Page 85 - EdViewptsSpring2020

in the classroom. In reality that was new way to teach. Taking my time to
an impossible goal, but fortunately find a program where my knowledge I learned that
what I lack in wisdom I make up for could be put to good use allowed me retirement is a journey
in tenacity. My mantra or definition of to determine that the time had come
teaching became “Teaching is a series to disengage from the job I had loved not a destination. It is a
of deliberate decisions and actions and had performed for so long. transition to a new life,
that increases the probability that Finding a new purpose is carrying and you are allowed
learning will occur.” It has been my me through retirement. Teaching the
privilege to see this “series of deliber- next generation of educators is fun to bring all the wisdom
ate decisions and actions” play out in and rewarding. If you need some gained with you. This is
a variety of classrooms in New Jersey. encouragement about remaining a
I am grateful for the important work classroom teacher, please find this not a new concept, but
teachers do every day. The question I children’s book. It is a short read realizing I could take
kept coming back to was why would I and it might help you determine if all my experience and
choose to retire if I am still so engaged you should consider letting go of
in teaching and learning? I thought something you love to take hold of knowledge of what
people decided to retire because they something new. The book entitled works in the classroom
were tired of work, but I wasn’t tired or Thank you, Mr. Falker is written and
so I thought. What I really wanted was illustrated by Patricia Polacco. Ms. with me to use outside
to learn something new. So I explored Polacco tells an autobiographical tale of schools was exciting.
options while still working, taking on of how she learned to read. She was
new responsibilities for a stipend. After the youngest in her family and grew up day, “Mr. Falker put a book in front of
six months, I was just plain tired. Now loving books. Every night her mother her. She’d never seen it before. He
the path forward became clear to me. read to her and she was jealous of picked a paragraph in the middle of a
Here is what I learned on my journey her older siblings who could read on page and pointed to it. Almost as if it
to retirement: I learned that retire- their own. When she was five years were magic, or as if light poured into
ment is a journey not a destination. It old, she was excited about school and her brain, the words and sentences
is a transition to a new life, and you learning to read. She discovered that started to take shape on the page as
are allowed to bring all the wisdom she had a talent for drawing pictures, they never had before.” This is the
gained with you. This is not a new but when looking at the words on a impact teachers can have on students
concept, but realizing I could take all page she couldn’t sound them out. and having witnessed that many times
my experience and knowledge of what She felt different and school became and in many different ways is what I
works in the classroom with me to use harder and harder. When entering will carry through my retirement. I am
outside of schools was exciting. There fifth grade her teacher, Mr. Falker, glad that I stuck with public education
are many options; however I chose recognized that she had fooled many as long as I did, continuing to learn
remote teaching in higher education good teachers and not being able to how to improve the lives of children
and set out to find the right position read made her feel lonely and afraid. placed in my care made me a better
for me. Teaching at the graduate level Like all the good teachers, I have met parent and person. Now with no
gives me the opportunity to work with during my career, Mr. Falker ensured regrets, I can open the door to a world
the next generation of educators. that she received the help she needed. of new possibilities.
This allowed me to continue what I Ms. Polacco writes that on one spring
was good at, while learning a whole

About the Author

Deborah L. Krause, Ed.D. is a retired educator. After thirty seven years of serving in the roles of teacher,
director, supervisor, principal, and accreditation team chair for the Middle States Association; she is enjoying
the challenge of teaching graduate students to think deeply about education and coaching them on how
to become more confident leaders. If you would like to discuss ideas about how to share your wisdom and
experience with the next generation of teachers, you may contact her at debkrause@comcast.net

Educational Viewpoints -83- Spring 2020