Connie Fox
‘Top YHS
teacher’ — and retirement
Connie Fox
is ready for retirement but also acknowledges the honor bestowed upon her as
Yosemite High’s Teacher of the Year.
Connie Fox is being doubly honored
this spring at Yosemite High School: she has been named the Yosemite Joint
Union High School District Teacher of the Year, an honor bestowed by her peers,
and she is being honored on her
retirement.
Mrs. Fox joined the YHS staff in
1986 after teaching in Antelope Valley Joint Union High School District for 13
years. During the time here, she has taught physical education and English. She
was also the teacher in a Transitional Learning Center (TLC) for ninth through
12th grade students who were below grade level in any of their classes.
During the time she was in the
TLC, she was a San Joaquin Valley/National Writing Project Fellow and also a
San Joaquin Valley Math Project member.
For one semester, Mrs. Fox served
in an administrative role during a transitional period at the high school.
She earned her administrative
credential from Lavern University with a masters of administration. Her
bachelor’s degree is from Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo.
In addition to her teaching
duties, Mrs. Fox has been active in other areas of the educational community.
She has served for several years as president of the Yosemite Teachers
Association, she has been a mentor teacher and has taken the lead role in the
Peer Assistance Review program these past two years, working with YHS, other
high schools and area elementary schools.
She has been a member of the
School Leadership Team and she has served on the negotiation team.
Mrs. Fox coached varsity badminton
for two years, assisted the coach for cross country for three years and she has
been advisor to Key Club for 12 years.
In the community, she was one of
the first women to join the Kiwanis Club. She has served as club president and
has been recognized as Kiwanian of the Year.
In nomination letters for Mrs. Fox for YJUHSD Teacher of
the Year, she was called a “warm, caring mentor,” and she was characterized as
a “loyal Yosemite High School employee and friend.”
She was commended for her genuine
concern for students. One person wrote: “This genuine concern, ability to
motivate and unfailing enthusiasm have made her a success in every aspect as a
teacher.”
Mrs. Fox was lauded as “a highly
organized, experienced, competent, versatile and student-oriented teacher who
is an asset to her profession and her community.”
A former YHS student, who is now a
teacher at YHS, wrote in her nomination that she appreciates the “hard work and
effort Connie puts into her job here. She is an outstanding example for the
rest of us and should be recognized for her hard work.”
As she looks to retirement, Mrs.
Fox notes that for the past 50 years she has been in the classroom, either as a
student or a teacher. She looks forward to mornings without an alarm clock
ringing, she looks forward to time to do the many things she enjoys.
“I am, and always will be, a
people person,” she says. “I will miss my friends and the students, but I am
really looking forward to ‘me’ time. I leave teaching while I still really love
working with the students. Both Richard and I wanted to make sure we did not
‘retire’ in place, but retired while still totally involved with our job and
the students entrusted to us.”
This summer, she will travel to France with YHS French teacher
Margo Read and some of the high school students. She has been a student in Mrs.
Read’s French class this year in preparation for the trip.
Her husband, Richard, will retire
later this year from his position as principal at Spring Hill High School in
Mariposa. For the near future, they plan to remain in Oakhurst.
“Rick and I will have been married
35 years on June 1. We have worked hard and now we plan to have fun, play and
enjoy family even more the next 35 years,” she says.
They are the parents of two sons:
Their oldest, John, lives in Chico, and Jim (AJ) is the weatherman for Sunrise
KSEE Channel 24. They have two grandchildren.
Mrs. Fox says, “Being around students
has helped keep me feeling young, able to laugh at myself as well as continue
to learn. Teaching another is the best way to learn yourself.”
She is grateful to the parents,
past and present, “for allowing me the opportunity to get to know your child.”
She also expresses her thanks to
her peers: “Thanks to my colleagues for all your love, support and friendship,
especially the ‘Ya-Ya’ book group.”