Pine Bush - When she was 7 years old, Tracey Mullen lined up the dining room chairs and pretended to be a teacher. Her childhood dream was realized this fall, almost 40 years later, when she entered a classroom at Pine Bush Elementary School.The school is just three blocks away from E.J. Russell Elementary School, where her eldest daughter, Liz, also began her first teaching position recently.

During the years between the dining room and a classroom filled with 5-year-olds, Tracey never lost sight of her dream.

"I put my career on hold to have kids," she said. "Every time it was time for me to go to school, I had another child. My family must come first."

Then Tracey's husband, Thomas, died when her youngest of five children was only 5.

While raising five children alone, Tracey picked up her studies and earned her bachelor's degree at Empire State College in 2001. She substituted in the district, taught summer school, became a teaching assistant and then taught pre-kindergarten for three years.

Meanwhile, Liz earned her degree in international business at SUNY Buffalo. Back home in Thompson Ridge, Liz searched for a job while trying to study for her business certifications. She took a job as a substitute teacher.

"I was dreading it (the certifications) and put off studying," she says. "I was offered a tutoring job, and then another. I was subbing all day and tutoring at night." Then it hit her. "This is what I wanted to do."

Liz was accepted into Long Island University's master's program. One semester later, her mother's dream kicked into high gear. She, too, was accepted into the program. Mother and daughter shared books and professors.

"We were able to learn from one another," Liz said.

"We were students together," Tracey said, "and it was really nice."

They alternated their nighttime class schedules so that one would always be home with the other children.

"My youngest child is 12 years old now. This was a good time for me to start teaching," said Tracey.

A dream realized and a career unexpected, mother and daughter are now both teaching in the Pine Bush School District. They cannot contain their excitement over their new careers.

"Just coming here every day," said Liz, "they give me hugs good-bye. They ask me (in a sad voice), 'Is it going to snow tomorrow?' because they want to come to school."

Over at PBE, Tracey moves quickly from table to table tending to her 21 eager and well-behaved students. One child needs milk for his breakfast. Another one needs help with a puzzle. Two are building a Lego train and scattering pieces across the floor. Attendance needs to be taken, and then a few girls arrive late to class. Simultaneously, she tends to everyone's needs with a big smile on her face.

"I am blessed to have this job," Tracey said. "I have the opportunity to be able to touch the lives of many children and help them find their gifts, what they are good at. When I love being here, they love being here.

"While doing a word-find puzzle in our reading series today, for the first time, there was a child who said, 'I see the word "I!"' All of a sudden, I could see it in her eyes. She was reading! That is the most wonderful feeling in the world, when a child understands, gets it and is thrilled about it."

Tracey and Liz credit LIU advisers and professors for their success at earning their master's degrees.

"They were very helpful," said Tracey. "It's been tricky with the new certifications, and they were always willing to help and answer questions. They are there to help you grow. They take pride in their teachers."

Liz agreed.  "The professors at LIU were extremely helpful," she said. "They always pushed me and challenged me."

Nowadays, mother and daughter might work on their lesson plans in different rooms, but they still eat dinner together with the family.

When asked about their future, education is a constant. Someday Liz would like to go into administration or become a college professor.

"I want to make a difference in the curriculum-building," she said.

As for Tracey, the dining room chairs are long gone, but the little girl's vision has been realized.

"I'll be here," she said. "This is my dream. This is what I have always wanted to do. Ten to 20 years from now, this is where I will be."

Long Island University's Rockland campus is on Route 340 in Orangeburg. For more information, call 359-7200 or visit www.liu.edu/rockland.

Reprinted from the February 11, 2006 issue of the Times Herald Record.