A New Chapter in Life

As a recently retired educator, I wasn’t planning to sit on my hands and watch the world go by. Interacting with young people was still important to me, and choosing to sub three days/week in our local school has allowed me to engage in a new way. Transitioning from a high school with almost 1200 students to one with 140+ students is much like a step back in time. Smaller class sizes, 3 minute passing times versus six from the larger school, and lack of hallway congestion offers a unique perspective of small-town America.

My first assignments have been working with students identified with emotional or behavior disorders (a/k/a EBD).  In past years with my traditional classroom, I was usually provided with one or two of these individuals, but suddenly I found myself in a room with eleven EBD students along with three other professionals. Unfortunately, from my experience, EBD students tend to have had a lot of negative experiences in school, consequently they tend to lack much desire or motivation to try to succeed. Since all of these students are graded on a pass-fail basis, teaching involves the KISS method and finding ways for these individuals to stay positive. Some of my responsibilities involve accompanying 1-2 students into traditional classrooms throughout the day as well as sitting down one-to-one to work on phonics, 

So far my experience has been rewarding in every way and it’s a joy to still be part of a learning environment!

My Last Day of School

NOTE: Originally compiled on June 1, 2022, but forgot to post on this blog

I recall how special I felt back in August 2012 when I walked into my first classroom at BDHS, pictured below on left side. It was a moment of celebration to arrive in a setting I had longed to find myself for 40+ years. That room held so many special memories of interactions with students from diverse backgrounds. Five years later I moved into my second classroom, pictured below on the right, this one in a totally renovated BDHS. It was my 'dream setting' if one ever existed: brighter room, multi-levels of seating, more wall space, additional storage, and new whiteboard. I never could have asked for a better setting!

       

Within my surroundings I shared insight to freshmen on cultures within the Eastern Hemisphere using geography, history and current events. I introduced National History Day and watched students explore historical events they chose to examine in detail. Some of them took their projects and participated in regional, state and national competitions. I was asked to assemble and teach our school's first AP Economics course, providing students with the opportunity to earn college credits in both Micro and Macroeconomics. On numerous occasions I had students earn Double-5's on their AP Exams. I put my best effort forward in making the subject of Economics an interesting subject for BDHS students, bringing real world insight from my 30+ years in private business.

This same classroom was the setting for Prom Planning every spring over the course of 8 years. Key Club became our school's #1 service group, and I watched students rise to the occasion to attain positions of leadership at the district and division level, in addition to becoming state leaders in the Thirst Project movement. As Class Advisor to the Class of 2017, 2020, and 2024, it was my pleasure to serve as their go-between with school administrators. 

I will forever cherish the memories and friendships made over these past ten years. For the record let it be known that I did not run away from the classroom nor from teaching itself. At 69 years of age, I felt it was time to move on to that next stage of my life. It is truly one of the hardest decisions I ever needed to make, but it was a glorious journey second only to marriage and the birth of our son. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that was provided to me!