Brandon Twp.-When Sally Bagnall’s daughter started high school, the executive secretary wanted to do something new and exciting.
Bagnall had what she calls a PH.t? ‘putting hubby through? (college). She decided it was her turn and when her daughter started high school, she began college. They graduated the same year and Bagnall embarked on her second career, as a special education teacher at Brandon Middle School.
‘I’ve always liked kids,? she said. ‘I have a nephew with cerebral palsy and I just thought I would like working with kids with handicaps and I have really enjoyed it.?
On June 10, after 15 years of teaching, Bagnall retired.
‘Teaching is a really fun job,? she said. ‘There are lots of rewards. The middle school staff is awesome. Everyone is supportive of each other. It’s been a wonderful place to teach.?
Some of her fondest memories as an educator were events that happened outside the classroom. Eight years ago, Bagnall wrote and received a grant from Oakland Schools for a pre-vocational skills. Twice a month, she worked with lower-ability kids making lunch for the staff. Bagnall and her students would go grocery shopping and then prepare soup, salad, homemade bread and dessert for lunch.
‘The kids made invitations and sent them out,? Bagnall said. ‘It was a fun thing and a lot of learning.?
Bagnall’s students also spent time working in the school store, learning about money and customer relations.
One of her favorite things to do was to take the kids on a school-sponsored winter camping trip every January. The boys and girls would go on separate days to spend the night at a cabin with no indoor plumbing and no heat except for a woodstove. They cooked outside in a dutch oven and learned survival skills.
‘The kids felt really powerful and capable,? said Bagnall, who added the program was stopped three years ago. ‘The whole thing was to make them feel good about themselves.?
Bagnall said the most rewarding thing about teaching has been watching her students grow and develop skills. She compares teaching to parenting in that ‘you’re teaching them to not need you anymore, just like your own kids. That’s what you’re shooting for, but you almost wish they didn’t make it.?
Her biggest challenge has been letting them go after becoming too attached.
Bagnall, who also led the Brandon Middle School student council for nine years, still enjoys teaching and would have continued, but her husband has retired and she is ready to ‘join the fun.? They were planning to leave last week for a two-and-a-half week trip to Greece and she has more travel plans in the works, including a bike trip with friends in September around Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. She also looks forward to spending time with her 2-year-old granddaughter.