Walt Wyniemko had an opportunity to see what his future will look like while students took a vacation during holiday break.
After 28 years teaching at Clarkston High School, Walt Wyniemko will say good-bye on Jan. 22 and begin his retirement.
His first step towards retirement took place when he chose not to coach football last season. Wyniemko had coached football for 40 years when he stepped down from the position.
‘It was a chance to step back,? he said. ‘A chance to feel what the real world would be like.?
After thirteen years of teaching, he was brought to Clarkston High School to head the Varsity football team and track team.
Some of his memories include seeing the kids and working with them on and off of the field.
‘Everyone wants to be in the big game,? he said.
Wyniemko was able to teach his players fundamentals for the Friday night games and fundamentals to progress into good fathers and good members of the community.
As his last day gets closer, he reminisces about what he will miss.
‘Clarkston has a special community,? he said. ‘It’s the day by day activities that I’ll miss.?
He began teaching because of his love for kids. For Wyniemko, it has been fun. He enjoyed the challenge of teaching and helping people out.
‘Education is a valuable tool,? he said.
Especially now with the technology, he added.
He continued by saying he gets to teach students to their know strengths and weaknesses before going into the world.
As a social studies teacher, he had the opportunity open his students eyes to history of the past and to current events that can effect their present and future.
During retirement, he plans to spend time with his family. Also, he looks forward to relaxing, playing golf, and traveling.
One of the places he plans to travel to is Florida where he and his wife plan to take a look around for a week or two and see if they want to retire there.
In May, he will travel to Alaska with a group of friends and family. He has never heard anyone say negative things about visiting Alaska, so he looks forward to going.
Besides Alaska, he looks forward to traveling to more places.
‘Once we go someplace, we will see as much as we can and expand from there.?
Wyniemko is no stranger to travel. He has been to England with a group of teachers. On the trip, one of his coworkers gave everyone the grand tour of historical and interesting locations to see.
As for anything else for his retirement, Wyniemko is open-minded for anything that comes up. His family will play a large factor in decisions.
‘I am fortunate to have 11 grandchildren,? he said while telling how busy he will be with the grandchildren.
They range from 2 years old to 12 and live in Clarkston, Oxford, and Milford.
In the past, he would bring them along by taking them to practice and the boys would help out by being water boys at the Junior Varsity and Varsity football games.
During his coaching years he has been inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame in 1988, the Michigan High School Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999.
Instead of waiting until the end of the school year to retire, he chose to retire at the end of the semester.
‘No matter what time of the year, it was always going to be hard to leave,? said Wyniemko.
He chose to retire now because the way retirement works. He would be able to get health care and would be able to collect social security.
Retirement will give him a chance to do some things now.
‘It’s better to leave now.?