2005 District 11 Retirees

Kingsley Abel - H.B. Beal Secondary School

I’ve thought a lot about retirement this year. I announced it to my band at our first rehearsal so they would not be shocked at the end of the year and so that we all could get used to the idea of parting daily company. I’ve heard many people say they were leaving teaching with mixed emotions. It sounded so trite, but guess what?...I, too, am leaving with mixed emotions.

Sure, it will be great to roll over at 5 a.m., hit the snooze button and REALLY go back for more sleep. But, I’ll miss seeing and working with those dedicated band kids. Sure, it will be wonderful to stop doing marks, going to meetings and filling out forms. But, I’ll miss seeing that struggling kid finally “get it”. Sure, it will be fabulous to let politics go. But, I’ll miss the student who says, “Thanks for being there.”

What a wonderful experience teaching has been for me for 31 years, 5 at Westminster, 8 at Wheable (and Glen Cairn) and 18 at Beal. There have been too many experiences to list here, but Westminster initiated me to teaching, Wheable showed me how to close an adolescent learning centre, and Beal showed me how to tear down and rebuild a complete school. Students and staff were brilliant. Students and staff struggled. There were music festivals, in-house concerts, feeder school concerts, community concerts, field trips, fund raisers, parades, Sounds of the Seasons, Soundscopes, Soundathons and school shows. There were curriculum changes, policy changes, retreats, P.D. sessions, Transition Years, TAP programs, Peer Coaching, SuperHeads, cutbacks and even an illegal strike. There have been Junior, Intermediate, Senior, and Stage Bands, Choirs, Madrigal Choirs, Small Ensembles and Soloists. There have been the subjects Library, English, Business English, Civics, Elementary music, Department Head of Music for 26 years and even head of Family Studies for two!

Althouse gave me the paper, but staff, students and experiences taught me how to be a teacher. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the TVDSB and former London Board for showing my wife, Lois, and me so much kindness and practical help throughout the years. God bless you all, as he has me, in this wonderful vocation.

And now, it is time for me to change vocation to vacation.

Roger Abraham - Glendale High School

Roger’s teaching career began at a time of life when most people are well established in the profession. He was the last person to receive a bursary from the Government of Alberta to attend the University of Alberta in the three year Bachelor of Education program specializing in Vocational Education.

Graduation in 1980 led to a placement in a new facility at a very large high school in Edmonton, Harry Ainley Composite High School - a challenging three year experience. As a result of teaching night school, he learned of a teaching position with the Sherwood Park School Board. Both he and his wife, Joy, wanted to move out of the city, so this opportunity could not be passed up. They bought a home with five acres of land in the country and started raising their family of two boys.

Roger was with the Sherwood Park School Board for six very enjoyable and successful years. However, Joy was ready to take up her teaching career again and was made aware of a position in her home town of Tillsonburg, Ontario. Oddly enough, a position at Glendale also became available. To make a long (and expensive) story short, both were successful in their applications with the Oxford County Board of Education. The fifteen years since August of 1990 have been very interesting, professionally challenging and rewarding. Roger quickly recognized the very important role that OSSTF has in the teaching profession in Ontario and the very significant contributions it makes to our professional life, well being and development.

The future is very right as Roger will be building a business in the very fast-paced world of Internet communications using the relatively new Voice Over IP protocol. Most importantly, he will be providing support for Joy who will continue to teach for a while, and their two sons who are both attending university. One door closes, another door opens!

Kathryn Ackland - Montcalm Secondary School

Kae Ackland started her teaching career in 1989 in the Business Department at Montcalm Secondary School. Prior to her teaching career, Kae performed various jobs at City Hall where she eventually became the executive secretary to the City Administrator.

During her teaching career, she coached the swim and dive team for three years and was on numerous committees at the school. She was on writing teams for the Board and also presented at professional development sessions. As well as performing the roles of Site Administrator and Acting Business Head, she was Business Head at Montcalm for five years. Kae also co-chaired the Business/Computer Heads group for three years and has been a member of the Ontario Business Educators' Association.

Kae served as District Councillor, as Co-President, and as a member of the OSSTF In-School Staffing Committee at Montcalm. Her biggest challenge in retirement will be to do nothing as Kae has a wide range of interests and is involved in several activities, including an attempt to gain a mastery of golf. She also looks forward to spending more time with her husband, Brad, and daughter, Mallory.

Janice Banting - Westminster Secondary School

Jan Banting, a former Wildcat as a student, is “graduating” from Westminster Secondary School for the second time in her life. She began her teaching career at the elementary level. When she moved to secondary, she became interested in students with special needs, eventually becoming Department Assistant of Student Services and then Department Head of Special Education.

Jan participated in the formation of the conceptual framework and later in the development of the operational plan for the former Board of Education for the City of London’s Comprehensive Plan for Special Education. She was a member of the Student Services Handbook Revision team and presenter of At-Risk Students In-service/Information sessions.

Jan is an executive member of the local Council for Exceptional Children, and has been a presenter and Co-Chair of Hospitality for their national conferences. She also has been a presenter at ACLD and OSCA conferences, and at the UWO’s Faculty of Education for a “Transition to Professional Practice” workshop. As well, she has acted as mentor for Faculty of Education students in their Reflective Practice Projects.

In 1997, Jan received the Teacher of the Year award from the Ontario Provincial Federation of Chapters, CEC, at both the local and provincial levels. She was nominated for the 2002 YMCA-YWCA’s London Women of Distinction Awards in the Education Division.

Jan and her husband, Gord, have raised two daughters. Both are university graduates who are pursuing careers in business and law. Her own career has been one marked by professionalism, integrity and compassion, the hallmarks of a true educator.

David Blair - Montcalm Secondary School

For thirty-five years, David Blair has taught in the business department at Montcalm Secondary School. While many teachers sometimes choose to leave and go to other schools, Mr. Blair stayed at Montcalm, which many staff referred to as the best kept secret in the system.

