Patricia 'Patsy' Karnes Prather

Through 2024

I worked as a stewardess for Pan American Airways from 1954 to 1966 based in Miami, then New York and then San Francisco. I became a high school teacher in the LA Unified School District at Lincoln High School in 1966 and then in Vista HS in 1972 - then opening Rancho Buena Vista HS in 1987 then retiring from there in 1998. I met my husband at Vista High School and married in 1974.

Pica Arizona, Torreon Mexico, Valley Stream New York, Miami Florida - Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Mateo, and Dana Point in Calif.

My great grandparents came to South Pasadena in the 1920's and my grandparents moved there from Oklahoma in the 30's. I was born in Pasadena but moved around in my childhood because of my dad's work. After my parents divorced, my mother and I moved to So Pasadena from Alhambra when I entered the 7th grade at the So. Pasadena Junior HIgh School. I went through High school at So. Pas and then on to Occidental College and graduated in 1953.

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Miss Holloway in English and Miss Nash in Spanish were my two hardest teachers from whom I learned the most. I went on to major in Spanish and minor in English at Occidental and teach those two subjects in high school. In junior high school Mary Willems and I were best friends and put on lots of dances at the dance studio on Marengo. I remember walking down Fremont with my folks carrying large containers of punch because the car was broken.

I never planned to be a teacher. All I wanted to do was be a stewardess with Pan American. Toward the end of my carreer I was placed in charge of training flight crews in NY and I was told that I should be a teacher. When I decided to leave Pan Am I went back to Occidental and got my teaching credential. I am now the Executive Director of the California Association of IB World Schools after having begun the IB Program at Vista High School in 1983 - the first public High School to offer the IB Program in California.

We live on 2 and 1/2 acres of land in Bonsall and raise Macadamia nut trees so I enjoy working outside and helping with the harvest. We travel when time allows and our kids and grandkids who leve nearby keep us very busy. We both love the theatre. I also have a part-time job and so there is not really any "spare" time.

I grew up in the Big Band era and of course still enjoy that music; however, I listen to the modern stuff as well - no favorites really.

I like all books and have a large collection. My taste in magazines, TV and movies is eclectic as well. Whatever I see that interests me, I read or watch. I am busy on the computer because of my job and find that experience both fascinating and frustrating.

Flying - teaching - training teachers - running an organization - getting married - acquiring an instant family. My husband had 5 kids when I married him.