Sherri Colca had a hard job but loved it

Danforth Junior High’s Sherri Colca has been a fixture for 21 years in the Wimberley ISD as a special education/504 teacher and has taught 39 years altogether. Outstanding dedication from someone who works with all levels of disabilities and has the qualities required for such a hard job: patience and love for all your students, even the difficult ones.

“Sixth through Eighth grade, whatever walks in the door. You have to be on your toes all the time,” Colca said about her job. “I give them the resources. We look at together. I don’t give them answers. I help them learn how to help themselves for life. Only you can change your life to be happier and more together with a better attitude,” she said.

She decided that this is the year to retire, like most long-time teachers who think about it every year and decide not to. She admits that loving all the kids can be a difficult part of the job.

“I enjoyed teaching, that is, teaching in Wimberley. (We in Wimberley) live in a bubble. We in Wimberley have it pretty good,” she said and continued. “(The junior high is) the best campus in the city with the best administrators. I am thrilled with Principal (Greg) Howard.”

The best part of her job was working one on one with students to help them with their studies meanwhile keeping an eye on the other four to six kids in the classroom.

In 2015 her mother died after Colca took care of her for a couple of years. “They would cover for me when I would leave. They kept me informed and brought me good food, so I didn’t have to cook.”

What really touched her heart was the presentation of a Meyers Lemon Tree. In honor of her mom, the tree was presented as Colca’s mom made a terrific lemon meringue pie. “I have a great memory of this campus.

Originally from Hondo, Texas, one of nine children, her mother worked at the local hospital and her dad was a farmer/rancher. Her aunt was a special education diagnostician and sparked an interest in her and she also had to help her brother who had trouble with reading. She attended UT Austin and majored in Special Education and German.

“I didn’t want to be doing the same thing, I wanted to do different things each day.” But that is soon to change in retirement. Among the many things she’ll be able to do is to sit on her front porch and spend her “vacation,” as she says, but also plans to travel with her husband to deliver his handmade furniture that he makes for customers.

She also plans to spend more time with her son and his wife. They’ll soon start plans to build on the Colcas’ 15 acres.

“Overall it’s been great, watching students that are lucky to find themselves here.” But she’ll not come back to teaching. “After 39 years I’m ready to be home doing my own schedule. I want to sit on the porch and watch the birds… a different kind of life.”