Sandy Nolan to Retire

It was a warm, summer afternoon in 1965 as Sandy Nolan worked the rich, garden soil in the yard of her Spring Grove home. After working as a group therapist in Illinois for several years, she had just moved to Spring Grove, where her daughter, Rebecca was born. A stranger stopped by to ask for directions and in the ensuing conversation, Sandy learned that the stranger was George Boyd, Superintendent of the Spring Grove School District. He mentioned that he was looking for a first grade teacher and encouraged Sandy to apply even though she had no teaching experience or training. That night, she went to the public library and checked out all the books she could find about teaching. She got the job and ultimately fell in love with this profession.

Ever the pioneer, Sandy began a multi-age program with five other teachers during her eight years in Spring Grove while taking evening classes in education to earn her teaching license. Next she went to St. Patrick School in Wadsworth where she started an all-day kindergarten. While at St. Patís, she taught, among many others, Patrick Curley, the husband of Wilmot Principal, Teresa Curley.

Sandy moved to Twin Lakes and took a brief break from teaching during the early eighties as sons Matt and Dan came along, but when her boys were old enough to go to school in 1989, it was back to school for Sandy, also. This time it was the Grass Lake School District where Sandy taught first grade and third grade during an eight year period.
When her sons were old enough to attend Central High School, Sandy decided it would be better if she worked closer to home and she took the teaching position at Trevor Grade School where she initiated the multi-age classroom and co-authored the Accelerated Schools grant with Jane Erickson.

Sandy took on a new challenge during the summers of 2002 and 2004 when she journeyed to China with a group of teachers from the Kenosha area and taught in an English immersion program. She learned to write on rice paper tablets since paper was precious and introduced music, plays and visual aids to her Chinese students.

Mrs. Nolan working with students

Throughout her long teaching career, Sandy has maintained her wonderful sense of humor. She fondly recalls the day when CBS weatherman, John Coleman visited her school to speak to the students. When Mr. Coleman asked why Mrs. Nolan taught first grade, one of her students piped up with, "Thatís all the smarter she is!"

One of the delights of a long career for Sandy has been the opportunities to meet with former students. This list includes many, including P.T.O. President, Vicki Fraley.
As she looks back on a distinguished career that has included so many challenges, Sandy Nolan relates that the greatest challenge is making sure that every student is ready to move on by the end of the school year. Now it is Sandy, herself, who gets to move on at the end of the school term and she is ready. Her new home in Florida will have to wait, however, until she finishes an October Mediterranean cruise to Italy, France and Spain.

Who could have imagined that a chance meeting with a stranger seeking directions could have resulted in such a wonderful career? More than one person received direction that day and hundreds of students have benefitted from Mrs. Nolanís inspired teaching. The Trevor-Wilmot school community congratulates Sandy Nolan for her dedication to childrenís learning and extends best wishes for a wonderful retirement!