CARNDUFF - JoAnn McCannell had the special privilege of teaching the same grade for the entirety of her career.
She started in January 1992 with Grade 3s and 4s at Carievale School, then a year and a half later, transferred to Carnduff School to teach Grade 3 for the next 30 years.
Everything came full circle this year, with an unexpected surprise in the form of her education assistant Marna Martin.
“She was a student in my first class at Carievale and is now working with me in my last year,” McCannell shared. “A career is only as good as your co-worker support and I have had the best. I will truly miss my people and am very thankful for the support, laughs and tears over the years.”
McCannell grew up on a hog and poultry farm by Dalmeny, and for her education she went to the University of Saskatchewan. McCannell and her husband Tim live on a farm by Pierson, Man., and raised two children Rachelle and Shane.
“I will cherish the school memories of my students. Their zest for life and learning keeps a teacher busy and young at heart,” she said with a laugh.
A feature of McCannell class week was sharing time where the students would mention something they were excited about or something that had happened to them. It was during this time where she and the class had been serenated by one of the children doing an Elvis impersonation. And when a boy showed everyone what had been in the bottom of his backpack, a real beaver tail that had been retrieved from a trap line, frozen and brought to class.
“I’ll never forget when he pulled out those beaver tails that had been sitting there all day long; it was second to none.”
The projects that really spoke to McCannell’s heart and made her most proud was the partnership the class had with the World Wildlife Federation. The classes through the years had banded together to save a number of animals and insects such as the burrowing owls, sea turtles, butterflies and polar bears.
To make money for their causes they would hold fundraisers such as cookie and dessert sales.
“The pride my classes had when we worked together and raised money, kids truly want to make a difference in the world from a young age,” she said.
As a gift and thank you, the WWF sent a stuffed symbolic animal of what the class had been focusing on saving that year.
“There is nothing like the first day of school every fall. The excitement and buzz of the new start for the students and teachers,” said McCannell.
Come September, she will be finding that excitement in new and old adventures.
“My saddle needs some dusting off and I would like to get back to doing barrel racing. I also plan to take my Pembroke corgi [Jazz] to more dog shows and hopefully compete at the Calgary Stampede Stock Dog Trail with my border collie,” she said.
McCannell has two border collies called Beth and Cap.
As well as going out into the world, she plans on continuing the simple pleasures of spending time with family and friends, reading good books, and doing some volunteering to give back.
“I will truly miss my people and am very thankful for friendships and the support over the years,” McCannell shared.
“No one is perfect that is why pencils have erasers,” she said.