Some highlights of his teaching career include thirteen years coaching football and thirty years operating the school store. He spoke at numerous provincial conferences on his experiences with the presentation “Taming the Toughies”.

Mr. Blair’s ability to rip telephone books in half earned him a lasting impression with his students. Many of their children ask him if he still rips phone books. Additionally, Mr. Blair assisted annually with the Scrooge campaign at Montcalm, entertaining the students with his “Hypnosis Show”.

In retirement, Mr. Blair intends to lower his golf handicap and pursue a number of marketing projects while respecting his family’s wishes to stay out of their hair!

Richard Blow - Saunders Secondary School

Richard has been in education since September 1960, starting out as a student at Mountsfield P.S. and graduating to H.B. Beal Secondary School in 1969. With a passion for Electronics, he soon joined Beal’s Sound and Light crew and the Audio Visual Club. While at Beal, Richard met his wife Cathy, who was taking the nursing program at the time. After working countless hours for Beal, he was “hired” by the Board and was one of a very few students who had a London Board employee number as well as a student number. After graduating from Beal in June of 1973, Richard was immediately offered a position as a full time Audio-Visual technician at Westminister and Laurier Secondary Schools beginning in July, 1973. He married his high school sweetheart in 1975.

To keep current in Electronics, Richard took all the night classes that Fanshawe offered in Electronics and Microprocessors. He obtained his Amateur Radio Licence call sign VE3XKE and began taking Fanshawe’s Automotive Electronics courses. As an employee of the Board, he took numerous courses at Singer-Graflex, Sony, Bell and Howell to name but a few. In 1980, Richard became the manager of the centralized Audio-Visual Centre at Banting S.S. His children, Brenda, then Donavan came along shortly thereafter and the refrigerator has never been full since. Working two jobs to feed the kids, Richard began courses at Western in Computer Sciences and just kept taking courses. In 1989, he applied to Althouse College to teach Electronics and pass along the knowledge he had acquired.

Richard was accepted and graduated from Althouse in 1990 on the Dean’s Honour List with a special certificate for volunteering on an extra curricular Broad-Base technology curriculum writing team. He began his teaching career in September 1990 at Clarke Road Secondary School. replacing one of his favourite Electronics teachers whom he had had as a student at Beal. Richard took a few A.B.Q’s during the summers and then got his Honour’s Tech Specialist in 1994. In 1994, Richard replaced his other former Electronics teacher from Beal who was then teaching at Saunders. Richard has been at Saunders ever since. He is constantly updating his knowledge, being one of the very few teachers who have their Ozone Depletion Protection Certification enabling him to service Automotive air conditioning systems. He was one of the two graduating teachers that took and passed an “on line” CISCO ICND course out of a class of fifty in the spring of 2003.

Richard was very grateful and immensely proud to be able to hand both Brenda and Donavan their graduation diplomas at their commencements at Saunders.

Becoming the OSSTF branch president at Saunders in 2001, Rich highly recommends that ALL teachers should get involved with our union. He values the friendships he has made and is thankful for all their input over the years. He plans on working on his E-type Jaguar, perhaps substituting once in a while and maybe offering to teach some adults at Fanshawe for a change of pace.

Deb Breuer - Clarke Road Secondary School

I was fortunate to be able to retire this past December. After teaching Special Education for thirty-three years, I bade my farewells on Friday at 3:00 and by 6:00 a.m. the next morning I was on my way to Africa to go on safari with family and friends. Having been retired now for four months, I can surely attest to the fact that everything we hear about it is absolutely true. I am enjoying each and every day and spending time on the things I love to do.

I grew up in New York and started teaching in Baltimore, Maryland for two years. After meeting my Canadian husband, I moved to Toronto and taught at Thistletown Regional Centre for sixteen years. Business opportunities brought us to London where we raised three children, far from the hussle and bustle of a large city. I taught at Princess Anne Elementary School , Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School and Clarke Road Secondary School.

Teaching children with special needs has fulfilled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Over the years I have been privileged to work with students who are responsive, trusting, eager to learn and participate and full of love. They greeted me each morning with smiling faces and open hearts.

Some highlights at "The Road" were participating in the Special Olympics, teaching the music program and taking my students each year to the Huron Country Playhouse. And finally, working side by side with my colleagues was an indescribable pleasure.

Sheila Brown - Oakridge Secondary School

Sheila began teaching in the city of Galt - now Cambridge - and taught elementary there for several years before moving to London to teach at Tweedsmuir Public School. She then took a hiatus for several years to raise a family. After her family was safely attending school themselves, she went back to Western to obtain a degree in journalism. While completing her degree, her curiosity about television studio work got the better of her and she volunteered at Rogers where she eventually secured her own show called Arts Alive. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time as Gary Theal of Broadcast Beal was looking for someone to teach T.V. performance. She stayed at Beal for nine years and loved every minute of it - it was like a second family.

Then change came knocking at the door as broad-based technology became the new “buzz” word. Sheila found herself transferred to Oakridge as their first communications technology teacher and the rest is history.

Her memories are precious and there are too many to put on this piece of paper. Probably the most challenging position was Oakridge’s year book teacher advisor. Many after school hours were spent with fabulous students to produce an award winning yearbook. The T-shirt the kids framed will finally leave the walls of Oakridge!

In the Fall of 2005, Sheila will be travelling to Greece and has already signed up to volunteer at Junior Achievement.

Gay Coates - Montcalm Secondary School

I look back on thirty-four years of teaching, three school boards, eight schools (some of them twice) and two very different disciplines (physical education and library) and can’t believe how quickly the time has passed. Challenging always, vexing sometimes, demanding of course, fun usually, but never boring or routine. I remember coaching volleyball and gymnastics, winning a city championship, taking athletes to WOSSA and OFSSA and being nine months pregnant, helping convene OFSAA gymnastics with an unbelievable team, writing health curriculum (long since obsolete) and more recently implementing literacy initiatives.

