My beginnings were hardscrabble and humble. I was born in Bristol, Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania to my biological Polish Father, Edward Tuzinski and my Scottish Mother, Alice Barbara MacKelvey. I was born in the late afternoon on March of that same year, just 3 months earlier, Edward Tuzinski, my biological father died at the age of 37 from complications of rheumatic heart disease. I was born fatherless. That’s why I use the term biological because, clearly, I never knew him.
Every aspect of my life as I grew and developed was affected deeply by this loss. Yet, in my early years I was oblivious. As a young boy, I did not know I was supposed to have a “dad”, but that changed as soon as I started school. I learned in many painstaking ways how important it was to have a relationship with one’s father. I became a teacher as a result of this loss. I became a writer as a result of this loss. My personal and intimate relationships were affected by this loss. Believe it or not, loss continued to be an important, yet painful part of my personal growth and learning during my childhood and into my early adult life. Again, my career choice was based, in part, on this loss. I will explain later, but for now, suffice to write how I wanted to learn about students, education and learning, but also to develop a relationship that, as a youngster without a “biological” father, I never experienced.
After attending school for a few years, I realized I was missing something. I craved this lack of a male relationship, and in order to get it, I needed to BE IT to others. AND selfishly enough, I wanted to learn to develop bonds and relationships with the students in my class, their parents and other teachers, as well as my colleagues. Naturally, and holistically, I had missed out on this and now needed to catch up! Teaching for me was learning about the whole child, my whole inner child, as well as those I was teaching. My lack of a “dad” in my life had created an intense void. Given this void, I still would never have believed that my story was important... until I came across Brene Brown’s quote.
Every aspect of my life as I grew and developed was affected deeply by this loss. Yet, in my early years I was oblivious. As a young boy, I did not know I was supposed to have a “dad”, but that changed as soon as I started school. I learned in many painstaking ways how important it was to have a relationship with one’s father. I became a teacher as a result of this loss. I became a writer as a result of this loss. My personal and intimate relationships were affected by this loss. Believe it or not, loss continued to be an important, yet painful part of my personal growth and learning during my childhood and into my early adult life. Again, my career choice was based, in part, on this loss. I will explain later, but for now, suffice to write how I wanted to learn about students, education and learning, but also to develop a relationship that, as a youngster without a “biological” father, I never experienced.
After attending school for a few years, I realized I was missing something. I craved this lack of a male relationship, and in order to get it, I needed to BE IT to others. AND selfishly enough, I wanted to learn to develop bonds and relationships with the students in my class, their parents and other teachers, as well as my colleagues. Naturally, and holistically, I had missed out on this and now needed to catch up! Teaching for me was learning about the whole child, my whole inner child, as well as those I was teaching. My lack of a “dad” in my life had created an intense void. Given this void, I still would never have believed that my story was important... until I came across Brene Brown’s quote.
“One day you will tell your story of how you
overcame what you went through and it will
be someone else’s survival guide.”
overcame what you went through and it will
be someone else’s survival guide.”
I knew I had to tell MY STORY and his quote has inspired me to do so. This is how my story begins here on STORYTELLER, 2021, by Bruce Lampman-Perlman.
︎︎︎ Education
Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Leadership Development Fellowship Cohort
PA Principal Certification, Educational Leadership and Administration
Master’s Degree, Elementary Education Computer Science Minor, Arcadia University, 1993
Bachelor of Science Degree, Elementary Education Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and Friars Honor Society, West Chester University, 1983
︎︎︎ Education Practice
Truro Central School, 2019 - 2021 — Educational Specialist
Pennsbury School District, 1986 - 2018 — Teacher
Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project (PAWLP), 2008 - present — Writing Administrator and Consultant
Demonstration Teacher, 2012 - 2014 Pennsbury School District
Children’s International Summer Village (CISV), 2002 - 2012 — National Village Chair
︎︎︎ Affiliations
Pennsylvania, Principal Association (PPA/PAESSP) – Active Member
Bucks County, Performing Arts Center, Children’s Musical Theater — Acting Coach Winter Session Program Coordinator
Pennsylvania, Writing and Literature Project (PAWLP) – Active Consultant
The Principal Center – Active Online Member
Odyssey of the Mind – Judge
Delaware River Mill Society – Lifetime Member