It’s that time of year again at the high school when longtime teachers prepare to say goodbye to classrooms filled with students and hello to a new chapter in life. Retirement brings a mix of reflection, gratitude, and anticipation as these educators look back on their years shaping young minds and look forward to what lies ahead.
Teaching, for many, is more than a job. It’s a calling, a community, and a journey filled with lessons learned both inside and outside the classroom. For retiring teachers Shelli Tabor, Karen Michiwicz, Kris Walendzik, Tina Ely, and Derek Smith, stepping away from the daily rhythm of school means carrying a lifetime of memories and the desire to leave a lasting impact.
Tabor has spent over 28 years teaching, including 26 at the high school, where she’s worn many hats from guidance counselor to English teacher. Her journey into education began with a love for Biology and a shift to Language Arts.
“I knew my first year of college that I was going to do teaching,” Tabor said. “When I started at Northview, I was always still teaching even as a guidance counselor. I was leading classroom guidance or teaching electives.”
Tabor has witnessed tremendous changes in education during her time as an educator, especially with technology transforming lesson planning and teaching methods. Yet her focus remained the same: building a supportive learning environment.
One of her fondest memories was during a year of construction when classrooms were makeshift and teachers collaborated to keep students engaged despite the challenges.
“If one person was playing a movie, everybody could hear it all the way down the hall,” Tabor said. “So we decided to all teach the same thing. We flipped the curriculum, and that was the year I really took on teaching English 12.”
Though she’s retiring from full-time teaching, Tabor plans to stay involved in the school community through mentoring and support, especially for students and teachers navigating Advanced Placement (AP) Research and English 12. Tabor’s advice for new teachers pushes the power of community.
“You gotta check with your neighbors. You are not alone in what you’re doing. Mentorship works,” Tabor said.
When asked to sum up her career in a phrase, Tabor chose: “Leave the place better than you found it.”
For Michewicz, teaching special education was a calling that required patience, creativity, and immense heart. She has spent decades helping students overcome challenges and discover their strengths.
“Every day brought new moments that reminded me why this work matters,” Michiwicz said. “Being able to see a student grow and succeed in their own way is the most rewarding part of teaching.”
Michiwicz reflected on how much has changed in her field, especially in terms of inclusion and resources.
“We’ve moved from separate classrooms to more integrated settings, which has been so important for our students’ confidence and social growth,” Michiwicz said.
She remembers her students fondly and emphasized the community feel of Northview.
“I’ll miss the daily interactions and the sense of family among staff and students,” Michiwicz said.
Though retirement is on the horizon, she looks forward to spending more time with family and pursuing hobbies that have taken a backseat during her busy career.
Her advice to new teachers: “Be patient, flexible, and always keep learning—from your students and your colleagues.”
Biology, Ecology, and Zoology teacher Kris Walendzik has been a fixture at the high school, inspiring curiosity and critical thinking for years. She values the connections made beyond textbooks—the mentorship, the questions, and the moments when students discover a love for science.
“Teaching science isn’t just about facts; it’s about inspiring students to ask why and how,” Walendzik said. “I’ve loved seeing students grow from hesitant learners to confident problem-solvers.”
She has adapted her teaching through advancements in technology and curriculum changes, always striving to engage students in meaningful ways. Walendzik described the support system at Northview as a highlight of her career.
“You feel like you’re part of a team,” Walendzik said. “That’s something I will miss deeply.”
Looking ahead, she plans to explore, travel, and spend more time outdoors, a passion she’s cultivated over the years.
Her advice: “Find joy in the little victories and keep your sense of curiosity alive.”
Ely has dedicated years to teaching math, helping students navigate a subject that can be intimidating but is essential for school success. Her approach blends patience with encouragement, creating a classroom environment where students feel supported.
“Math can be tough, but it’s rewarding to see students light up when a concept finally clicks,” Ely said. “I’ve loved being part of their journey.”
Ely highlighted the changes in teaching tools and methods throughout her career, especially with digital learning becoming more prominent.
“The tools have changed, but the goal remains the same: helping students understand and apply math in real life,” Ely said.
Her advice: “Be patient, be kind, and always believe in your students.”
For science teacher Derek Smith, retirement comes after nearly 27 years, all of them spent at Northview. He describes his career in one word: remarkable.
“My parents were both teachers, and I think that had a lot to do with it,” Smith said. “I just never really wavered from that path.”
Smith’s journey into teaching started with a long-term sub job at Crossroads, which later led to a full-time position. Since then, he’s taught everything from Criminalistics and Biology to Accelerated Chemistry, watching students grow and return years later to say thank you has been a highlight of his years at the high school.
“I just had someone come back who’s getting her doctorate at Princeton,” Smith said. “She used to bring me animal crackers after morning swim practice. She brought them again when she visited after all these years. It was awesome.”
Smith has seen the culture of education change to less strictness, shifting student responsibility, but he says the high school has become a stronger, more inclusive place along the way.
“We’ve become so much more diverse racially, economically, religiously, everything,” Smith said. “That’s made Northview better and better.”
He’ll miss the daily rhythm of teaching, the camaraderie with colleagues, and the unexpected moments in the classroom.
“It’s never boring,” Smith said. “Even after decades, students still ask questions I’ve never heard before.”
His advice for new teachers: “Stick with it. It’s hard at first, but the good days always outweigh the tough ones.”
Smith plans to take six months off to travel, read, and spend more time with his parents. He’ll also continue judging for marching band and color guard, something he’s done his whole career.
“It really was just dumb luck that I ended up here,” Smith said. “But everything about it has been remarkable.”
Retirement marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For these teachers, it means more time with loved ones, more adventures, and maybe a little more sleep. Though they will no longer be in classrooms every day, their impact will remain, carried forward by the countless students they inspired along the way.
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