My biggest accomplishments are my own three kids - and they made me a better teacher. Fortunately, when one door shuts, another opens. The next adventure involves a library job at a beautiful school in Tampico Mexico. I will welcome visitors! Who am I to give advice to anyone, but I think one of the best things I did was change regularly - it keeps you thinking, makes you flexible and ready for the next challenge. LIFE’S a GIFT. Don’t just read about it!

Louise Cowan - Sir George Ross Secondary School

Louise has enjoyed a varied teaching career spanning Tollgate Public School, Mount St. Joseph Academy, G.A. Wheable Secondary School, H.B. Beal Secondary School, Montcalm Secondary School and Sir George Ross Secondary School in that order. She has been proud to teach various subjects and age groups. Subjects taught have included Physical and Health Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Guidance, History, Geography and Cooperative Education.

Louise obtained Level 2 National Coaching qualifications in volleyball and basketball. Coaching was an important part of her life. Sports included volleyball, basketball, badminton, and track and field. Intramurals also played a great part. Louise ran a successful intramural program at both H.B. Beal and Montcalm. She enjoyed working with Student Athletic Associations and found that developing leadership skills in young people was rewarding.

Louise was OSSTF Branch President for four years at Sir George Ross Secondary School during the protest and striking years!!!

Louise also enjoyed playing a part in the H.B. Beal production of Annie and Montcalm’s Production of 100 Years of Broadway.

Her future includes special time with her husband and some part-time teaching. Time will also be devoted to her role as President of the women’s barbershop chorus “Shades of Harmony Inc.,” in London whose charities include Autistic Children.

Louise gives thanks to her supportive family, colleagues and students. May new teachers find the same fulfilment in their service to public education.

Ed DeDecker - Glendale High School

I grew up in the Tillsonburg area and was excited to have the opportunity to teach Math and Chemistry and to coach football and soccer at Glendale High School for most of my thirty-one years of teaching. Upon graduating from the University of Waterloo, I knew I needed to do something about which I really felt passionate and explaining the wonders of Science and Mathematics to adolescents and coaching sports were clear winners.

I was soon involved in OSSTF through committee work, including several years as the CBC Chair in Oxford. My pet peeve were those questions from members that started, “What does OSSTF say about…..”, because I wanted to shout back, “You are OSSTF, what do you say…..”.

If I can suggest any advice to younger teachers it is the following two statements:
1. Teach only if you enjoy it, or you’ll kill more than yourself.
2. Don’t just ask what OSSTF policy is, help make the policy.

In my retirement, I hope I can make my wife Carol’s life a little easier as she continues as a Learning Coordinator of Special Education. The Knights of Columbus, the Oxford Provincial Liberal Association, golf, curling, photography, St. Mary’s Parish, my garden, and the health club will also get more of my time.

Ron Ellsworth - East Elgin Secondary School

Having graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1972, my teaching career started at W.D. Lowe Secondary School in Windsor. It was a very exciting and motivating beginning. That year W.D. Lowe became a co-ed school and also became one of the first semestered schools in Ontario. For the past thirty-one years, I have been a business teacher at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer. Twenty of those years were spent as Business Director and Head, and since the “beginning of time” (?) as Site Administrator.

I have been dedicated - quite willingly - to the school community as staff bookkeeper/accountant for our unique Central Student Fund and also as a founding director of our very own incorporated not-for-profit cafeteria business - East Elgin Food Services (over $220,000 donated back to the school so far). I received the honour of a Bishop Townshend Award in 2004.

To staff - Don’t ever lose sight of your entire school community. There is so much more now than just what goes on in your own assigned classes and ...yes...it does require a lot of dedication. The rewards will come.

To administrators - Never forget your days in the classroom and the challenges, the rewards and continuing changes in curriculum and management styles that confronted you. You will always be an educator.

East Elgin Secondary School - Thirty-six years as a student and staff member. Thanks for the memories.

John Emery - Saunders Secondary School

John started teaching at G.A. Wheable in 1976 and continued on to H.B. Beal, Laurier, the Education Centre and finished up with sixteen years at Saunders. Throughout his teaching career, he taught a range of Business Studies and Computer courses. His fondest memories come from his involvement with student activities, primarily sports and the many fun times he had with his peers. Over his twenty-nine years of teaching, John coached wrestling, football and cross country and helped with or convened OFSAA hockey, basketball and wrestling tournaments.

It was also an honour for him to be at the high school from which his three children graduated and to teach and coach for two years with his son.

John was Branch President at Wheable and involved in the Collective Bargaining Committee of the former London - District 4 for many years. In retirement, he plans to travel with Vivian and relax in their new home. His one piece of advice is, “Enjoy the moment, it sure does pass quickly.”

Vic Farrugia - London Central Secondary School

I graduated from Althouse in 1973 and began what I thought was going to be a lifelong career in supply teaching. This lasted for a year and a half. I experienced a dozen schools in the T.V.D.S.B. before it was even named so. Despite that long practicum, I was still interested in pursuing a full time career in teaching.
1975 - Hired to teach at my alma mater (Clarke Road) - Welcome Back Kotter Time.
1980 - Declared “Redundant” and sent off to Montcalm, by good luck as it turned out.
1982 - Declared “Redundant” again and sent to this place called Forest City Secondary School - What is this place?

I proceeded to get my Specialist in Special Education A.S.A.P. to avoid that “R” word again. I spent twenty-three very rewarding years with these unique kids and I have not noticed the time. I have very fond memories of the “Road” and “Cougar City” and I have enjoyed those experiences as well and I remember those kids also - problem is that they are now in their forties. OOPS - Time to go!!

If I had to narrow my most treasured moments in education, these would be the choices I would make:
1) Being chosen as the Bishop Townsend Nominee for Forest City
2) Spending two sessions in Ottawa at the Terry Fox Centre in the Encounters Program
3) Having an opportunity to be the Department Head of the Forest City Program at Central S.S.

