An advantage of being an elder in any organization or community is the clarity of purpose that comes with age and experience. Both fellow employees and clients benefit equally from the very focused purpose of Carol Holmes, our elder at Pacific Crest.

As a dedicated teacher, assistant to a college president, and faculty/staff development coordinator, Carol saw that there was still significant work to be done once she retired and believed that she had something to offer other educators. Seeing education as the critical variable that separates the "haves" from the "have nots," Carol views a well-educated citizenry as the only hope for her grandchildren to enjoy a quality lifestyle in a truly democratic society. She believes it is critical that educational professionals assume responsibility for the reform that is demanded for this vision to become reality. Pacific Crest seemed to be a good fit as these same values were also highly regarded by the company.

Throughout her educational career Carol was an advocate, first for occupational therapists and then for institutions of higher education. Her role was always to either solicit support for a given policy or obtain funding so that therapists or educators could accomplish what they felt was truly important. Whether the audience was the state legislature, Congress, the governor, the heads of differing executive branches of government, private businesses, or foundations, the response was always the same. "Give us proof that your actions have made a significant difference for individuals and society or that honoring your request will improve the conditions. Stories are fascinating, but we need evidence." This emphasis on research and documented results permeates Carol’s outlook in her work with Pacific Crest.

Carol knows that educators are fiercely independent and tough learners who demand quality materials and experiences and are inherently skeptical of change imposed from outside. Carol believes that educational reform will be achieved only when enough educators see this work as important, embrace it, and work collegially across roles and institutions toward that end. Tiny steps are achieved as she works with a community of scholars across the country as they author documents, deliver institutes, and gather to share best practices. Satisfaction comes from working with colleagues to produce new editions of the Faculty Guidebook, improving faculty development handbooks, and piloting new faculty events. These things feed the fire in her belly, adding to Carol’s experience as an elder in the Pacific Crest community and helping her to better meet the needs of educators across the country.