Incirlik teacher dedicates her life to helping students Published Jan. 3, 2008 By Senior Airman Tiffany Colburn 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Henrietta Reddick, Incirlik Unit School mathematics teacher, has spent more than 30 years teaching middle and high school students and calls Incirlik home. Her desire to teach began when she was a student herself. "When I was in school I idolized my teachers, especially my math and language arts instructors," said Ms. Reddick. "I also enjoyed helping my peers." Mrs. Reddick went to college with dreams of becoming a teacher. "I went through the Thirteen-College Curriculum Program, which was designed to help low income families with college bound students by allowing them to participate in work study," she said. The Thirteen-College Curriculum Program is a family funded program. If students are unable to afford college, the program helps fund their education by offering scholarships and allowing students to participate in work studies. After graduating from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in science, Mrs. Reddick began teaching a variety of subjects. While teaching, Mrs. Reddick was also a military spouse for 27 years before her husband Chief Master Sgt. Vernon Reddick retired. He currently serves as the IUS liaison officer. The military took them many places including Florida, Mississippi, Hawaii, Japan and Turkey. Mrs. Reddick and her family were stationed at Incirlik from 1994 through 96 and volunteered to return to Incirlik in August 1997 to work for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools Europe. "Incirlik reminds me of where I grew up; it is very much like home for me," she said. According to her students and fellow faculty members, Mrs. Reddick's love for teaching is apparent. "Mrs. Reddick is committed to the students and has high standards for them," said Dr. Lucille Sutherland, IUS vice principal. "She is one who will go the extra mile for any student in her class. If I had to describe her in one word it would be dedicated." To assist students, Mrs. Reddick brought the mentor program, a curriculum that allows students to meet with a mentor after school for assistance, to the IUS. This program is on a volunteer basis and any base member can help out. "With the mentor program, not only do the students benefit, but the adults do as well," said Mrs. Reddick. "It allows them to brush up on stuff they did and didn't already know." While she cannot predict the future, Mrs. Reddick says she wants to be stationed in the Pacific region in Japan or Korea.