Now, for a variety of reasons, it is time to move on and experience another adventure in life. It is not a time to “retire” as I do not plan on “departing for the rest”. It is time to tend to those more important things of life - family, smelling the roses and trying to figure out why blue and green go so well together when it is the sky and the trees in contrast?? Thanks to all who have supported me through the best profession one could ever practice.

Peter Graham - W.D. Sutton School

I was born in London and attended Clarke Road High. I graduated from Ottawa and Queens Universities. I have been married for thirty-eight years to Veronica, my travelling companion. We have three children. My teaching assignments have included Algonquin College, nine years in Arctic Quebec, two years in Australia and sixteen years with Spectrum/W.D.Sutton.

Hobbies: fishing, canoeing, hiking, camping, junk sculpture and wine making.

Interests: astronomy, the American Civil War, Native American history

Favourite things: Ian Tyson songs, Kona coffee, Seppelts Great Western champagne, Cary Grant- 'North By Northwest', 'Opium' perfume, silk shirts and cowboy boots.

Passions: Cruising on my sailboat to the North Channel.

Favourite places: Florida Everglades, the American South West, the Sierras and the Benjamin Islands.

Future plans: learn to play a guitar, read, and boondock my RV on Wal-Mart parking lots and Federal lands in the U.S.A.

Teaching career: I think I finally got it right at the end. I would have done it for nothing!

Ellen Harries - Saunders Secondary School

Ellen started her teaching career at East Lambton Secondary School, a small country high school in Watford, and had a quick introduction to the big London schools through her stint at H.B. Beal Secondary School. This was followed by ten years at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School and then by finishing off at the best school in London - Saunders.

Ellen has taught business, computer and co-op courses, and has experienced the “computer revolution”, from keypunch machines, Vic 20's, C-64's, the “Icon”, the Vax mainframe to web design. Besides the challenge of getting along with computers, she has enjoyed finding rewarding jobs for her business co-op students.

Ellen has been the PD Chairperson at Saunders for several years, has worked on the Communications and Excellence in Education Committee for OSSTF, and has been involved with OBEA. She has enjoyed coaching the tennis teams at Saunders and Laurier.

Highlights of her teaching career include presenting graduation diplomas to her sons Mike and Brad, working on the Business curriculum revision in 2004, and being able to cheer on son Brad to OFSAA Volleyball championships two years in a row.

Future Plans: “Last Minute Deals”, tennis, biking and spending time with husband Ty, mother Mary, and children Brad and Mike.

“A wasted day is one in which you have not laughed!!”

Nancy Huntington - Westminster Secondary School

After graduating from Althouse College, I began teaching at Wellington Street Public School in St. Thomas. For the next few years, I taught in London and Vancouver from grades one to five. I spent a year in England working as a clerk at the University of Sussex and this firmly convinced me that teaching was the right vocation for me. The best move of my career was when I began teaching at H.B. Beal Secondary School in the ESL department. We were a fairly new department and grew from a staff of five to fifteen in a few years. We had great fun and it was a wonderful group of people with whom to work. We still get together regularly.

One of the highlights of my career was the year I spent on exchange in Adelaide, Australia. It was an absolutely perfect year and combined a wonderful year of teaching and travelling and it remains my most memorable year.

I have been lucky in teaching a subject that I really enjoyed and always having great people with whom to work. I will miss my colleagues and the ESL students as they have been a very important part of my life. I plan to move to the west coast this summer and begin yet another chapter. I may even teach ESL part-time.

I don’t know that I have any sage advice for new teachers except to try to see the humour in most situations as that will help carry you through some of your more challenging moments. I have thoroughly enjoyed my teaching career and will look back on it with very fond memories.

Mary Jo Johnson - Strathroy District Collegiate Institute

Since Mary Jo Johnson began her teaching career in 1974 at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, generations of art students have been touched by her artistic talents. She has imparted to her students the love and fundamentals of art, exposing them to a multitude of artistic mediums. Becoming Department Head at SDCI in 1992, she has, by her own admission, “maintained the integrity of the Art Department given Secondary School Reform pressures.” During her thirty-one year tenure at SDCI, Mary Jo has launched the careers of numerous students to notable standings in the world of animation, graphic arts, painting and sculpture. SDCI thanks M.J. for her dedicated service to students and wishes her all the best in the future.

John Kupisz - Norwich District High School

John Kupisz, better known to his colleagues and students as JK, has retired after thirty years in the teaching profession. Most of those years were spent at Norwich District High School teaching Physical Education, Science and Math. He was Head of Physical Education for 24 years.

Born and raised in Woodstock, John attended College Avenue Secondary School before graduating from the University of Waterloo (Kinesiology '74) and Althouse College of Education. He returned to Woodstock for a brief stint with the Oxford County Separate School Board before eventually landing in Norwich.

JK will best be remembered for his many years of coaching and participation in extra-curricular activities. He believes that it was a privilege to have worked with so many dedicated and energetic athletes, many of whom remain close friends today.

Prior to retirement, a leave of absence convinced John that there really is another world out there, and he is eager to explore it. He is looking forward to finding more time to pursue interests in travel, golf, biking, hiking, canoeing and motorcycling, to name a few.

JK would like to acknowledge the inspiration provided by his teachers, students, colleagues, and mentors - particularly Peter Ewing and the late Dick MacKenzie - for helping shape a successful and rewarding career.

Final comment on retirement..." The Eagle has taken flight."

Ann Lapchinski - Arthur Voaden Secondary School

Ann began her teaching career in 1972 at East Elgin Secondary School in Alymer, teaching Mathematics. She retired for the first time in 1976 to spend time at home with her two children Laura and Peter. She returned to teaching in 1980 at St. Joseph’s in St. Thomas and then went back to East Elgin in 1982. This time it was to teach Science. One of the highlights of this subject change was the mass evacuation of the school due to a fire on the desk caused by a small amount of flaming alcohol. In 1989, she moved to Arthur Voaden to join its Math and Science departments.

