RC teacher retires from DMS
By BETH MOLAND
News-Gazette reporter
Driver Middle School teacher Sue Longnecker will retire this spring after a 40-year career teaching language arts, Latin and French. French was always her favorite.
"When I went to Lynn High School, they offered Latin and I took two years," Longnecker said. "Then my junior year, a new teacher came to teach French. I took two years of his class and became interested in foreign languages."
The French connection was born, which took her to Indiana University.
"That's why I chose I.U.," she said. "They had a great foreign language department."
Longnecker received a bachelor of arts in French and a minor in English from the Bloomington campus, then went on to Ball State Teachers College for her masters degree with the same major and minor.
She used her French skills more the first 20 years of her career while teaching throughout east central Indiana, including New Castle, Centerville, Fountain City, Lynn and Winchester. Now, it has been more than 10 years since she offered French in exploratory classes at D.M.S. But whenever an opportunity arises, she loves to share her French expertise.
As a youngster, her father once offered a suggestion that helped sustain her in education.
"My dad gave me such good advice - 'Always prepare yourself to do more than one thing,'" she said.
She proved her father right by utilizing her English minor throughout her entire career, even though her heart was feeling French. That English background led to her current position teaching seventh grade literature.
When asked about favorites from her past curriculum, she did not hesitate.
"Christmas Carol has to be right up there," Longnecker said. "And I love teaching Greek and Roman mythology, which I used to do."
Another enjoyable aspect of her profession has been the diversity of her day and the students. Even after four decades, she said, "Everyday is different."
"It's really fun to meet the kids, even to have a sibling or children of former students," Longnecker said. "It's interesting, not to compare, but to make the connection. It helps to know the students better."
Catching up with former students and finding out they became English or French teachers has, also, been a rewarding aspect for Longnecker. With pride, she noted one student who taught at Anderson University.
Besides student contacts, she said she will truly miss her colleagues. But having maintained close relationships from former schools and living a close distance to DMS, she knows she can pop in for a friendship fix anytime she desires.
Of all the changes in education since she began, one positive difference Longnecker likes is the introduction of C.L.A.S.S. (Connected Learning Assures Successful Students) training.
"Adding C.L.A.S.S., having procedures and working with the team has made it more enjoyable," she said. "Before I would answer directly to the principal, now there's the team (all seventh grade personnel) to collaborate with student and curriculum concerns."
Longnecker shared one anecdote from her early years that almost landed her in the principal's office. While diagraming sentences one day, her students found a very long one to challenge her.
"They wanted to stump me," Longnecker said. "But I told them they had to help me. After 15 minutes, the bell was going to ring and the very last part was the prepositional phrase 'on the New York Stock Exchange.' I told them I was going to abbreviate. The bell rang and they ran out the door exploding with laughter. The next thing I knew the principal was at the door, asking what was going on. "
As she turned around and looked at the board, she realized her abbreviation of 'NYSEX.' Angry at first, the principal saw the humor after Longnecker explained the situation.
After May 21, she can be her own boss, as she delights in her favorite pastimes and her family, husband Steve, and children Todd, Karen, Angi and Scott.
"I'm going to read, work in my herb garden, travel and I'm NOT going to sit," she said. "Oh, and I'm going to continue my exercise."
Part of her travels will indulge her French connection, as she and her husband are planning a cruise on the Mediterrean Sea this fall, which includes the southern part of France.
