Not only has Ann Garson taught everywhere from Maine to Lake Braddock Secondary, she has also made it to nearly every continent, even Antartica. The well-traveled former teacher also received an Exceptional Service Award from Fairfax County Public Libraries for her volunteer service at Fairfax City Regional Library. She is this week’s People Profile.
Number of years in the community: 32 years.
Family: Spouse, Lorrin Garson. Children, Heather Garson, Brian Garson, both grown and married.
Education: B.S, University of Maine, M.Ed., University of Memphis.
Current job/primary occupation? Retired. Formerly special education teacher, Lake Braddock Secondary, Burke. Taught elementary and secondary in Maine, Tennessee and Virginia. Taught university courses in Mississippi and Virginia. Teacher on the Penobscot Indian Reservation, Maine.
Achievements: Kuhn Barnett Award recipient in recognition for service to exceptional children in the state of Virginia. 2006 Fairfax County Public Library Volunteer Exceptional Service Award for shelf reading the entire collection of the Fairfax City Regional Library, organizing shelves, finding misplaced items and pulling books which need mending or labeling — a two-year project.
Activities/interests/hobbies? Have taken more than 40 classes since retirement through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, George Mason University. Genealogy and family history, scrapbooking, photography, travel: have visited over 100 countries and all continents, except Africa. Have done several presentations of pictures from various travels. Enjoy day trips within Virginia, to Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Went to Antarctica in February-March 2006. Church activities, volunteer work.
Favorite local restaurant or place in the community? No favorite at this time; I especially enjoy ethnic restaurants.
What are your community concerns? What are some ideas you have on ways to improve your community? Traffic: have more traffic lights synchronized to avoid back-ups.
What brought you here? Husband’s employment at the American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
What community "hidden treasure" do you think more people should know about? Fairfax County’s wonderful parks and biking/walking trails. Fairfax County’s CEAN e-mail service advising citizens of weather, accidents and traffic alerts. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University: daytime courses, lectures, special events, trips and other activities for seniors. Fairfax County’s excellent travel clinics through the Fairfax County Department of Health. National Park Service and other agencies’ “Golden Age Passport” whereby older residents can enjoy reduced or free admission to national parks/forests, etc.; Skyline Drive, for example. Fabulous opportunities for Washington museums and events.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you "grew up?" I constantly switched from wanting to be a nurse to wanting to be a teacher. Teaching won out.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years hope to still be actively learning and traveling and continuing to enjoy time with family and grandchildren.