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PROFILE OF A MUSEUM VOLUNTEER
In the summer of 1955 Leslie Lynn Wathen,
the 3rd daughter of five siblings was born to Spalding and Della. Wathen. She grew up in Fresno, California, attending Our
Lady of Victory and St. Anthony's schools. Leslie graduated from San Joaquin
Memorial High School in 1973. It was during her primary education experience,
that she developed a love for teaching. The pursuit of her goals for higher
education led her to Oregon. Leslie graduated from the University of Oregon
in 1978, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
She then moved to Washington to complete a one year special education teacher
internship through Seattle Pacific University. Leslie lived on Bainbridge
Island and taught in the North Kitsap School District. Leslie returned to California with both Multiple Subjects
and Learning Handicapped teaching credentials; soon after obtained her
Resource Specialist Certificate. She taught severely emotional disabled
students for one year in the Pre-Adolescent Day Treatment program in the
Fresno Unified School District (FUSD). Leslie then transferred to the Madera
County Dept. of Education and taught for several years, kindergarten through
8th grade level, students with learning disabilities. She used her
special teaching skills in these schools: Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold,
and Raymond-Knowles Elementary. During this time Leslie married Mark Prendergast, and
together they had three children. While teaching for Madera County, Leslie
gave birth to Alison, her first daughter. Alison is close to completion of a
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Expecting her second child, Leslie
decided to stop teaching and be a full time mother of her growing family. She
proudly celebrated the recent college graduations of her two youngest
children. Josiah received his Juris Doctor (JD)
from the University of Santa Clara, School of Law, and will be an associate
partner in a leading Fresno law firm. Anna received her Masters of Science
Degree in Nursing from the University of San Diego. She will be commissioned
a 1st Lieutenant, medical service, in the United States Air Force;
first female family member to enter military service. Leslie’s strong interest in personal development motivated
her to return to college and earn a Masters of Arts Degree in Special
Education, with emphasis in Reading from Fresno Pacific University. Upon
receiving her Severely Handicapped Teaching Credential, Leslie resumed her
teaching career as a Resource Specialist in the Clovis Unified School
District (CUSD). Leslie has 14 years of teaching experience, and remains a
highly qualified educator. Leslie’s Father was extremely proud of his service as a Lt.
in the Navy near the end of WWII. He carried his Navy ID card in his wallet
almost his entire life; until it broke into pieces from “old age.” His pride
birthed in Leslie a deep value for our military forces and a great respect
for all who have served. Upon the passing of her father, Leslie obtained her
Real Estate License and joined her 4 sisters and mother in the family
construction business. She was involved in many aspects of home development;
customer service, home design, sales, and project completion. Leslie remarried in 2007 to Leonard Casillas,
a retired civil servant and Army National Guard Colonel. They enjoy
volunteering together at the Veterans Memorial Museum (VMM) in which they
manage the Donation Shop inventory and support tasks. Retirement has provided
Leslie the opportunity to continue to learn; serve at her church and the
museum; and to more fully explore her creative side. Leslie’s mother instilled in her at a very
young age a passionate love for world history, travel and books. Like her mom,
she is a world traveler and an avid reader; especially of biography and
military genres. Understandably,
volunteering at the Veterans Memorial Museum is a very valuable part in her
life. Leslie finds working with the VMM staff and docents always to be a very
interesting and enjoyable experience.
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