Wallinga made an 'immeasurable impact'

Posted on: Jun 8, 2022

Sue Wallinga always knew she would become a teacher.

“From a very early age I just felt like it was my calling,” she said.

Now, after 37 years at the head of a classroom in Delano, Wallinga is bidding goodbye to her colleagues and opening a new chapter in life as she enters retirement.

“I’m going to miss the people I teach with, and I’m going to miss the kids,” said Wallinga. “This is what I’ve done since I was 22 years old, so it’s going to be a big adjustment. I love teaching. I love being up in front of the class, talking with kids, walking around and helping them while they’re working, joking with them. It’s been a great experience. It’s more than just a job; it’s a calling. I will miss it, but I know it’s time for me to be done.”

Wallinga reached her Rule of 90, allowing her to consider retirement, back in 2020. She knew she wasn’t ready to be done at that point, however. Even as COVID-19 and related challenges ensued, she still wasn’t quite ready to let go. But after this year the time finally felt right to step away.

“I wanted to retire while I could still do my job well,” she said. “I teach with a lot of energy. The way I teach is exhausting, and I’ve been going home feeling really tired. So I want to stop teaching while I can still teach the way I love to teach. I don’t want to hang on too long.”

Her colleagues said Wallinga will certainly be missed.

“There are many people that come in and out of your life, but Sue is the type of person that leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets,” said fellow fourth-grade teacher Jim Hall. “Her dedication to our profession and her eagerness to tackle new challenges sets her apart from the average person. Sue’s laugh and smiling face will be missed at DIS, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

No place but Delano

After growing up in Bloomington and attending the University of Minnesota, Wallinga found her first and only teaching job in Delano in 1985.

“I worked with a really great group of teachers and I really liked the small-town atmosphere,” she said. “I just really enjoyed working here, so I stayed.”

Wallinga knew she wanted to teach students in the upper elementary age range because of their growing independence and fun-loving nature. She taught fifth grade for 33 years, sixth grade for one year and has spent the last three years at fourth grade.

“I think my teaching style fits this age group,” she said. “Kids have changed over the years. I think the fourth-graders now are what fifth-graders probably were when I started teaching, as far as knowledge of the world and attitudes and behaviors. I think that fourth-graders are a good fit for me now because I like to be silly and do read-alouds and sing songs – things that age group will do with me and have fun with.”

That emphasis on fun took various forms, including some that were unconventional.

“Sue is well-known in our school for standing on her desk/chair and having her students do the same when playing games, during lessons, and to bring in school engagement,” said fourth-grade teacher Josh Hiltner. “Sue’s ability to connect teaching into games and vice-versa to engage students is second to none!”

The point of standing on chairs is not only to have fun, but to connect a memorable physical activity with learning.

“The kids love that,” said Wallinga. “When I teach a lesson, they stand on their chair when they have the answer. So one of my favorite highlights, and hopefully one the kids will always remember, is standing on their chairs in class.”

Reading focus

Over the years, Wallinga said one of her favorite activities was reading books aloud to her class, particularly the Judy Blume “Fudge” series. Wallinga recently spoke with a student from decades ago who told her she still remembered Wallinga reading “The BFG” to the class.

“It’s one of my favorite things, just sharing a book,” she said. “I love being able to change my voice for the characters. It’s fun because the kids really get drawn into the book and they love hearing it. It’s fun to finish a chapter and they’re begging to hear more.”

Fellow teachers said that Wallinga’s passion for reading was evident to all.

“Sue has amazing connection with students and is able to reel everyone into her read-aloud books with her amazing voices, accents and antics,” said Hiltner.

Other highlights

As a fifth-grade team member for many years, Wallinga helped develop experiential learning units like Homesteading and Discovery, and seeing generations of students enjoy them has been gratifying.

“I’m really proud of that, the things that we did and how it creates memories for kids,” she said. “They’re not going to remember everything they learned about that time period, but they are going to remember dressing up and being a part of that event.”

Another aspect of her work that Wallinga will particularly miss is the camaraderie of the teaching staff.

“The whole intermediate school is just an amazing group of people,” she said. “My current group that I teach with in fourth grade is so helpful. Everybody gets along. We eat lunch together, we laugh together. People share things with one another and we bounce ideas off each other. And my fifth-grade group was the same way. They are my friends. I just feel really close to this team and to the fifth-grade team. So it’s going to be a big adjustment moving into retirement.”

Retirement plans

In the months and years ahead Wallinga plans to pursue more of the recreational pastimes she enjoys, particularly pickleball, biking and other forms of exercise. She also plans to travel to see family in Maine this summer, and possibly head west to Glacier National Park in the fall.

“It’s going to be nice to have more flexibility for travel, and a more flexible schedule,” she said.

She also intends to seek out part-time work, possibly with senior citizens.

“My idea would be to work with activities and use some of the skills I have from teaching to make those things exciting for the elderly or people in assisted living,” she said.

While retirement is a new frontier with many unknowns, one thing is certain: Wallinga left her mark at DIS.

“I have told people before that Sue is like five teachers rolled into one,” said fourth-grade teacher Molly Stern. “Her energy, passion and knowledge are unmatched. She has a way with kids that is natural and effective. She has a wonderful laugh that you can hear down the hallway. We are truly going to miss working with Sue!”

Fourth-grade teacher Andy Brown agreed.

“Over her career Sue Wallinga has been a champion for children, an ambassador of education, and the embodiment of lifelong learning,” he said. “She shows up each day with a nose that is ready to be put to the grindstone, an open ear for everyone, and a ready smile on her face. Sue is ready to take on any challenge, handles adversity with ease, and has achieved a masterful blend of old-school ethics and modern-day tech. Mrs. Wallinga takes genuine pride in the work she does and that work is never limited by the constraints of a time clock or a paycheck. It has been a pleasure to work with Sue, and the positive impact that she has had on so many Delano kids and families is truly immeasurable.”
 

Post Categories: Elementary School, Intermediate School