Off The Press
January 19, 2010
By Chantelle Lusebrink
Musical honors Kentlake teacher’s career, legacy
As a Press reporter for four years, it has been my privilege to recount residents’ stories of trials and triumph. I actually look forward to the sometimes-long Issaquah School Board meetings.
What I enjoy most, though, is being welcomed into your schools to talk to your children and grandchildren. Whether they are learning to invert a fraction or hosting a penny drive, they have taught me more than I have taught them.
In the past year, I have worked extensively on a story for our Living magazine, due out Feb. 10, about Issaquah’s mini philanthropists.
In the course of interviews, I have uncovered a truism to living a successful and complete life — give yourself, your talents and your ideas to the world to make it a better place.
This may not be a revelation, but I have found that taking the step to take a risk and share yourself determines your success.So many times, we are invited to participate in something small or large that benefits someone else and we stop to think, how will my life be impacted? It would be better to simply ask, how can I impact someone else’s life?
When a fellow Kentlake High School alumnus messaged me over Facebook to ask for help honoring beloved teacher Pamela Cressey — who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this fall — I reached out.
Though I don’t dance or sing (just ask my friends), nor do I like being onstage in a spotlight, I offered what I could — the ability to communicate.
I am very proud to say the lessons Issaquah students have taught me have helped me become part of a benefit production, “Pamalot: A Musical Theatre Celebration.” I am also truly thankful to the students and alumni at Kentlake who asked me to be a part of raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to finance research toward finding a cure for pancreatic cancer — a disease with only a 20 percent survival rate.
The theatrical benefit honors more than 10 years of Cressey’s award-winning work as the drama director at Kentlake and at Cedar Heights Middle School.
The show features scenes from musicals like “Damn Yankees,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and many others.
It wouldn’t be a proper tribute to Cressey, her outlook on life or sense of humor without a little “Monty Python” humor.
The play honors her ability to touch the lives of thousands of students who passed through her classrooms. She is a force, a dynamic teacher and a friend to many students. Even if you didn’t have her as a teacher, your friends did. Because of her teaching, they became better students and better people.
So today, I cross the line — from being an observer to being the one to share my story. I have to say, I believe my life is better for this violation. My life is richer for it and I thank this community for that.
It’s my hope you’ll help us as we endeavor to find a cure for pancreatic cancer by checking out www.Pamalot.org, or by visiting Kentlake, where “Pamalot” runs through Jan. 23.
Chantelle Lusebrink: 392-6434, ext. 241, or clusebrink@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
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