Who’s Been Teaching Our Kids?
(Retirees from Elementary Schools)

Teacher’s Name: Terry L. Cannon

School: I travel to all buildings in the district but most of my direct teaching time has been spent at EH, NW, and EE.

Grade/subject taught: For four years I worked in Special Education with children who had learning disabilities and for twenty six years with children who were identified as gifted. I taught grades 3- 6 in the 4E program.

Years in Northmont: 30

Most Memorable: Every day with children brings memorable experiences. It is exciting to see a child’s eyes light up and a smile spread on his or her face when something new is discovered or a problem is solved. One year our class was asked to participate with Aullwood Audubon Center on a project called: Birds, Flight and the Wright’s to celebrate the 100 anniversary of flight. After a summer of teacher collaboration and writing units, students in the 4E program at Englewood Elementary were asked to research and complete class work and independent study on flight. These students were then involved with a design planning team who stimulated them to come up with ideas and projects that would help teach children and adults about things that fly. These ideas would be placed on a handicapped accessible path through Aullwood. My students completed research and created signs, drawings, poetry, puzzles, and sculptures that were then incorporated in a permanent display on a trail that is easily accessible at Aullwood today. Some of the students, who participated in this project, are graduating this year in the class of 2009.

Plans for next year: I look forward to traveling with my husband in the fall, flexible time with my family, and time to think about what I want to do when I grow up. I know children and learning will always be a part of my life.

Teacher’s name:  Becky Hamler         

School: I am currently at Northmoor and Phillipsburg. I have worked in all the Northmont buildings with the exception of the High School and ORE.

Grade/subject taught: Speech Language Pathology

How many years have you been in education / in the Northmont District: 30 years

Most memorable experience:  Helping the students overcome their speech language problems and accomplish their goals has been the best reward for me as an educator. Working with the special and wonderful Northmont staff has made the 30 years a great experience.

Plans for next year: I plan to take a vacation that isn’t on a school calendar schedule. I would like to travel, read more books, garden, golf, and do the things that I haven’t had time to do while working full time.

Teacher’s name: Judy Krueckeberg     

School: I am currently at Englewood and Union Elementaries, but have also worked at Englewood Hills, Northwood, Northmoor, and OR Edgington.

Grade/subject taught: Speech/Language Therapy

How many years have you been in education / in the Northmont District: I have been in education 30 years, with 25 years being at Northmont.

Most memorable experience: I really haven’t any one experience in particular. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people (both staff and students) over the years.  I can still recall staff members and students from my first jobs in Van Wert, and then in Delphos before coming to Northmont. Of course, no one has better students and a better staff than Northmont. My years here have been exceptional and I know I will always have ‘green blood’.

Plans for next year: I will be able to spend time with my first two beautiful grandbabies who I adore – Grace and Ella. I will also enjoy working in my backyard woods, reading, knitting, and quilting. I may even clean my house if I find time!

Teacher’s name: Susan Wallin

School: Northwood

Grade/subject taught: Fourth grade

How many years have you been in education / in the Northmont District: 30 years with 24 in Northmont

Most memorable experience: Anytime a previous student returns and tells you that you are the reason he or she became a teacher.

Plans for next year: I’m not sure yet, but I would like to volunteer to work with Allwood’s reading program. An autumn vacation sounds good too!

Who’s Been Teaching Our Kids?
(Retirees from Middle and High School)

Retirees from Northmont Middle and High Schools
(Back row, left to right) Maryann Kuck, Chuck Dodsworth, Georgina Shahan, (Front row, left to right) Beverly Hall, Mary Kay Allen

Teacher’s name: Mary Kay Allen                 

School: Northmont High School and Middle School

Grade/subject taught: Special Education/students with visual impairment

How many years have you been in education/in the Northmont District: 15 years

Most memorable experience: I try to stay low profile, but on my 40th birthday, one of my students showed up at my front door with a bunch of black balloons and a coffee mug with a funny cartoon.

Plans for next year: Sleep later than 5:30 am, organize and maintain my home, part-time teaching, reading, gardening, scrapbooking, and spending more time with friends.

Teacher’s Name: Charles R. Dodsworth

School: Northmont High School

Grade/subject taught: Twelfth Grade English

How many years have you been in education/in the Northmont District: Forty-two years in education; thirty years at Northmont High School

Most memorable experience: I have played a role in the hiring of almost all of the current outstanding English teachers at the high school.

Plans for next year: I will continue to work my part-time job and otherwise enjoy some free time.

Teacher’s name: Beverly Hall             

School: Northmont Middle School

Grade/subject taught: I taught 5th grade at O.R. Edgington from 1979 until 1982. I then transferred to Northmont Middle School and have taught 7th grade for the past 27 years.

How many years have you been in education/in the Northmont District: I have spent my entire 30 years of education here at Northmont. It was my first choice of where I wanted to teach, and I have been proud to serve the district and community.

Most memorable experience: It would be difficult to narrow 30 years of teaching into one most memorable experience. My students have provided me with so many heart-warming, memorable experiences I could never name them all. There was a 5th grader, Stacy, who had all her stuffed animals set up in her bedroom-like a classroom. Her mom said she always knew what went on in my classroom, because Stacy would go home and hold class with her stuffed animals just as I had during the day.
I remember the joys of coaching a group of writers in Power of the Pen.  They had so much fun going to these writing competitions, and I was so proud of them qualifying for the state level of competition. One of my favorite teaching moments has been teaching the novel Promises in the Attic. It is a novel about the great Dayton flood of 1913. I get so much feedback from students as they discuss this novel with their families and find that they have relatives who were involved in the flood or that they have relics from the flood at home. This is an inspiring novel about the people of Dayton and how they triumphed after disaster and fulfilled the promise that future generations would never suffer from a similar disaster. All of these memories are with me. I thank so many individual students who have brought me joy, warmed my heart, and given me hope.

Plans for next year: I am looking forward to assisting my husband in managing our horse boarding and training facility.  We are also planning to spend some time traveling to our favorite places in Arizona and Utah.

Name: Maryann Kuck

School: Northmont Middle School

Grade/subject taught: During my career I have taught 7th language arts, 8th language arts, 10th, 11th, 12th English

How many years have you been in education/in the Northmont District: I have taught for 28 years. All my years have been in the Northmont District. Middle/ High School

Most memorable experience: I so appreciate all the wonderful staff members, administrators, and students who have touched my life throughout my years at Northmont. I have learned and grown from following in the shadows of many amazing as well as truly dedicated educators.

Plans for next year: I have some projects to do at home. I love decorating, reading, cooking, gardening, and volunteering in my community. My husband and I will have time for some trips as well as time to spend with our family and grandson.

Teacher’s name: Georgina Shahan                           

School: Northmont High School

Grade/subject taught: 9th –12th grades, Family and Consumer Sciences

How many years have you been in education/in the Northmont District: 35 years, 34 at Northmont

Most memorable experience: Literally, touching the lives of thousands of Northmont students!

Plans for next year: Rest, relax, travel, spend time with my family, and doing whatever I want to do!

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