OLLI at TTU, Highland Lakes volunteer feature: Elaine Waddill

By Daniel Johnson, Section Manager

There is a common occurrence when speaking with different OLLI at TTU board members and volunteers across the four TTU OLLI locations, and that is their passion for education and being able to assist others.

Elaine Waddill is another volunteer who has taken the skills and expertise she learned from her career and continued to use them into retirement by volunteering with OLLI at TTU. The first words out of her mouth when giving this interview were, "OLLI is my joy." This was very apparent as the conversation continued, and Elaine shared what it was that makes OLLI so special to her and her role within the program.

Elaine worked as an educator full-time for 40 years and another five years as an adjunct. Her career started in Little Rock, Ark., then she continued her career for 15 years in Memphis at the Shrine school, working with kids from the St. Jude Children's Hospital. She moved to the Dallas area in 1988 and began working with Carrolton Farmers Branch ISD starting as a teacher. She moved through the ranks to eventually be the director of the special education department. She was an adjunct instructor with the University of North Texas and finally with Texas Tech University at Highland Lakes. At the university level, she taught others how to become great teachers through the TechTeach Across Texas program.

After retirement, Elaine was asked by another OLLI member if she would be interested in joining the OLLI Advisory Board.

"I was recruited to come in by another OLLI member, and she asked if I would consider coming on the board," Elaine said. "Being involved with OLLI supported my belief system of giving back and doing it where I can best serve. As an educator I knew I could contribute; I had the time and I didn't have to learn a new skill set to do it. I was able to walk in and contribute from day one."

Elaine is now in her fourth year on the OLLI board and is the vice chair in charge of curriculum development. Her involvement with OLLI has been a win-win for her as a former educator, not only being a part of OLLI and attending courses but also being able to come up with the curriculum for OLLI and giving back to the Highland Lakes community.

"I make the calls, and I work to find someone in the area who has the knowledge to teach courses," she said. "I make sure that the instructor providing information has the skillset, knowledge base and credibility to share with our members."

Being in a smaller community can often be a challenge for Elaine and the board when coming up with the OLLI curriculum.

"That is one of the challenges of being in more of a remote community. So, in terms of numbers and availability of instructors to build classes, it makes it more difficult. So, you have to reach out to the community," says Elaine. "We are extremely blessed in this area to have some tremendous people who are very knowledgeable and have retired in this area. Our journey is a bit different in putting together an agenda of what we would like to offer and having access to people who can teach it."

Elaine's role goes beyond just creating the curriculum; she also works diligently to get the word out about the OLLI program. Frequently she will reach out to citizens and organizations in the community, taking them catalogs and brochures and inviting them to OLLI classes.

"We are growing every day, we are learning and building new relationships within our community. It is a growth and learning process, but it is exciting and people in our community love it. They are slowly, but surely, learning about us."

"This semester we offered close to 30 classes, last semester we had about 25. We try to increase our number of classes as we grow," she said.

As an educator, it is exciting for Elaine to see what can be accomplished with the goals and objectives of OLLI.

"We are helping all of these wonderful people, and they are having fun and laughing. OLLI gives people 50 and older the opportunity to explore whatever their interests may be, without the pressure of taking a test or writing papers. The people who come are marvelous people who have common interests, and it's just a fun place to be."