“Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness! That’s amazing!”

Fairfield teacher, Rachel Bossier, was absolutely floored last week when members of Trinity Star Arts Council conspired with the Fairfield Library Board to show their appreciation for her support of children and The Arts.

The art piece “Cowboy Reading in Big Bend” by renowned Texas artist, Jon Flaming, will be on permanent display at Fairfield Library with a plaque that reads:

In appreciation to Rachel Bossier for her dedicated years of service to the Fairfield Library and Trinity Star Arts Council 2021.

“This is perfect,” said Bossier. “I could not be more pleased with that as a gift.”

The presentation almost did not happen, as Rachel called Library Director Gary Wiggins at the last minute, stating that she could not make it because of a retirement party the school had planned.

“Bird Watching” was a collaborative art experience for the students of Rachel Bossier, as well as Fairfield Library patrons.

“You have time,” Wiggins assured her.

When she arrived, Bossier laughingly told the group that she wondered aloud to her students whether this was a “set-up.”

Newspaper photographers dutifully took the picture of a summer project that was, indeed, used to get her there.

Then, when she turned the corner, Rachel caught sight of the donated artwork.

“I cannot believe ya’ll pulled that off,” she said.

On speaker phone during the presentation was Scott Mills – President of the Library Board of Directors. He told Bossier that the Library Board could not thank her enough for all she had done for their organization.

Janie Richards, member of the TSAC Advisory Board, read a letter of appreciation from fellow member George Boyd, who had directed Bossier in several theatrical shows.

“Her energy and imagination are beyond comprehension,” said Boyd. “Every day she brought something new and provocative to our rehearsals and HOW LUCKY THE FAIRFIELD KIDS WERE TO HAVE HER AS THEIR TEACHER, AND SHE OPENED MANY YOUNG MINDS TO THEIR POSSIBILITIES.”

Rachel’s contributions were many. Here are just a few:

Trinity Star Arts Council

Each year, Rachel led her students to write their own book. She then had them published. TSAC sponsored the annual Authors’ Tea at the library.

During the past decade, Rachel Bossier starred in TSAC’s musical productions of: SMOKEY JOE’s CAFE, RING OF FIRE, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE and YOU DON’T KNOW ME, the Cindy Walker Songbook to name a few.

She also starred in GILLIGAN’s ISLAND, the Musical, that was produced by Palestine Civic Theatre and presented in Freestone County by TSAC.

And, as George Boyd wrote in his letter, “It gives me much pleasure to praise Our Rachel Bossier but also sadness to know that she is leaving our beloved Fairfield, and “Environs!” as Carol Channing would say!”

Fairfield Library Board

Rachel Bossier was appointed to the Fairfield Library Board of Directors on December 8, 2016, and has been an active member since that time.

When she sees something that would be good, she jumps in and makes it happen, working with the Director of the library, and other Board members.

When the library was renovated in 2017 she helped plan the children’s summer program, solicited teachers to read, coordinated a schedule using the library at the elementary school, scheduled herself to read and interact with children as part of the library program during the county fair.

In 2019 Rachel saw that stripes and signage in the parking lot needed updating, so she donated her skills and labor to get it done during her weekend.

When didn’t have a children’s program coordinator in the early months of 2021, so Rachel wrote a plan, coordinated with teachers and even the new elementary school principal to read and teach and do various daily activities. She was very much involved with the daily programs, and did many of them herself. Because of her efforts, something was going on every day for children at the library during the summer program.

She is energetic, creative, and willing to work, sharing her talents and bringing her student’s talents out.

She was involved in getting younger students (elementary, third and fourth grades) tours of the library and library cards, encouraging young readers.

She works with children in the schools to write and illustrate books, then puts them on display in the library, inviting parents in to see their children’s work. This helps promote the library in the community.

She has developed various fun programs for children in the library.

She has been an invaluable asset to the Fairfield Library and is going to be greatly missed.

(Photos by Karen Leidy)