the fun side of English and they had a passion for it.

Q. Strangest thing you did at work hat was not part of your official job description?

A. Created nicknames for our co-workers to put on our hard hats during the credit crisis over the last 2 years. We wore them often as our world was imploding.

Q. What book or author you have not read, but should?

A. It’s not an official book, but my grandmother’s poetry and short stories. After she passed, my Aunts bound her writings and gave each family member a copy. I’ve read part of them, but not as a mother. I’m sure my perceptions have changed.

And for the one serious question from Vinton Today:

Q. With the building project and the budget (for now) behind you, what other issues are most important for the VS School Board?

1. Many issues, all important, but I guess they boil down to this: providing the best education and educational experience we can to each and every student. The financial situation of this country, state, etc. is a burden these children will bare in numerous ways as adults, yet they had no hand in creating the issues. So we, as a community and district, need to do whatever we can to provide them the best resources and opportunities we can while being fiscally responsible. It’s a lot easier said than done unfortunately.

Q. Is there anything you wish we would have asked you?

A. No, but I would love to see more of you at the School Board meetings and I encourage your involvement.