By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Former Red Deer teacher brings galactic story to students

Mar 3, 2018 | 5:00 AM

A former Red Deer teacher is celebrating a noteworthy achievement this week by reconnecting with students.

Robin Pawlak taught in Red Deer for more than 30 years, 14 of them at Gateway Christian School.

Nineteen years ago he introduced to his students a story he’d written, and since his retirement two years ago he’s finally had it published. In his words, he’s now accomplished the second thing he was born to do.

“I read it to my own kids and I read it to my students every year — and every year they liked it and said I had to get it published,” Pawlak recounts. “I was a dad of young kids, and teaching is very demanding. It just wasn’t going to happen. I knew for a long time that when I retired, that was going to be what I did.”

Space Cadets is the tale of 12-year-old Simon, who loves to daydream, and his twin sister Casey, who prefers real life adventures. The pair is zapped by a mysterious invention of their father’s and wind up prisoners of evil aliens. The book is geared towards a middle grade audience.

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On having his book published at long last, Pawlak says there’s an important message for students.

“There’s that standard message about chasing your dreams, but also recognizing that sometimes dreams take time and sticking with it is worth it,” he says. “I also like the idea that you can do more than one thing in life.”

Pawlak visited Gateway Christian School this week where he read from the first chapter of his book and signed copies for students. He says he’s planning two follow-up stories to Space Cadets.

“It’s pretty sweet to come back here. I have a dream life,” he proclaims. “I go and write stories in my little office and it’s nice and quiet, then once in a while I peek my head out, come here or go into other schools and hang out with the kids.”

For more information, visit RobinPawlak.com.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Former Red Deer teacher brings galactic story to students

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