Washington Elementary Teacher Retires After 38 Years
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Washington Elementary Teacher Retires After 38 Years
By David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Not only did Andrews attend Washington from 1947-52 when it was known as West Wayne, her children and grandchildren also are Washington alumni.
During an interview Thursday morning, Andrews said all three of her children - Phil, Michelle and Karen - went to Washington. About eight years ago, she had five of her grandchildren at Washington, and she taught two of them.
"It was really kind of interesting," she said. "They, of course, called me grandma unless it was in class, then they called me Mrs. Andrews. They wanted me to treat them like any other student."[[In-content Ad]]Of her grandchildren who went to Washington, one went five years while the youngest went to Washington only one year.
"It was amazing to me I had five granddaughters in one building," Andrews said.
Her mother, Florence Horn, also was amazing to her, she said, and an inspiration. Thirty years after high school, Florence went to Grace College and earned her degree to become a teacher. In fall 1968, she started teaching.
For the first seven years, Florence taught at Claypool. For the following nine years, she taught at Jefferson Elementary, where she had gone to elementary school.
Mother and daughter both shared the experience of teaching at the school where they attended grade school.
"She's been an inspiration to me and someone who has spurred me on in life," said Andrews.
Andrews started teaching in 1972 at what was then the Warsaw Freshman High School. She taught typing while also working toward her master's degree. In 1975, she transferred to Washington.
She had received her bachelor's degree from Manchester College, and her master's degree from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Over her almost four decades of teaching, Andrews said she saw many changes. When she started at Washington, schools had the Individually Guided Education program, which catered to each child's needs. Then the pendulum swung back to more of a traditional school setting. Now, it's swinging back the other way.
"Education has been very interesting," she said.
Except for four or five years she taught fifth grade, and one year teaching fourth grade, Andrews said she has taught third grade for most of her teaching career. She enjoys third-graders the most.
In third grade, she said, "Kids are more curious when they're younger. There's more variety to teach. (The students) still love and respect their teachers."
Encouragement and compassion is very important to everyone, Andrews said, especially children. Over the years, she's noticed that children really need a lot of attention and encouragement from their parents. It can be a major difference for students in the classroom who come from a home of encouraging parents.
"Kids are fun. Just so much fun," Andrews said.
For her retirement, Andrews said she and her husband, Denny, plan to have a small alpaca herd near Etna Green. She plans to get very involved with the fiber aspect of raising alpacas. Having knitted for more than 50 years, it will be like turning a hobby into a business.
They also will travel some.
Being a lifelong learner, Andrews said she will continue to learn, and may volunteer in the classrooms. The last two years, Andrews had a volunteer in her classroom and it was invaluable to her as a teacher.
"School and kids are just amazing and that's where the future of our county is," she said.
She said the politics needs to be taken out of education. Values need to be taught in the classroom, as well as patriotism.
Retirement won't make her cry, she said. Retirement is a celebration of her career. "It truly is," she said. "I've loved every minute of it."
Washington Principal Tom Ray said of Andrews, "For many, many years she served Warsaw Community Schools with dignity and integrity. I've personally experienced several children who have expressed their appreciation for her and have mentioned how they'll miss, besides her teaching, her teaching them about acts of kindness."
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Not only did Andrews attend Washington from 1947-52 when it was known as West Wayne, her children and grandchildren also are Washington alumni.
During an interview Thursday morning, Andrews said all three of her children - Phil, Michelle and Karen - went to Washington. About eight years ago, she had five of her grandchildren at Washington, and she taught two of them.
"It was really kind of interesting," she said. "They, of course, called me grandma unless it was in class, then they called me Mrs. Andrews. They wanted me to treat them like any other student."[[In-content Ad]]Of her grandchildren who went to Washington, one went five years while the youngest went to Washington only one year.
"It was amazing to me I had five granddaughters in one building," Andrews said.
Her mother, Florence Horn, also was amazing to her, she said, and an inspiration. Thirty years after high school, Florence went to Grace College and earned her degree to become a teacher. In fall 1968, she started teaching.
For the first seven years, Florence taught at Claypool. For the following nine years, she taught at Jefferson Elementary, where she had gone to elementary school.
Mother and daughter both shared the experience of teaching at the school where they attended grade school.
"She's been an inspiration to me and someone who has spurred me on in life," said Andrews.
Andrews started teaching in 1972 at what was then the Warsaw Freshman High School. She taught typing while also working toward her master's degree. In 1975, she transferred to Washington.
She had received her bachelor's degree from Manchester College, and her master's degree from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Over her almost four decades of teaching, Andrews said she saw many changes. When she started at Washington, schools had the Individually Guided Education program, which catered to each child's needs. Then the pendulum swung back to more of a traditional school setting. Now, it's swinging back the other way.
"Education has been very interesting," she said.
Except for four or five years she taught fifth grade, and one year teaching fourth grade, Andrews said she has taught third grade for most of her teaching career. She enjoys third-graders the most.
In third grade, she said, "Kids are more curious when they're younger. There's more variety to teach. (The students) still love and respect their teachers."
Encouragement and compassion is very important to everyone, Andrews said, especially children. Over the years, she's noticed that children really need a lot of attention and encouragement from their parents. It can be a major difference for students in the classroom who come from a home of encouraging parents.
"Kids are fun. Just so much fun," Andrews said.
For her retirement, Andrews said she and her husband, Denny, plan to have a small alpaca herd near Etna Green. She plans to get very involved with the fiber aspect of raising alpacas. Having knitted for more than 50 years, it will be like turning a hobby into a business.
They also will travel some.
Being a lifelong learner, Andrews said she will continue to learn, and may volunteer in the classrooms. The last two years, Andrews had a volunteer in her classroom and it was invaluable to her as a teacher.
"School and kids are just amazing and that's where the future of our county is," she said.
She said the politics needs to be taken out of education. Values need to be taught in the classroom, as well as patriotism.
Retirement won't make her cry, she said. Retirement is a celebration of her career. "It truly is," she said. "I've loved every minute of it."
Washington Principal Tom Ray said of Andrews, "For many, many years she served Warsaw Community Schools with dignity and integrity. I've personally experienced several children who have expressed their appreciation for her and have mentioned how they'll miss, besides her teaching, her teaching them about acts of kindness."
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