Windsor Roots Not Forgotten

Angela (Capannelli) Bates, B.Ed. (79) graduated from the University of Windsor 30 years ago and has lived in different parts of the United States for most of that time, including Southern California for the past 11 years. But her loyalty to Windsor remains firm.
 

Bates has continued to send donations to the Faculty of Education Trust - $1,000 a year- for most of the past decade. Donations create valuable endowed scholarships for future teachers, and support projects to strengthen teacher education at the Faculty of Education.

“My parents were hard working immigrants who believed strongly in the value of education. All four of their children earned university degrees, “ says Bates, “our family now includes an attorney, an engineer, an architect and myself.” Bates also holds a firm belief in the value of teaching and the uncommon influence teachers can have on people’s lives. Bates’ grade 5 teacher, at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Windsor, Pat Pupulin, encouraged her to play on the school’s sports teams. Pupulin visited Bates’ parents and promised them that no harm would come to their daughter.

“My experience on those teams gave me self-confidence that has served me all my life. If it wasn’t for that teacher going the extra mile for me, I may not have had the wonderful life that I have enjoyed,” she says.

In the early 1980s, few teaching positions were available.  Bates taught in short-term contract positions at schoolssuch as L.A. Desmarais, Belle River and Brennan.

“I had an opportunity to take a vacation in California for a couple of weeks. Those weeks turned into a year, then I met my husband and that was it,” Bates says.

Bates’ education career has included: a supervisory role in national sales for a medical device company; managing a cardiologist’s practice; and a licence as a California Real Estate agent. Bates says the skills she learned in teaching – to organize, communicate, and manage large groups, have contributed to her success. Angela Bates loves learning, and often takes courses for interest. A Windsor education lasts a lifetime!