Class of 1964
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Class of 1964 |
Joyce Powers |
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| What are you doing these days? I am a news anchor/reporter/and talk show host for RR Broadcasting in Palm Springs. The four stations that make up the company include one you might remember, KDES 104.7 FM. The other stations are 920 AM KPSI; The Mix 100.5 FM; and 1450 AM KGAM. We recently celebrated my 15th year anniversary as talk show host of "The Joy Short Show" on KPSI. We did the show live at another place you will remember...the Camelot Theatre. RR Broadcasting bought the theatre that stood for years boarded up and completely renovated it. Nancy Korte and Diane Hedgecock were there and that made the day really memorable. I also serve on the board of Associated Press and write for the APTRA.com website. Plus do news stories for ABC and CBS radio, as well as NPR. In April we moved my show to 1450 AM KGAM were it airs from 8am to 10 am. All the reunion committee members have been on the show as well as other members of our class who are going to be a the reunion. It is so much fun to be in touch ! with everyone. Tell us about your children. My son Jay is 37. He graduated UCLA Summa Cum Laude majoring in English. He teaches 7th and 8th grade English. My husband, Joe Casaletti, and I were married in Scotland 6 years ago. He has 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren. We just returned from 3 weeks in Australia and New Zealand and next year we're taking all the kids to England where he has family. Highlights of the past 40 years. There are so many things to say. From an educational standpoint, I am a Registered Nurse and have a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Management. I worked many years in the Hotel and Travel Industry in Marketing. I lived in Europe, Washington D.C., Sun Valley, Idaho; and Maui, Hawaii before returning to Palm Springs about 16 years ago. The transition to media was an easy one taking me to KESQ-TV3 here in the desert; KPSI Radio and also the Los Angeles Times where I worked for 10 years as the desert communities society columnist. Each step along the way has made me aware that the classes at Palm Springs High School and the long friendships paved the way for all my decisions. Being a nurse in the operating room when Mr. Sussman had surgery and wheeling his gurney up to his room along with his wife was a wonderful way to say "Thank You" to all the time and inspiration he gave. Being in the Rotary Club with Don Aiken, our Algebra teacher who now serves on the Board of Education is another really special thing. Interfacing with Butch, who has done outrageous work on this website and all our PSHS friends is important to me. Words of Wisdom to Impart? We have much for which to be thankful. Your funniest memory(s) while at PSHS. It is funny now, but at the time it was pretty scary. The situation started in an early morning PE class taught by Ms. Donna McLean. In the months before graduation, the class was mostly out of control. One day Ms. McLean sat us all down in the cafeteria and asked us to write her a letter in which we should explain what we would do to bring order to the class. Many of us had already earned letters in G.A.A. and were winding down the semester. I gave the issue a lot of concern then proceeded to honestly write a solution that I thought would help solve the problem. I said that we should take the last few months of school to practice walking down the isles in the auditorium in preparation for graduation, especially since we would be wearing high heels. I also remember writing that we should take the last few weeks to prepare for going out into the world after graduation and study things that would help us. A day or two went by. When it came time to read the letters, Ms. McLean chose mine, along with a few others, to read aloud. Afterwards, one of the students in the class, Cookie Rosenberg, called out “That's a bitchen letter." You could hear a pin drop for a brief moment, then the whole room seemed to erupt in support of Cookie’s statement. Obviously that was not the answer the teacher was looking for because she promptly sent me to the principal’s office. My mother was called in. This incident almost removed me from giving one of our classes’ four graduation speeches. Worse than that, my Seal Bearer award was in danger of not happening. That I had worked incredibly hard for the entire four years taking science, math, Latin, and other college prep courses. The worst part is that I was not trying to be smart writing the letter. I honestly believed what I said. Luckily, several other teachers came to my rescue. I will always be extremely grateful to Dr. Irving Sussman and Mr. Ralph Wasson who supported me. I went on to give the speech at graduation and to get my Seal Bearer award from the California Scholarship Federation. There are many teachers, at all grade levels, who we all remember. Many of them taught us important lessons that we have incorporated into our lives. More important than this incident, is the honesty and loyalty of the teachers who stood up for me. I will never forget their support. I learned then that one has to be true to one’s convictions. I take that seriously in my work as a news reporter and anchor making sure to present every story with fairness and balance, especially in this climate where the news media is accused of bias. Dr. Sussman and Mr. Wasson were dedicated teachers. I only hope every student remembers teachers like them. It is funny now, but at the time it was pretty scary. The situation started in an early morning PE class taught by Ms. Donna McLean. In the months before graduation, the class was mostly out of control. One day Ms. McLean sat us all down in the cafeteria and asked us to write her a letter in which we should explain what we would do to bring order to the class. Many of us had already earned letters in G.A.A. and were winding down the semester. I gave the issue a lot of concern then proceeded to honestly write a solution that I thought would help solve the problem. I said that we should take the last few months of school to practice walking down the isles in the auditorium in preparation for graduation, especially since we would be wearing high heels. I also remember writing that we should take the last few weeks to prepare for going out into the world after graduation and study things that would help us. A day or two went by. When it came time to read the letters, Ms. McLean chose mine, along with a few others, to read aloud. Afterwards, one of the students in the class, Cookie Rosenberg, called out “That's a bitchen letter." You could hear a pin drop for a brief moment, then the whole room seemed to erupt in support of Cookie’s statement. Obviously that was not the answer the teacher was looking for because she promptly sent me to the principal’s office. My mother was called in. This incident almost removed me from giving one of our classes’ four graduation speeches. Worse than that, my Seal Bearer award was in danger of not happening. That I had worked incredibly hard for the entire four years taking science, math, Latin, and other college prep courses. The worst part is that I was not trying to be smart writing the letter. I honestly believed what I said. Luckily, several other teachers came to my rescue. I will always be extremely grateful to Dr. Irving Sussman and Mr. Ralph Wasson who supported me. I went on to give the speech at graduation and to get my Seal Bearer award from the California Scholarship Federation. There are many teachers, at all grade levels, who we all remember. Many of them taught us important lessons that we have incorporated into our lives. More important than this incident, is the honesty and loyalty of the teachers who stood up for me. I will never forget their support. I learned then that one has to be true to one’s convictions. I take that seriously in my work as a news reporter and anchor making sure to present every story with fairness and balance, especially in this climate where the news media is accused of bias. Dr. Sussman and Mr. Wasson were dedicated teachers. I only hope every student remembers teachers like them.
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