Alonzo Fugate, Author

 

   

Alonzo Fugate
    Picture copyright © 2004

I was born on July 19, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois.  My parents’ names are Lonzo and Rebecca Fugate.  They had originally lived in Kentucky but moved to Chicago to find work when they were married.  I don’t remember too much about living in Chicago because they returned to Kentucky when I was three.

I am a teacher, and it must have been destiny because I grew up living around schools.  When we first moved back to Kentucky, my dad was a custodian at a local elementary school.  We lived in a little house directly behind the school, so I spent much of my childhood playing in and around the school.  I can remember riding my tricycle through the empty hallways of the school when I was little.  It was the coolest feeling in the world to have the entire school to myself.  Think of the character Danny in the movie The Shining and you will get an idea of how it was for me.  I never saw any ghosts, although I did see a bat flying down the hallway one time.  That was sort of a shock! 

When I was 6, we moved to another house about 10 miles away.  I went to another school that was right in my neighborhood.  I loved it and made lots of friends, although I was always the quiet and shy one in the class.  I made rather good grades and school always seemed easy for me. 

During my elementary school years, I won several awards for art, writing essays, and my reading ability.  In fact, I was able to skip a couple grades in reading.  By the time I was in 6^th grade, I was actually the only person in my reading class.  I was in an 8^th grade reader and worked individually.  I always loved reading books, poems, magazines...anything I could get my hands on.  I also loved to write.  It has always been my one secret passion! 

Growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I wasn’t exposed to a lot of cultural variety during my formative years.  However, my parents always stressed the importance of a good education upon me.  I knew that in order to succeed in life that I had to study and work hard so that I could be prepared for the world.  However, it was still quite a culture shock for me when I transferred from my small, rural elementary school to the middle school that was located in Jackson…what we would call “town.”

Suddenly, I was exposed to an entirely new set of people.  Things weren’t as easy for me in class because I found that I actually had to work for once…ha ha.  I had a pretty hard two years in middle school, but I think that everyone does.  Anyway, this turned out to be pretty good for me because I had adjusted to my new way of thinking by the time I entered high school.  I knew that I had to work even harder and get involved in a lot more activities if I was going to make it.

I was your classic overachiever in high school.  I was involved in National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Peer Leaders which were all honorable organizations that involved lots of community service and building of a positive school environment.  I sang in the chorus at school and wrote for the school newspaper.  I even had some of my articles published in the local newspaper, The Jackson Times.  During this time, I worked hard to maintain a perfect 4.0 grade point average and was able to graduate Valedictorian of my graduating class in 1989.  I was so nervous but so proud of myself.  I had accomplished one of my goals.

I went right into college right after high school and had originally decided that I would become a computer programmer.  However, I soon realized that this was not for me.  I had come out of a lot of my shyness and I enjoyed working with people and helping others.  Therefore, I dropped out of the program and started substitute teaching.  I realized that I loved it and decided that I would become a teacher. 

I had married by this time to a wonderful woman, Lisa.  She totally supported my decision to become a teacher.  I spent the next two years working toward my degree and graduated with honors. 

I obtained a teaching position at LBJ Elementary in my home county and was able to move “back home.”  I have been teaching there ever since.  I spent the first five years teaching 3^rd grade.  I have recently moved into the computer lab and am teaching technology and economics to grades Kindergarten through 6^th.  I really enjoy my work.  My motto has always been that the kids are the most important part of my job.  Without them...I wouldn't have a job...HA!  Seriously though, I have always tried to make school an exciting and fun place for the kids in my county.  I want them to enjoy school so that they will develop a LOVE of LEARNING!

I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Eastern Kentucky University, my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Morehead State University, and recently obtained National Board Certification in Teaching for the area of Middle Childhood ages 7-12.  I am a member of several professional and honorable organizations including the National Education Association, the Kentucky Education Association, Kentucky Association of National Board Certified Teachers, and Pi Lambda Theta, an international honor society and professional association in education.  I have been nominated for the Disney Hand Teacher of the Year award in the past.  I have been honored with the Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching Award. 

I am also an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.  As stated on their website, being a Kentucky Colonel is much more than having an impressive certificate to hang on the wall. The Governor's order creating the commission states that the commission carries with it a responsibility to be "Kentucky's ambassador of good will and fellowship around the world." 

I am currently working on becoming a mentor for other National Board Certified teacher candidates, being the regional representative for my area of the state for National Board Certified teachers, and obtaining my certification in the area of school administration.  I also coach my school’s 4th, 5th, and 6th grade academic team and Student Technology Leadership Program.  I have been a part of my school’s Site Based Decision Making council for the past two years as well.

I have always had a love for the written word.  I am one of those people who just can’t seem to pass up a bookstore.  If one is around, I will be in it.  I can lose myself for hours and hours, browsing the stacks.  My favorite bookstore is the independently owned, Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Kentucky.  It is quite an experience.  One of my fondest memories is camping out in front of it one time in order to be one of the first people in line to get tickets to see Stephen King when he came to town to read from his book Insomnia.  I think that I was the fifth person back.  I loved it.  It is one of the memories that I will have for the rest of my life.  Sometime in the future when I am old, gray, and toothless, I will remember seeing this great author share his creation.

Recently, I have been taking more time for myself with my writing.  I know that I want to write for children because that is my area of expertise.  I work with children all day long and I am exposed to so much children’s literature.  I have several great ideas that I would like to develop, but everyone has to start somewhere.  Therefore, I decided to start with a collection of poetry that I wrote over the course of a few years while teaching.  I turned these poems into an anthology called Nose Pickin' ©.  The reason that I called it Nose Pickin' © is because that is the title of one of poems in the book that seemed to really jump out at me as a funny poem that I thought other people would enjoy.  Also, as a teacher, I have seen that this is an issue that some of us (adults too!) face.  Come on, you know who you are!!!  The poems found in Nose Pickin’ © deal with issues that children face. 

My current book is called Pumpkin Guts, Tater Eyes, and Other Tasty Treats! ©  

If you enjoyed my first book, then I know that you will enjoy this one as well.  I experimented with creating new and unique illustrations for this book.  I hope that you enjoy them.  I am quite proud of how they turned out...but I would love to hear what you think.

Thank you for visiting my website.  I hope that you love poetry as well as I do.  I also hope that you will enjoy some of my poems.  I know that I enjoyed creating them.  In fact, I would still be writing even if nobody else read my poems except for me.  However, as I learned in school, it is much better to SHARE!