Ann’s coaching career included field hockey, soccer, badminton and curling and convening Oxford-Elgin, TVRAA, WOSSAA and OFSAA championships. At Voaden, she has also been involved with the Commencement and Undergraduate Awards Committee and for the last year and a half has been the school’s athletic director.

Ann will miss her colleagues and the fantastic students at Voaden but only on the days that she is not golfing or curling.

Vivian Malone - Westminster Secondary School

I started my teaching career in New Jersey. I spent two years teaching Cuban and Puerto Rican public school children. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was there that I got the E.S.L. bug. After that, I spent five years teaching Italian, Polish, and French Canadian grade one students in an English curriculum although most of them spoke little or no English. That was a wonderful experience and I loved my first graders.

After zipping zippers for five years, I eventually ended up at H.B. Beal Secondary School in 1979 teaching E.S.L. in an amazing department of seventeen teachers. Most of us are still in close contact. The greatest thing that happened to me at Beal, besides the terrific staff with whom I had the pleasure to work and the lasting friends I made, was that I met my wonderful husband, Mike.

E.S.L. has brought to my life so many rich and rewarding experiences. I have loved almost every minute of it. My students respect their teachers, appreciate education, and have taught me many lessons about the resilience and generosity of the human spirit. Some of my students had so little and shared so much. I cried when I got hired for this job. I was so grateful but I never knew at the time just how much my life was to be enriched by my work. After reading this, I’m asking myself, “Is it too late to change my mind about retiring?”

Mike McCann - College Avenue Secondary School

After teaching elsewhere, Mike joined the Oxford County Board of Education in September of 1978, teaching Business at Woodstock Collegiate Institute. He quickly became involved as both a football coach and basketball coach as well as becoming an active member of then District 46's Collective Bargaining team. By 1981, Mike had added Guidance Counsellor to his duties and has balanced Business and Guidance ever since. During his career, Mike has taught at Woodstock Collegiate Institute twice, at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute, at Annandale High School and at College Avenue Secondary School. He is now a Reconnect Teacher in the eastern part of the Valley.

In 1985, Mike became the President of District 46 OSSTF and stayed on after serving his term as Past President to serve five years as Oxford’s Provincial Councillor and also to serve on provincial committees. As President, Mike made the call to the Provincial Secretary requesting permission to organize the Oxford Secretaries which started the OSSTF in a new direction.

Mike is most satisfied, however, with the quality of the relationships that he has enjoyed with both students and colleagues over his career. He will miss this daily contact a great deal, but is looking forward to new challenges.

Rhod McCormick - H.B. Beal Secondary School

My thirty-four year teaching adventure began in Bancroft, Ontario, after a brief sojourn in the Toronto business community. Numerous years of professional meandering eventually brought me to my home town. Like the mighty “Thames”, my teaching career reflects turbulence, adventure, and fulfilment.

Upon reflection, numerous memories surge forward, reminding me of many pleasurable experiences in my career. Looking back over the years, countless numbers of students and teaching colleagues come to mind, and their contributions are immeasurable. The coaching, the mentoring of student government and clubs, and my service in both OSSTF and the Provincial Schools Authority, reflect this journey. The most memorable moments must include...the distant gleam in the eyes of students who realize the understanding of a problem, the comradeship of team members metamorphosed into enduring friendships and respect for others, the fleeting moments of student successes and achievement and, above all, the echo of lingering student laughter in the sharing of an educational moment. These are some of the special moments I will cherish.

Paramount to these are the “special” bonds and friendships developed with countless numbers of teaching colleagues whom I’ve had the privilege of encountering along my professional journey. Their unwavering support, encouragement and understanding have molded me into the compassionate and spirited practitioner I’ve become. I will always be proud to have been a member of such an honoured profession. Thank you to all my colleagues both past and present. May their future lives be long, healthy and prosperous.

As for my future, the next chapter in my life’s journey will include continued exploration in educational pursuits, entrepreneurial ventures, exploring personal artistic endeavours in music and art, and of course leisure and travel with my wife Pamela. My journey is only being diverted into new directions and personal possibilities.

Penny McKinnon - Professional Student Services Personnel

Penny has advocated on behalf of Oxford County’s at-risk students since 1977 when she was hired as the first Social Worker for the Oxford County Board of Education. During her 28 years with the Oxford County Board and the Thames Valley District School Board, Penny has served as a member of the Special Education team in the role of Adjustment Counsellor and Attendance Counsellor. She has supported students who encountered profound challenges which affected their educational achievement. Finding solutions to their complex issues resulted in multi-disciplinary collaborations with professionals from education, with the community and with many students’ families.

Penny is convinced of the strengths inherent in every student and in the education system’s ability to enhance these strengths. One of her career highlights was the inception of the C.O.P.E. Committee (Compassion on the Part of Educators) which initiated a system response to trauma that recognized the needs of students and all school personnel. The endorsement of compassion resonated with Penny’s values and she left indelible impressions on the lives of some of the students whom she has met. As adults, former students have attributed life successes to their interactions with Penny, commenting, “if it weren’t for Penny, I would’ve dropped out . . . never kept a job...never gone anywhere with my life.”

Colleagues have appreciated Penny’s sense of humour and creativity, and have commented that “she looks through different coloured lenses when solving problems.” Penny represented her colleagues as PSSP Secretary and she has appreciated OSSTF’s regard for the workplace safety of Board Social Workers. She has been a long standing provincial executive member of the Ontario Association for Counselling and Attendance Services.

To those who have the privilege of working with students, Penny’s voice of experience says, “Listen. Every student has something to say which will reach and teach the teacher.” She feels fortunate to have enjoyed such a rewarding career, noting that “it is incredibly gratifying to see students reach their potential as they journey to self-discovery and self-appreciation, and to know that you may have contributed to the first significant sense of accomplishment that those students have experienced within the education system.”

