Back in the Saddle

Dear retired teacher, I want to remind you that you have a voice. Your influence can still be felt. You’ll find your days can be just as busy, just as challenging, and just as rewarding. One main difference is that it is on YOUR schedule. YOUR calendar. YOUR clock. No more bells or buzzers.

How many graduation speeches do you recall? You probably remember “It is the end of blah blah blah. And it's the beginning of blah blah blah.” With retirement from the classroom, it is true without being trite.

Retirement might be the end of a teaching career, but it doesn't mean the end of an educator's influence. You bring with you decades of classroom experience, wisdom, and stories that can guide and inspire current educators. (The Greek term for that is “whippersnapper”.) We can be available to mentor and advise a new teacher. You can contribute by involving yourself in writing, volunteering, or speaking at workshops. Social media can allow you to leave a mark on Instagram, Facebook (Yes, Boomer!), EONS, and AARP.

You know that the work of a teacher is work that truly matters. You can share this truth when a teacher has hit a low spot (February). You can inspire and inform. Your work really matters – even in retirement.