By Sonjie Johnson
That’s the way Tim Prescott enters his 5th grade classroom every morning at Como Park Elementary. He’s been feeling that way for 28 years, but it wasn’t a straight line from college to teaching.
Two weeks after he graduated from Mankato State University, Tim and his wife Mary were married. Tim’s degree was in Management and Marketing; Mary’s in nursing. Mary grew up in St. Paul and the couple initially lived in the Midway and East Side before buying a house in Como Park 20 years ago.
A Nurse Practitioner, Mary continues in that vocation. Tim’s path to teaching was more circuitous. After five years of retail management at Target and Kmart, he realized that the work left him tired and discouraged. “Why not become a teacher,” Mary suggested, “you love kids and you’re already coaching and fundraising for the community.” So here he is – 28 years later, doing a job he loves. “Their energy, their ideas, seeing them grow and be successful – every day different. Every day is rewarding.”
Now grown, the Prescott’s daughters both attended Como Park High School, finished college and are on their own. After his youngest daughter graduated, a long-time Vulcan at the Winter Carnival encouraged Tim to apply to join the Vulcan King and his royal Krewe. Tim was accepted and assigned the title Baron Hotsparkus, a royal “stocker of emotion and sparkplug of the krewe.” *
Being a Vulcan is a year-around job, complete with all the requirements of a traditional job. Applicants must submit a written application, get support from a member in good standing, have an intensive interview, a criminal background check and accept a five-year commitment of time and energy, along with the willingness to spend a large amount of time during both the week and weekends on Vulcan events.
One might think that The Vulcans are just a bunch of guys in red who ride around in a firetruck partying for the 10 days during the Winter Carnival. Not so. According to Tim, “Something people might not know about the Vulcans is how much community service, fundraisers and volunteer work we do during the year.” The Vulcans visit
schools, nursing homes, the VA and attend various celebrations locally and nationally. An unbelievable experience,“ Tim says, “I’ve met people from all over the world.”
Tim’s Krewe’s charity is the Dragon Divas. “Amazing women, survivors of breast cancer, who race Dragon boats.” Tim says. “One day they took us out to see what it was like to row one of these boats. What these women do is incredible, and it was moving to have them share the experience with us.”
During carnival, the Vulcans play a role in all family events, letting the winter court know that their time is limited; warmth and summer are coming back to St. Paul. The Krewe maintains the snow park, sculptures and snow maze at the fairgrounds. They also ride to various events throughout the city on the 1932 Luverne fire truck to spread warmth and joy, and visit all the sponsoring businesses.
After the Torchlight Parade, and closing out the carnival, the Vulcan Victory Dance February 3rd , celebrates the Vulcans’ triumph over evil winter, King Borealis. This is Tim’s 5th year, and his 2019 Krewe is in charge of the Dance. Held at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown St. Paul; this year the band is High and Mighty.
As Tim talks about his Como Park and Vulcan families, his joy in teaching and being a Vulcan member, I think I see that classroom smile.
*Note: The Vulcans have a deep history in St. Paul. Created by JJ Hill in the late 1880s, the first Winter Carnival featured a “Fire King Coal.” With the addition of the Vulcan Krewe, the Fire King Coal became Vulcanus Rex , and the Krewe his fiery adversaries of King Boreas, aka, Winter.
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