There’s been a notable absence in the classrooms and hallways of R.J. Hawkey Elementary School this year – for the first time in the school’s 40-year history, Karen Hennig is not on the staff list.
After 39 years of teaching at the Big Springs school, Hennig concluded her lengthy career in June. While she intended to continue teaching for one more year, she said the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact her 87-year-old mother lives with her led to the decision to end her career 12 months earlier than first expected.
“We didn’t want to take the chance of me bringing something home to her,” she said.
“It was a really hard decision to end my career, but I guess at some point, it had to happen.”
Hennig began her career teaching kindergarten at R.J. Hawkey in 1981 – the same year the school opened. She would go on to teach kindergarten at the school for 13 years, before moving on to teach grades 1 and 2 for the same lengths of time.
She said her love of watching her students grow and develop over the years maintained her passion for teaching.
"What I loved most about teaching was those little light bulb moments kids have when they finally grasp a concept they have been working on," she said. "You see that little sparkle in their eyes. It fills my heart with joy to know that I played a small part in that joy of learning."
R.J. Hawkey’s principal, Jason Billings, said Hennig was a wonderful teacher who was dedicated to the craft.
“She was one of the first ones in the building each day and often one of the last to leave,” he said.
“It still boggles my mind that someone could teach for that long. It’s pretty incredible and I’m definitely impressed by the commitment and dedication she had because that’s certainly an incredible career.”
Hennig’s longevity at the school meant she taught multiple generations of the same family, according to Billings, and formed strong connections with Big Springs residents over the years.
“Often, when we had events at the school and the parents came, it was like a reunion," he said. "They got to see Ms. Hennig when they came to the building. It’s amazing to see the connection she’s had and the impact she’s had in Big Springs.”
When Hennig started her career, Airdrie was still a small town. Over the years, she said she enjoyed watching the city and the school grow and evolve.
“I loved R.J. Hawkey and guess that’s why I never left,” she said. “It changed principals many times, but I just loved the community, growing with the community, seeing myself change as a teacher and growing as a learner myself. It was amazing to stay at one school my whole career.”
According to Billings, the school intended to honour Hennig’s long-serving contributions to R.J. Hawkey with a retirement ceremony and assembly last June. Unfortunately, those plans had to be scrapped due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We did invite Ms. Hennig back at the very beginning of the school year, when we had our opening staff meeting, and some people had some really nice things to share and say,” he said. “It was definitely an emotional time and we’re certainly all missing her.”
Billings added the school still intends to throw Hennig a proper retirement ceremony at the end of the current school year if gathering restrictions are lifted in the new year.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
