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<\/a>In 1995, Mrs. Gifford would have taught for 20 years.<\/p><\/div>\n
Memories are something that Mrs. Gifford has been reflecting since she put in her announcement of retirement. She said that some of her most memorable moments are when she \u201chad students who people viewed to not be successful in any way become successful.\u201d This year, there are students turning eighteen years old. Eighteen years ago, Mrs. Gifford was nominated to become Teacher of the Year. She was selected to be a finalist, and she went down to Indianapolis for an interview. Along with her proud moments, she also remember funny moments. \u201c[I remember] years ago when [my whole class] showed up at my house at ten o\u2019clock on a Friday night because I said the research papers weren\u2019t due until 10 and could be delivered to my house.\u201d Along with the funny moments, she also remembers the sad moments. \u201cSome difficult times\u00a0 that have impacted me throughout the years have to do with losing\u00a0 students who have died in car accidents. These incidents broke my heart .\u201d She mentioned how it\u2019s hard enough to deal with losing a student, but also helping\u00a0 the other students dealing with the loss of a friend.<\/p>\n
Along with teaching her students, Mrs. Gifford also learns new things from her students. \u201cThey have taught me to relax and not be so uptight,\u201d she said with a laugh. She then smiled and said \u201cThey have probably taught me some math.\u201d She said, \u201cMost importantly I think they reinforce the life lesson that everything is going to be okay and that they\u2019re going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout her years as an educator, she has experienced a variety of emotions.\u00a0 She says that she feels she is very involved with how her students feel. She said that her proud moments are when her students become who they want to be and value what is important to them.\u00a0 \u201cI think we sometime define and evaluate proud moments when students seem to master all skills.\u00a0 Yes, that can be a proud moment, but simple things students accomplish can be a proud moment for me also.”<\/p>\n
<\/a>In 1989, Mrs. Gifford takes on a new hairdo.<\/p><\/div>\n
At the same time that she has proud moments, she also has moments that disappoint her. She said that she could have a disappointing moment everyday if a student hasn\u2019t done what he or she believes\u00a0 could have been accomplished. \u201cI think that disappointment is a part of life. I think it\u2019s like the quote, \u2018Don’t wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.\u2019 I think how an individual\u00a0 handles disappointment and what he\/she\u00a0 does with it is important.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it was difficult for Mrs. Gifford to put in her resignation, she said that she received a lot of support from her colleagues. She said that she did cry, and it was hard. She continued, \u201cIt was one of things where it was a stimulus response, and said \u2018I\u2019m doing it tomorrow.\u2019\u201d As for support, she said \u201cI think that everybody is happy for me because I made the decision, but there were people who wanted me to stay.\u201d She does not have a set plan for retirement, but she does have things that she wants to do. She said she wants to go garage shopping, repurpose things, read a novel that \u201cdoesn\u2019t have anything to do with what I am teaching,\u201d sew, and do crafts. \u201cI have seven grandchildren I want to spend time with along with traveling with my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Gifford said she doesn\u2019t feel like her retirement\u00a0 was exactly unexpected. \u201cTwo years ago I said that I might be retiring in two years. That might have been a prediction. Retirement is going to be another positive journey in my life.\u00a0 I decided that I do not want to sub, but I will bring lunch to my English department colleagues. It is bittersweet because teaching has been half of my life, but I decided I don\u2019t want to be here and [teach] the kids of the kids of the kids of the kids.\u201d While Mrs. Gifford will be getting accustomed of not coming to the school everyday, there are students who will have to get used to not seeing Mrs. Gifford everyday.<\/p>\n
<\/a>In her first years of teaching, Mrs. Gifford had a young child at home, and was unsure of going back to teaching.<\/p><\/div>\n
All photos in this article are taken from the Plymouth High School yearbooks of their respected years.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By: Eric Matthew Burch English class can be a bore for students who find no interest in improving their language skills. For Mrs. Mary Gifford, she has been passionate about English for years. In her final year of lesson plans, … Continue reading