Several loved teachers and staff members are retiring this year at Warren, one of the most notable being Mrs. Metcalf. Mrs. Metcalf has been an English teacher at the Warren Almond Campus for many years and has made an impact on both students and teachers alike during her time here. Mrs. Metcalf graduated from Northern Illinois University before teaching at Warren. 

Her favorite part of teaching has been sharing her love of literature with her students, and her students agree that her love for reading is evident in her classroom. One student says, “Mrs. Metcalf’s passion is evident throughout the different novels she teaches. Shakespeare isn’t something I was crazy about, but by her having such a passion for Hamlet, she made it a much more fun atmosphere to learn in.”  Her students aren’t the only ones who have learned from Mrs. Metcalf over the years, either. She has learned that it’s important to not take yourself too seriously and to have a sense of humor. She also says that teaching keeps you young and engaged with a younger generation, and gives you a broader perspective. Even though Mrs. Metcalf loves working with her students, her favorite part of working at Warren has been the time she gets to spend with her colleagues. Mrs. Paasch has also enjoyed getting to know and work with Mrs. Metcalf. Mrs. Paasch’s favorite memories with Mrs. Metcalf has been talking with her over breakfast with other AP Literature teachers on Wednesday mornings. 

Mrs. Metcalf has been a cornerstone of the English department during her time at Warren. Her students and coworkers describe her as intelligent, creative, funny, and passionate. Her advice to future teachers is to remember that the time goes fast, be flexible and have a broad vision for what the year will look like, and to remember the ultimate goals when it comes to teaching. Her presence here at Warren will be missed, but we all wish her the best of luck in retirement! Warren won’t be the same without her.