McCOY, William C. 1945-

PERSONAL: Born February 6, 1945, in Grand Junction, CO; son of Charles and Jacquline McCoy; married June 11, 1966; wife's name, Vickie L. (a teacher); children: Shelby, Randi. Education: University of Northern Colorado, B.A. Politics: Republican

ADDRESSES: Home—811 Hilltop Dr., Leander, TX 78641. E-mail—wcvmccoy@cox-internet.com.

CAREER: Schoolteacher, beginning 1967; Spring Independent School District, Houston, TX, special education teacher, 1989-2000; writer, 2000—.

WRITINGS:

What We Work With: Troubling Times for Educators, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2002.

SIDELIGHTS: William C. McCoy told CA: "My primary motive for writing has been and will always be one of speaking out about those things that should be of concern to everyone. So much of what goes on in the world today seems to be made more complex than necessary. Important issues become lost in a shuffle of irrelevance. The occupation of teacher has fallen into both categories.

"I write as an outlet for many of the things I feel a need to say. Writing gives me a feeling of accomplishment. There is a marvelous feeling that goes along with the idea that others might spend time with your ideas by actually reading the thoughts you have put on a page.

"I spent almost thirty years teaching from 1967 to 2000, with a few breaks in between. As a teacher, I always felt pride in my profession, and so did those with whom I was fortunate enough to work. To this day, I still believe most people talk about teaching in high and respectful terms, but actually hold the profession in a vastly different light. Teachers have become the first blamed and the last credited. I had a deep desire to write my book for over ten years. When certain things occurred in my professional and private life, I finally found the time."