Kayla Liechty Paulk

1985

1973-1975

We moved to Orange Park, FL (NAS Jax), in 1975, and I graduated from Orange Park High School. My brother, Greg Liechty, is two years younger/graduated OPHS in 1987. I attended Stetson University to study piano (undergrad), earned my Masters in Piano at Florida State University, taught piano at Stetson University for a decade, worked as a collaborative pianist at the University of Oklahoma for three years, and am in my thirteenth year of teaching piano at Eastern New Mexico University, where I teach with my husband (tenor/director of choirs). I would love to return to GTMO one day to see the memorable places of my childhood: the outdoor bleachers for movie viewing, Turn-Key (if it's still there), the stop light that was installed while there (we had t-shirts made), the school, and so much more. <3

I did not graduate from WT Sampson; however, I attended elementary school from 1972-1975 (K-2nd grade). Ms. Kool was my 2nd grade teacher, and we would often leave the quonset hut with her, so she could smoke outdoors. I liked her - just not the smoking. ;-) I remember going to a different hut for art, which I really enjoyed.