Teaching is one of the hardest, and yet one of the most rewarding professions on the spectrum. New Castle High School for many years has prided itself on having some of the best teaching staff in Indiana.
Due to the COVID pandemic, many teachers have had to reach outside their comfort zone and into the unknown world of technology. Some were even forced to retire. In order to adapt to the unusual circumstances of the pandemic, many teachers have conducted virtual meetings for almost a year, before finally being able to return to the classroom.
Even after the return to brick and mortar learning, many students still chose to remain virtual, posing a new challenge to teachers. The school year was still conducted as smoothly as butter with the valiant efforts of the teachers.
According to the teachers, it has all been worth it though. Sadly, New Castle High School will be losing five of those outstanding teachers, Vickie Bertram, Pam Collier, Kelly Day, Janet Maxwell, and Colleen Tabor, at the end of the school year. And let’s not forget those who were sadly forced to retire after the 2020 school year due to the pandemic: Kelly Autry, Steve Bennett, John Burdsall, Chris Dicken, Darrel Norrick, Barry Pratt, Linda Shore, and Bill Wesseler.
While teaching is a very strenuous and meticulous job, our teachers still love to have fun. Some of our retiring NCHS teachers have shared their special memories with us. Retiree Kelly Day, a special education teacher who has worked in the biology department since 2013 says, “[My] Funniest memory from NCHS is seeing the look on Mr. Thurston’s face after I shot him with a paintball marker during a Renaissance Rally skit.”
Pre calc/Trigonometry teacher Janet Maxwell, who has been teaching for 38 years and has taught everything from Algebra 1 to Ivy Tech Trigonometry except calculus and geometry shares, “My funniest memory was when I hid in the back closet before my class came in after lunch. Mrs. Willis told them I would be late and to just wait patiently. I listened to them plotting about how they were going to have a fake cake that blew up when I would cut it for Pi Day. They were also taking candy off of my desk. I jumped out of the closet and they all screamed. We all had a good laugh. Teachers down the hall thought something bad had happened and came to check on us.”
Many of the teachers have also commented that some of their best memories from their career have been the Renaissance Rallies that take place every spring. “My favorite memory is dancing to Thriller in the Renaissance Rally a few years ago,” Mrs. Day comments.
Many also said that their best memories were with each other. Mrs.Maxwell says “My favorite memories are probably Pi Day celebrations and lunch with my fellow teachers”.
Maxwell says that it is hard to sum up her teaching career in one word, “’ll say “rewarding”. I enjoy “seeing the light bulb come on” when they finally understand a concept.
As the school year draws to a close, and these teachers enjoy their final days of doing what they love. Make sure if you see them in the hallways to say “thank you”. Say “thank you” for all the hard work and dedication they have put in, and tell them that they will be missed.
