The daughter of parents who each became a teacher while she was growing up in Sacramento, Phyllis Haddox majored in education at Sacramento State and found work as a reading specialist at racially diverse Del Paso Heights Elementary, where she had gone to grade school. “The district had adopted the Direct Instruction model,” says Haddox, who came up to the UO in 1971 for training in DI, a highly scripted and fast-paced teaching method for young children, with its founder, Siegfried Engelmann. “The motto of our model is, ‘So that they shall not fail.’” She finished a master’s degree and began a career in DI, training teachers, establishing and evaluating programs in low-income schools around the country. She also earned a doctorate in special education in 1984 and became an assistant professor at the UO. Since retiring 10 years ago, Haddox has had time for Argentine tango and volunteering. She stepped down as board president of NextStep Recycling last year to devote more of her efforts to KindTree-Autism Rocks. She is in charge of decorations and entertainment for the third annual KT-AR Adult Prom fundraiser, to be held at 7:30 pm Saturday, May 17, at the Vet’s Club Ballroom, 1626 Willamette, featuring live music by the Joanne Broh Band with guests Gus Russell and Deb Cleveland. Fancy or funky prom attire is encouraged. The prom will also serve as Haddox’s wedding reception. She will marry John Marshall on Friday, May 16. Find details about the prom at kindtree.org.