A Teacher’s Storybook

Lessons Learned Over Time
Lessons of a Different Kind


I am Marion Simpson Golarz. Yes, that is my name on the cover of this book preceded by the word “with”. The with is fairly accurate because for many years now I have been a back-seat driver, sparing partner, and even a co-pilot during Ray’s career as a teacher, criminal justice director, administrator, university instructor, keynote speaker, and author. Before we were married he warned me that life would not follow a straight path. Little did I know. Life certainly has not, but it’s always been enriching.

I am particularly fond of this new book for it has been in process for over thirty years, beginning with the first stories Ray created and told as he began his keynoting career. I was often in the audience then and loved to see the joy and comfort these stories brought to so many from all walks of life. During that same time I watched him struggle with profoundly overwhelming challenges as he attempted to bring aid and comfort to some of our neediest fellow men while he headed up criminal justice efforts. I watched him win and lose battles with out-of-date and erroneous theories about how to support, acknowledge, and encourage teachers and law enforcement officers, how to counter prejudice and racism, and how everyone should continue to reach for the sky.

And that’s what these stories reveal. You will laugh, cry, sigh, question, and have more than one “aha” moment as you work your way through this latest expanded edition, a story at a time.

In this new book, you won’t find strategies to improve standardized test scores, or data-driven solutions. But, if you are looking for inspiration you have picked up the right book. By the way, there are also some very good belly-laughs in these pages so enjoy them.