Dinneen also has taken more than 330 students to Washington, D.C., on nine separate trips and has organized the Veterans Day program for about as long as she’s been employed at NRHEG. She mentioned that Dr. Goodwin has asked her to still help with those, and along with subbing, she is excited to still be able to stay in touch with her peers and the kids.
Dinneen doesn’t have her retirement mapped out yet. She’ll do some traveling with her husband Denny, likely to include plenty of Minnesota Twins games. She will also attend school activities for her grandchildren. Plus, she said she won’t have to get up at 5:15 for her morning walks – she can get started a little later!
Both ladies have fond memories of their time at NRHEG. Schumacher most remembers the talent shows from the last few years, raising funds for the Veterans’ Memorial, and the girls’ basketball teams winning the state championship two years in a row. She helped put together some highlight DVDs following each of those.
Dinneen has a very specific memory that will linger for a particular student, Karina Gaona. “She could not speak English when I had her in 7th grade keyboarding,” remembered Dinneen, “and this year (five years later) she graduated as salutatorian… shows what hard work can do!”
Both ladies wanted to send out their thanks to the NRHEG communities and the wonderful students they had over the years and hope they made at least a little difference in their lives. Each educator will enter a new era in the fall, but they can rest assured they made much more than just a little difference. Their former students know that even if these teachers are short in stature, they leave behind big shoes to fill.