As the years come and go, people create memories with the invaluable experiences they accrue. At NCHS, the same is true for both the teachers and the students. Teachers will create an incredibly intricate system of education that is enjoyable for the students. Sadly, another incredible teacher is retiring from NCHS, in fact, they are the partner of another teacher who happens to be retiring. The teacher, of course, is Nancy Hamilton, the acclaimed Family and Consumer Sciences teacher.
Hamilton has enjoyed a long and rewarding teaching career spanning an impressive 38 years. She started her remarkable journey in her hometown of Rushville, then moved on to the bustling Lawrence Township after four enriching years. She then split her time teaching at Balser Middle School and Craig Middle at different parts of the day. After gaining invaluable experience at several other esteemed schools, she made the pivotal decision to join the dedicated team at New Castle Middle School in 1993. But not long after, a seasoned teacher retired from the high school, and Mrs. Hamilton seized the opportunity to start her final, fulfilling teaching career at New Castle High School in 1999.
Hamilton’s interest in teaching piqued when she was incredibly young. Her grandmother had acquired a Home Economics teaching job in between the 1930s through the 1960s. Her grandmother also worked during a time when female occupation was much less common (There has been an 84% increase in female employees since the 1930s) which inspired Hamilton to strive for a similar teaching career as her grandmother. After finishing at Ball State in the 1980s, she acquired a teaching degree in home economics. Hamilton has stated, however, that if she could choose another job, she would choose being a travel agent.
After being a teacher for so long, Hamilton has accrued many incredible experiences that have enveloped her life as it is today. She has met hundreds of students, each with their own independent personality. These students have been molded by her incredible teaching, and in contrast, have helped her learn how to teach more effectively. She has many memorable experiences with her students which include: A student caught their clothes on fire, a student questioned where the flames were on an electric stove, and a student sewed through her own clothes. Hamilton did state that the memories of working with her students and helping them succeed is what she will hold closest to her heart. In fact, Hamilton had a class that she taught both in high school and in middle school. She states that she had an incredibly good relationship with these students and grew invaluably close to them.
Like many good teachers,Hamilton is incredibly kinesthetic in her teaching style. She strives to do as many things with hands-on learning, all the while straying away from useless busy work. She detests a lot of the boring normalcy that most school work presents.
Hamilton, like every American, is incredibly excited for retirement. She states that she can not wait to be able to sleep in and forget about scheduling. She, along with her husband, will be traveling and getting small endeavors knocked off the bucket list. Specifically, Hamilton can not wait to travel to Northern Michigan to stay in a cottage. She expresses her gratitude for being able to work with both amazing teachers and students. Of course, she truly can not wait to retire.