Peter McPhie - Glencoe District High School

I received my Class A Interprovincial Automotive Mechanics Licence in 1966 and worked in the trade for eleven years. During that time, my main goal was to eventually enter the teaching profession. In 1979, I received my Ontario Teacher’s Certificate from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Education.

After looking it up on a map, I applied for my first position at Glencoe District High School. Thus began the twenty-five years of teaching Automotive Mechanics in a small close knit school. I also chose to live in Glencoe and became involved with the Glencoe and District Snowmobile Club, and have been a licenced Snow Vehicle Operator Instructor since 1986. Over those years, I additionally qualified in and taught Drafting, Welding and Machine Shop. The most rapid changes in technology kept the subjects exciting and the students interested. In 2000, I became Technical Director at G.D.H.S.

It’s always been “about the kids”, and I’ll miss them. Hardly a week goes by without one of them knocking on my door at home for one reason or another.

Thanks to all students, staff and the Community for their support.

Fred Moroz - Medway High School

I began my teaching career at Lord Dorchester Secondary School in September,1975, and after one year was declared redundant. I was then transferred to Medway High School and remained there for the next 29 years and retired as Head of History in January 2005.

In the meantime, my wife Karen and I managed to raise three wonderful children who are all pursuing careers in education, a fact that has given me a great deal of pride. We always stressed to our children how important job satisfaction was and obviously they listened.

I have been involved with some coaching, but most of my extra curricular activities were directed towards the Federation. I was a member of every committee in District 41 and held the office of President during the Political Protest of 1997. I owe much gratitude to my friend and cohorts Pat Harding and Jack Sifton for guiding us through some particularly difficult, yet exciting, times. I also must recognize my colleagues in Middlesex who displayed a willingness to protect the education system with dignity and decorum.

My involvement with the Federation began during my second year of teaching. There was no redundancy policy in effect as that was not an issue at that time. However, when I heard that a committee was being set up to create a policy, I volunteered. I wasn’t looking for an edge, just a policy that was fair and democratic. That’s what the federation is for- the protection of its members. My advice to all young teachers is be aware that nobody will look out for your interests except for your Federation. School Boards and Provincial governments have demonstrated that they do not always act in our best interests- remember having to teach that extra half course? We should also remember that it was the boycotting of extra-curricular activities that ended that nightmare.

I have some plans for travel with my wife in the future, a new grand daughter and fishing trips with two colleagues whom I met during my first year of teaching. I heard this line at a retirement dinner and it has stuck with me for many years. A retiree had thanked the Federation for ”Looking after my business while I looked after my business” . These are also my sentiments. My mother always told me that when you’ve been somewhere and had a good time, say thank you. To all of my colleagues and to the many young people I’ve dealt with over the last thirty years, Thank you.

Karla Nesbitt - Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

I went to Sudbury to start teaching in 1973. I taught English at Confederation Secondary School in Val Caron, a twenty minute drive north of the city. I taught there for over eight years and then returned to London. Here, I did supply teaching until I was hired to teach senior English and grade nine Math at Saunders Secondary School. I stayed there until June, 1998.

At Saunders, I became interested in helping learning disabled students and over the years slowly moved from English to full time Resource. In September 1998, I moved to Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School to set up a Resource program. Over the years, I acted as a Yearbook Advisor, coach for School Reach, and Department Assistant for English.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my teaching career. Throughout my profession, I have made many wonderful friends. I have always found working with adolescents to be a rewarding experience.

Jan Pennycook - Westminster Secondary School

I started teaching far too long ago and it went by far too quickly. Best Wishes to All!

Thanks!

Laura Potter -Oakridge Secondary School

The year was 1973, I was fresh out of teachers’ college and had just landed my first teaching job at the newest and biggest secondary school in the city - Saunders. I was to be teaching Math, my first love, and they were actually going to pay me for it. I had died and gone to heaven!! As the only female in a department of fourteen, the challenges were great but so was the support from the many experienced staff. It was a wonderful way to start.

After seven years at Saunders, I felt a pull toward my alma mater, G.A. Wheable Secondary School, to take on the position of Discretionary Head. I jumped in “head” first, and soon found myself as the chair of the 25th Reunion Committee... a massive two year job, but lots of fun. This is also where I expanded my extra-curricular interests to include my love of the arts. So, when Wheable became an adult learning school, I headed to a school that was well known for its arts programs, Oakridge Secondary School. I counted myself lucky as I joined a well respected math department and plunged myself into many different activities such as school shows, commencement, leadership opportunities and awards programs.

When I was young, I learned the three “R”s....but have now learned that there are a few more. Reading, writing, arithmetic, rewarding and retirement!!!! Each hour, of each day, of each semester, of each school year has been rewarding. I count myself privileged to have taught so many and to have been taught by so many. May my retirement be as spectacular as my teaching career.

Don Robinson - Lord Dorchester Secondary School

Don spent the entire thirty-three years of his teaching career at Lord Dorchester Secondary School. During that time, he acted as the Athletic Director, the Co-op Co-Ordinator and as a guidance counsellor. He taught courses in Physical Education, Sociology, History, Guidance and Co-op over his years at LDSS.

Don coached football, basketball, track, tennis, golf, wrestling and volleyball - a total of over ninety teams over the years. His fondest memories are of coaching his senior girls’ volleyball team to an OFSAA gold medal in front of a home town crowd in 2002, and of coaching his senior boys’ volleyball team to an OFSAA bronze medal finish in 2004 on Manitoulin Island.

In his retirement, Don will be selling sporting goods for T. Litzen Sports in the Thames Valley and Huron-Perth areas. He also plans to visit his two children. His daughter Dana is in Tanzania, Africa and his son Chris is on a baseball scholarship at the University of Illinois.

