A couple of months ago, I was visiting one of our elementary schools and, much to my surprise, two of the classes had made “Happy Retirement” cards for me. The teachers had cleverly turned this into a fun writing assignment for the students, inviting them to create lists of a variety of ideas for what Dr. Nicely could do with all his free time in retirement. The ideas were truly fun to read and genuinely helpful!
For context, these were third and fourth grade students, and it was clear that many of the ideas on their lists likely reflected the kinds of activities that would appeal to them as nine- and ten-year olds. Several students, for example, were very concerned that I should plan to eat lots of ice cream and spend plenty of time playing video games. Others, however, gave their task quite a bit of thought and imagined the type of activities that would be appropriate for someone my age. In case anyone else in our community needs some ideas for retirement activities, here are some common ones that made the lists:
Read your favorite book Call friends or family Clean the house Do Legos Play a board game. Sleep Grow fruit Eat ice cream Travel the state parks Play a sport (pickleball, soccer, basketball, golf, etc) Walk your dog Go to the beach Do things you wanted to do when you were a kid Walk on a mountain Eat a pickle and cheese Go to an historical place Be a YouTuber Give someone a hug Say hi to a random person Learn something new Go to the YMCA Buy a motorcycle and then ride it Spend time with people you love Come visit us
These are obviously some pretty bright students! I got a real kick out of reading all their suggestions, and I am grateful to their teachers for designing such a thoughtful writing exercise and to the students for their genuine expressions of well-wishes.
After spending 33 years with Roanoke County Public Schools as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, division-level leader, and eight years as superintendent, these thoughtful and encouraging “Happy Retirement” notes from the students are a wonderful reminder of our mission as a school district, why educators do this work, and the aspects of the work that have always brought the most joy. It is truly about the children. Watching children learn, develop skills, demonstrate hard work, and express care and concern for others is fulfilling work and gives me hope for the future.
Neither students nor adults are perfect, and we all make mistakes. Whenever I have had to work through a difficult or challenging situation, however, I have always regained perspective and reassurance when I visit our classrooms and see our students learning and working together in community. Most students enjoy learning when they are given engaging and purposeful work, and they feel safe and supported in classrooms and schools surrounded by caring and thoughtful adults. They learn to work together in harmony and work through conflicts in respectful ways. I credit the students, but also the teachers and staff who create caring learning environments, and the parents and families who promote these same values at home. Our children are our most valuable asset, are worth our investment of resources and time, and are truly good people.
Thank you, our Roanoke County family and community, for giving me the greatest honor and privilege of my professional career, serving as superintendent these past eight years. We have tackled incredible challenges and, working together, we can be proud of a long list of accomplishments including student successes, awards, new and renovated facilities, staff recruitment and retention, improved services, and recognition as one of the leading school districts in the state and nation. Most importantly, we have kept our focus and priorities on the children and their needs. It has been a joy, and I look forward to seeing the many ways that our schools, families, and community will continue partnering together to make Roanoke County students “opportunity ready”.
Gratefully and respectfully, Dr. Ken Nicely Superintendent |
