Portrait in Pen: Cindy Reynolds

Women are truly amazing. They are strong in ways that men are not. It isn’t a physical strength, but a toughness that is inherent and goes deep; a toughness tempered with compassion and empathy. Women are able to multi-task better than their male counterparts. I say none of this to belittle men, but to promote women as they have always had a different path in this patriarchal society. This year we celebrate the 100th year anniversary of women’s right to vote. Throughout history, women have had to be resourceful, brave, and creative.
My mentor, Cindy Reynolds, is one of the strongest women I know and she exemplifies all of these characteristics.  She has made it her mission to help other people to be the best that they can be and she does it in a selfless way. Cindy was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 23 years old. She learned everything she could about the disease, so she could stay ahead of it. She now, 46 years later, leads a group of people who use an insulin pump to help them with any needs or concerns they may have. Cindy invites speakers to the meetings to broaden the knowledge of her group. She works tirelessly to keep the participants abreast of any upcoming events in the area of health information that may be applicable in benefitting their needs.
Cindy was a teacher in Mountain View School District for 35 years. She taught second grade for 25 of those years and I was lucky enough to be her student teacher during the 25th year. She had a way of teaching the students how to learn things for themselves while providing them with a plethora of opportunities to discover knowledge. The students experienced hands-on learning and thematic units as opposed to drill and practice or teaching to the test. Her students, as adults, remember and cherish the memories of being in her class. She made each child feel special and gifted.
When Cindy left the classroom, she became the Instructional Support Teacher in Mountain View Elementary School for 10 years. She found ways to help the students who struggled the most to learn as well as providing support to the staff and faculty. She never wavered from a challenge or gave up on a student. Parents were always involved in decision making, even if Cindy had to go pick them up or take the meeting into their homes.
 Throughout my own teaching career, Cindy was always available if I needed advice and she continued to mentor me along with many others throughout the years.  I became a teacher for gifted students later in my career and she was always willing to take part in any activities that I had planned.
Cindy used the stipend from Marywood University for accepting me as a student teacher to enroll in a water color painting class and the rest is history! She is now teaching several painting classes through The Gathering Place in Clarks Summit and the Montrose Adult School. As a constant learner she attends classes even while continually teaching classes herself. In her eager generosity she will mat and frame, share any materials she has, and offer advice whenever asked. She never sells her paintings, but has been known to donate them to a worthy cause and to gift them to people at special moments in their lives.
Cindy is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional society for women educators. The local chapter, Beta Rho, looks to Cindy for her expertise. She has been a member since early in her teaching career and served as Charter President of the Beta Rho Chapter. Often she travels to conventions, leadership training, and programs throughout the United States. Cindy never misses a chance to have sisters in the Society honored and she works willingly in helping with paperwork and applications. Many chapter members have also benefitted from her areas of expertise at gatherings and conventions.
Cindy was on the Board of Directors of the Harford Fair for 15 years. She worked diligently and was superintendent of the Schoolhouse there for 32 years. Children have been thrilled through the years to see their work win ribbons and to share with pride their projects with parents and grandparents.
Cindy has lovingly cared for her parents, some elderly family members, and many people throughout the community. If someone needs a ride, a meal, a friend, a confidante, they call, text, or send an email and she is there. Often she remarks that when she gets through her life she hopes to have used all the talent the Lord gave her. Her life mission is to be there for others. She sometimes ends up in the spotlight but that is not her intention. Indubitably she would rather be in the background helping someone else shine.
 I am sure that I do not even begin to know many of the wonderful selfless things Cindy has done. I know she appears to be tireless when it comes to helping others. I am so fortunate to have experienced her mentoring and I am proud to call her friend. I sincerely hope this essay has painted a beautiful picture of the woman I know.  Cindy’s business card has her motto, “LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK” and hopefully my recollections have demonstrated the validity of those words. Thank you for this opportunity to share my vision of a very special woman in my life.

By:
Patricia Carpenter