Don’s advice to new members of the profession is to always show your students that you enjoy working with them.

Kathie Robinson - Lord Dorchester Secondary School

Kathie began her career in a four room school - Crumlin Elementary - teaching grades one and two. From there she moved to Northdale Central in Dorchester, Northridge, Ryerson and Jack Chambers in London, and finally to Lord Dorchester Secondary School where she ended her thirty-three year teaching career. Over those years, she taught a variety of subjects and grades, although at heart she was a Physical Education and English teacher.

She coached many sports over the course of her career. Her passion was volleyball, and she would say that the highlight of her career and her fondest memories revolve around coaching her volleyball teams, both at the elementary and secondary levels. In her retirement, she will miss working with the wonderful, enthusiastic young athletes who share her love of volleyball.

Kathie began the annual Dance Festival and acted as its convenor for twenty-seven years. Watching the festival grow from a four school, two hundred student event to a fifty school, fifteen hundred student event over the years is something she considers to be a highlight of her career.

In her retirement, she will be selling sporting goods for T. Litzen Sports, and following her two children around the world. Her daughter Dana is working in Africa and Chris is playing baseball in the States.

Her advice to young teachers would be to enjoy the students and to become involved in extra curricular activities.

Diana Scholl - H.B. Beal Secondary School

Diana spent the first few years of her teaching career as an elementary teacher, and then for several years was at home raising her three children. In 1984, she began to teach English as a Second Language to adults. She was at Wheable for ten years. For the last nine years she has been teaching secondary, first at Westminster Secondary School and, since 1997, at H.B. Beal Secondary School. Her students during her career have ranged in age from seven to seventy! Now it is time to retire and move on to a new chapter in her life.

“Teaching ESL has been extremely rewarding. My life has been enriched by the students that I’ve taught and the colleagues that I’ve gotten to know. I am going to miss everyone immensely. Beal is very special and I am fortunate to have taught here.”

Walter Scott - Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

After graduating in Honours Math & Physics, Mr. Scott began his teaching career at Alma College. Later he moved to Oxford County and spent almost thirty years teaching Math at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute. He states that the best parts of his teaching career were tutoring students for all the Math contests (Descartes, Euclid,& Cayley),the OAME conferences, his association with fellow teachers, and most of all, the years spent in the school's Outer's Club. All the hikes, camping weekends, and especially the many canoe trips with staff and students were the highlight of his teaching years.

He has travelled extensively on all the continents. There was hardly a vacation, including a leave of absence when he went around the world, in all those thirty years when he wasn't exploring some part of the world, whether travelling up the Amazon, on safari in Africa, or visiting schools in India. Teaching was a career that allowed him to pursue travelling the world.

In retirement he plans to continue being a dedicated environmentalist and humanist which requires "seeing and working for the Planet and its peoples." His next exploration will be to Japan in September. While home he enjoys gardening, the outdoors, associating with fellow retired teachers - he's travelled with many of them - doing volunteer work, and enjoying a long, long retirement.

Mary Skillings - College Avenue Secondary School

My teaching career began at Kapuskasing Secondary School in 1972 teaching Science. Two years later, I was offered a job teaching Mathematics at the high school from which I had graduated - College Avenue Secondary School in Woodstock. The rest is history, having remained at C.A.S.S. except for a few years absence while having a family (two sons Brad and Chris who also graduated from C.A.S.S.) until my retirement in January, 2005. C.A.S.S. holds a special place in my heart. I would like to thank the many staff members with whom I have worked over the last thirty years. It is these people who have made my teaching career so enjoyable and rewarding. I will miss the morning greetings from my fellow colleagues and students but look forward to spending more time with my husband and sons.

My plans for the future include more time for curling, cottaging, gardening and relaxing. I am looking forward to having a life not controlled by bells and doing what I want to do when I want.

My advice to my colleagues is: show professionalism in your daily duties and always look after your personal health. Remember, teaching is not just a job: it is touching a life forever.

Thanks again for the memories.

Bev Stainton - Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

I naively began my auspicious teaching career in the Fall of 1972 in Physical Education and just a touch of English, at the monstrous (2500) John F. Ross S.S. in Guelph. After four years of fabulous teaching and coaching experiences, and a non-existent social life, I returned to London in search of old friends, if not employment. 1976 was the government’s first year to eliminate Physical Education as a compulsory subject so the pickings were slim. Half a year of continuing occasional work was spent at Clarke Road (my alma mater), and another at Montcalm. In the evening, I was involved with the gymnastics program running under the auspices of Continuing Education. This program and the lack of opportunity lead me to pursue an off-campus, full-time facility for gymnastics, and The Forest City Gym Club was born (03/78). I look back on this as one of my happiest times in education. I was able to teach eager students from two to thirty years of age, worked with the elite highly competitive students, and because I was also the “Principal” of the school, was able to avoid the “redtape” of the usual teaching assignment.

I returned to the classroom in 1982 with half a year of English at Clarke Road, and finally a contract assignment (.17 half year) at Oakridge. Then the year from hell began. Period one was at Wheable and period two was at Central. I worked in two schools, six different classrooms and had five preps. I particularly enjoyed the History class at Central having not taken History since grade ten myself. It got worse because in November, I was moved to full-time at Wheable, losing one of my two classes and picking up five new ones. After being in four schools in two years, it was no wonder that once I got to Banting in the Fall of 1985 that I remained there for the rest of my career.

My career highlights include OFSSA Gymnastics Champions, a C.W.O.S.S.S. Volleyball Championship, Provincial Gymnastics Champions in six categories, International Judging experiences, twenty years as the Junior Girls Volleyball Coach at Banting (including two City Championships), and five years with the Junior Boys’ program. I was also involved in organizing registration for Commencement Ceremonies (10 years) and initiated a Club Night for grade nine orientation (5 years). For a few years I acted as secretary for the school’s division of OSSTF and won the Best Roller Blader on the Line during the political protest of 1998.

