Celebrating Pine Islanders: Vickie Stokes
Vickie Stokes said likely the most important thing to know about her is that she can make very difficult decisions and stick with them happily. She adds that she loves people and relationships are very important.
“I’ve had to accept change quite a few times, and I am also able to be very patient,” Stokes said.
She said she first began coming to Pine Island in 1970 when her grandparents moved here, but she moved here permanently in 1992 and got a job with the Lee County School District. She became the very first Pre-K teacher at Pine Island Elementary School, she said. It took around 4 years for Stokes to have gained enough seniority to stay at PIE.
“I loved it though. I’m very good with change,” Stokes said.
Currently, she said, things in her life have made it impossible to do anything other than roll with change. In fact, she admits that same thing is true of everyone and every life. Something she has found helpful in difficult times is to remember that however bad things seem, change is likely right around the corner.
“You don’t really think about it when you’re happy, but change comes whether you want it to or not, and it’s your attitude that makes the difference,” Stokes said.
Her love for Pine Island and all of its unique qualities came right away, she said. Although she has witnessed a great deal of change since the 1970s. It was a very different experience back then. She said she even remembers back when school kids came by ferry.
“The middle school had just shut down when I came on the island. Having to go off the island for high school had to be a culture shock, Stokes said.
Working at other schools were a culture shock for her as an adult, as well, she said, emphasizing that seeing this from the eyes of Pine Island resident students, she can understand how traveling outside the small town fishing village to an off-island high school might overwhelm the students.
“High school isn’t easy to begin with,” Stokes said.
If asked to describe Pine Island to someone who has no knowledge of it, she said she would describe it as friendly and welcoming.
“This is a small island where people care about each other,” Stokes said.
If she had one greatest wish for Pine Island, she said, she would hope that the island would retain its character and not succumb to development. She does not want giant buildings, golf courses or resorts or condos.
“I do not want this place to become like any other coast, but to keep its beauty with resilience,” Stokes said.
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