While teachers all around Oxford spent the summer working on their curriculums and buying special items for the new school year, Fran Olsen felt lost.
‘I have no reason to go to Wal-Mart and buy stickers now,? she said with a somber smile.
That’s because after 20 years of teaching preschool at Daniel Axford Elementary, Olsen decided it was time for her to retire.
Born in Detroit, Olsen moved all over the nation with her family and graduated from Southfield High School in 1962.
After trying her hand at nursing school, Olsen realized it wasn’t the field she really wanted to get into.
So, she married her husband Pete, moved to Oxford in 1968, and had two children; daughter Carlee, an ?87 OHS grad and son Pete, a ?90 OHS grad.
She became more interested in preschoolers and very active as a parent volunteer when her children started preschool at the Oxford Methodist Church.
During this time, Olsen had seven years of teaching preschool in Clarkston under her belt and she was ecstatic when she got a call for a preschool job opening at Daniel Axford.
‘I started out just working with the three and four-year-olds mixed,? she said. ‘Then I was given the opportunity to go to school and get my Child Development Associates degree from the University of Michigan.?
Olsen said she and her colleagues jumped from school to school; first at the old high school (which is where Oxford Elementary is now), then to the old middle school (which is where Lakeville Elementary is now) then finally back to Daniel Axford teaching three-year-olds.
‘We were really OK with all of the moving around,? she said. ‘I’ve loved every minute of it.?
Olsen said she decided to retire this summer because ‘it was the right time? and because she didn’t want to have to say goodbye to the kids.
‘I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to teach preschool,? Olsen said. ‘The families I’ve had over the years, I can’t tell you how wonderful they’ve been.?
Even after 20 years of teaching in Oxford, Olsen still keeps in touch with past students.
She went to a wedding of one of her old students this summer and even runs into some when she shops at Meijer.
Olsen said she really felt like she was making a difference in her students lives. She loved how extremely observant preschoolers could be.
‘One thing’s for sure, they always noticed when you got your haircut or have curls in your hair!? she said laughing.
Although Olsen won’t be tending to the young children of Oxford this fall, she will get the ‘rewards of children? by spending more time with her six grandchildren.
She plans on spending most of her retirement with her grandchildren and her husband. The two just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Disney Land with four of their grandchildren.
‘It was one of the best trips we’ve ever had,? she said.
Olsen also loves to read and garden and said she is excited to be able to do more of it.
‘I know that’s what every preschool teacher says, but I really do,? she said with a smile.
She’s also planning on re-vamping her ‘school room? into a craft room at her home.
Olsen said she plans to keep in touch with everyone at Daniel Axford and treasures every moment with every student.
‘I’m going to miss the hugs from the children, watching them grow, hearing them laugh and watching them dress up as princesses and such,? she said.
Olsen said if anyone thinks they want to teach preschool, they’ll feel it deep down inside.
‘It’ll be in your heart and soul,? she said. ‘It’s not something you look through books and decide you’re going to do it, you’re born with it.?
Olsen said she cannot be more grateful for the kindness families in Oxford have bestowed upon her.
‘I want to thank all the families for giving me the opportunity to teach their children,? she said. ‘It was with a lot of tears that I retired.?