I will not miss waking up early in the morning! I will not miss new governments trying to fix things that aren’t really broken but I will miss OSSTF trying to fix the things that are broken. I will miss the camaraderie of staff members and the assistance of administration and secretarial staff. When coaching as much as I have, the custodial staff has to receive a big hug for their wonderful co-operation. As most retirees, it will be the kids that will be missed the most - the enthusiastic as well as the problem kid, those great times when I could actually witness the light going on, and the coaching. On that note, I suppose if I was to provide advice to a new teacher, it would be to avoid teaching any lessons...boy does that need clarification. Instead of teaching lessons try, especially in the classroom, to coach learning: provide good basics, note errors but not without a way to correct them, promote team work, honour, and most importantly, keep your focus on the good things the students are doing.

I’ve been thinking about these “good-bye things” for a few years now and I’ve got pages more to share but, being thousands of words over my limit, and since it’s a “thanks for the memories” kind of moment...I’ll leave it at that before the pages are tear stained!

Joan Stewart - South Secondary School

In 1969, Joan was hired by Laurier’s Principal, John Askew, and taught Business and English for three years. After taking two years off to raise a daughter, Joan held several positions outside of education. She was a career counsellor at Womanpower during its first four years of operation. Later, she became a Probation/Parole Officer with the Ministry of Corrections. In 1982, she moved on to become Director of the London Battered Women’s Advocacy Clinic.

Joan returned to her first love, education, in 1984. Her placements in Guidance took her to South, Banting, Ross, Sutton, Wheable, Thames, and finally, a return to South for the second and final time. She also enjoyed a one-year sabbatical which took her to Victoria, BC in 1993.

Along the way, she somehow managed to find the time to complete a Masters of Education Degree, her Guidance Specialist, and the Principals’ Qualifications Course. In addition, she was an active participant in subject-related issues, serving as the local Guidance Subject Council President, and contributing as chairperson for several London Board committees.

She was also involved at the provincial level, being an active participant in the Ontario School Counsellors’ Association, and a member of OSCA’s Board of Directors for several years.

Joan passes on good wishes to the many staff members and students with whom she had the pleasure of working over the years. We will dearly miss Joan’s warm and classy style class at South, and throughout the Thames Valley Board. We wish her all the best in her present adventure - building a new home on the shores of Lake Huron!

Jim Suffel - East Elgin Secondary School

Jim was born in Sudbury, Ontario in 1948. He moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1956. He graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1967 and U of T in 1971. He obtained a Master’s Degree from U.W.O and attended Althouse College. He started his teaching career at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer in September of 1973. Jim spent his entire thirty-two year teaching career at East Elgin and retires as Head of Mathematics.

Jim is married to Sharon and they have three sons, Brent, Todd and Craig, and three grandchildren, Jayden, Noah and Emily.

Jim has always been an active staff member both inside and outside of the classroom. He coached football for twenty-eight years and has been involved in many fund raising schemes including UPC’s , bingo, eagles landing and many others. Jim has been a staunch OSSTF member and is currently the Branch President. Jim and his family moved to Aylmer in 1973 and still live there. Sharon, a former RN, is now the librarian at St. Joseph’s in St. Thomas.

In retirement, they hope to enjoy their cottage north of Sault Ste. Marie and to be part of the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Teaching at EESS and living in Aylmer has been a great experience.

Czeslaw Sulkowski - Annandale School

 I had the good fortune of beginning and ending my career at one school. Following my Honours Degree in Fine Arts from U.W.O, I received my Visual Arts Specialist and Bachelor of Education from Althouse College. In 1975, my wife Cathy and I moved to Tillsonburg where I accepted the position of Head of Visual Arts at Annandale High School. I stayed here as Head for twenty years until I accepted the position as Program Coordinator of Arts &Technology for the newly formed Annandale School (1995-98) and then subsequently, the Head of Arts & Technology at Annandale for the new Thames Valley District School Board (1998-2005).

Some career highlights include the expansion of the Art Department from four classes of Art in 76' to over 30 Art & Technology classes in 2005. We took students on numerous art trips and wilderness adventures all over North America including New York, Ottawa, Algonquin Park, Muskoka, Toronto, Detroit, Buffalo etc.... We helped develop and organize over tweny-five Student Art Exhibitions at our local Art Galleries. I have always been an avid photographer so my inspiration and perspiration where needed throughout numerous Yearbook and Camera Club campaigns.

Some of my extra-curricular highlights include thiry-five seasons of coaching Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball. I also had the great pleasure of coaching our three sons, Andrew, Tony and Joe, throughout their high school careers and I was very proud of the way they handled having Dad as their coach. We had some memorable seasons including an OFSSA “AA” Silver, a handful of WOSSA golds & silvers and numerous Oxford-Elgin & County Championships. I was also very proud of my accomplishments as the Oxford-Elgin Convenor, a post I held for over 18 years, where I helped develop and expand High School boys & girls soccer leagues in Oxford County.

My fondest memories are of the many friendships developed through teaching experiences and shared together with fellow staff, students & coaching colleagues throughout those thirty years. I will miss that contact. Consolation is that many of them are still my dearest friends and I hope to see more of them in retirement. I am also very proud of the number of art students that have gone on to be successful in the Arts. I’ve really enjoyed teaching and coaching the children of past students and always appreciated being a part of this active community. Tillsonburg has been a great place to live, work and raise a family. We plan to stay here.

Following retirement, I hope to have lots of time to work as an Artist. My wife & I plan to travel and spend more time at our Lake Superior camp. We look forward to being grandparents and spending more time with our family and friends.

Finally, I could not have achieved or enjoyed all these experiences without the on-going support, sacrifices and encouragement from the love of my life and best friend, Cathy.

Ed VanPuymbroek - Glencoe District High School

Additional Retirees (no profiles submitted)