Angela Lida Whittaker

Angela Lida Whittaker was born October 11, 1980 in Long Beach, California. Angie grew up in Long Beach where she was surrounded by family and friends. Angie was a joy to all her caregivers. The teachers at preschool couldn't wait until they had her in their class. She went on to attend Cubberley and Mark Twain Elementary Schools. At Hughes Middle School she sang in the chorus, which she loved. At Long Beach Polytechnic High School she was in the elite Program for Additional Curricular Experience, played soccer, swam, ran cross country and worked on the school newspaper. She played soccer for Long Beach Youth Soccer Organization for many years. Angie was a Girl Scout earning the highest award of Gold and after she finished that she became a Sea Scout.

She enjoyed walks, bike rides and roller blading with her father. Being one of the youngest in her classes it did not dissuade her. She worked harder than others to get her schoolwork done, without giving up the activities she enjoyed. She was the best big sister and referee her two younger brothers could have had. She enjoyed camping at the beach during summer, fishing with her grandfather at June Lake, attending family camp at Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center, church youth camps and relaxing times with family and friends. She was an avid reader and made weekly visits to the local library.

Angie went on to graduate from the University of California San Diego Thurgood Marshall College with a BA in Political Science. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. There was a time after UCSD where she considered a career in public service politics while working for the City of San Diego. Angie loved politics. In the end, she knew she could have a more positive effect on others as an educator. Angie decided to follow the example made by her mother, grandmother and great grandmother in pursuing a career in education. She obtained her Masters in Teaching at National University.

While teaching 3rd grade in Beaumont, CA, Angie decided to go on a blind date that a fellow teacher friend Donna had been suggesting. In July, 2005, Angie met Bret Paul Plaskey on that blind date. The two fell in love and dated for another year and a half. Bret and Angie were married on October 1st, 2006 at Khoury’s Restaurant in Long Beach, CA. It was a beautiful ceremony with Alamitos Bay in the background. Bret had a daughter, Nina, from a previous relationship. The three of them moved in together, creating their new family in a rental home in Beaumont, CA. The couple purchased their first home in February, 2009 just up the street from the rental home, so Nina could remain in the same school with her friends, Sundance Elementary School. Their longtime friend Nicole was their realtor.

On August 15th, 2009, Angie gave birth to her youngest daughter, Kaelie Elise Plaskey at Loma Linda University Medical Center. The family was now 4 strong. Just as Angie was, Nina was the best big sister to Kaelie, nearly 10 years her senior. Their family thrived.

Angie was already an educator before she had met Bret and spent the rest of her life in the profession she loved dearly. She taught every grade 1st through 8th, often taking the most challenging roles as that’s the person that she was. Angie loved children, she loved teaching and she was the very best at it. Angie took on the role of TOSA (Teacher On Special Assignment) several times in her career. She taught in Beaumont, CA, Palm Springs, CA and Desert Hot Springs, CA.

In 2020, during the height of COVID, Bret asked Angie if she would be willing to move to Texas for a promotion opportunity. She agreed, and in August, 2020, the couple bought their second home in Prosper, TX. It wasn’t easy leaving all of her colleagues at work in California, but true to form, the first action Angie wanted to take after moving to Texas was pick up her teaching career in Texas. She researched the requirements, completed the requirements for her credentials in Texas and volunteered time at Reynolds Middle School where Kaelie was attending. In 2022, Angie became a substitute teacher to get her foot in the door at Reynolds Middle School. This was the first opportunity Angie had in her career having one of her own children at the same school she taught at. It worked because in 2023 Angie became a full-time teacher at Reynolds. The leadership saw her skillset, love for children and dedication to the profession. Angie cherished her time at Reynolds Elementary School especially when she saw Kaelie walking down the same halls as she did. Her first full tenured year at Reynolds, Angie won the Star Polisher Award from the Prosper Education Foundation.

Angie will be sorely missed by her family, friends, colleagues and the thousands of children whose lives were made better by this beautiful woman.

She is survived by her husband Bret and daughters Kaelie and Nina. Also her mother Lida Cook (James Cook), brothers Joseph (Stephanie) Whittaker (their two sons) and Philip Whittaker (daughter), her father Gary Whittaker (Denise).