ONTARIO, Ohio–Bittersweet. That’s how Ontario preschool teacher Laurie Fike described her upcoming retirement from Stingel Elementary School.
Though it’s difficult to say goodbye, she feels extraordinarily blessed to have had a career she’s enjoyed to the end.
“How many people really can say that they’ve enjoyed their job for 40 years” she asked. “I mean not many people can say that, so I feel very, very blessed.”
“When Mrs. Fike retires at the end of this school year, the preschool program that is left behind will be her professional legacy,” said Stingel Elementary Principal Mike Ream. “Mrs. Fike was instrumental in starting, shaping and growing the preschool program into the outstanding program that it is today.”
Fike, an Ashland native, graduated from Ohio University with a degree in child development and family living.
Right out of college, she worked at Ashland Head Start for 11 years. “Part of Head Start training was that teachers had to continue education, so I was fortunate at the time to take a class from Dr. Lynn Johnson at Ohio State (Mansfield),” she said.
Johnson was integral in helping establish Ontario Local Schools’ preschool program, which was originally housed in Bedford School. He helped Fike become a teacher at the preschool when it opened in 1986.
“It was wonderful because I kind of got to initiate it,” she said of the program.
And for the past 29 years, she’s touched the lives of numerous families and faculty members at Ontario Schools.
“I have never met somebody like Laurie,” said Natalie Stevens, a preschool aid. “Her heart is whole-heartedly in this preschool.”
Stevens, who’s taught alongside Fike for the past three years, said she’s learned so much from Fike. “She’s just absolutely amazing,” she said.
“The last two years, my daughter had the privilege of having Mrs. Fike as her preschool teacher and being able to see Mrs. Fike and the preschool classroom through the eyes of my five-year-old daughter has truly brought to life just how impactful Mrs. Fike has been on generations of students,” said Ream.
Molly Arnold, an Ontario graduate of 2009, has fond memories as a student in Fike’s class. She remembers participating in a beach-themed scavenger hunt throughout the school, which culminated in a “beach party” in Fike’s classroom.
And while Fike’s fun activities in the classroom made for sweet memories, Arnold especially appreciated her caring and considerate nature.
“Mrs. Fike was so enthralled with finding out what I was doing with my life and was so proud as if she had been there all along. She never stops caring about the kids that she had over the years. And I don’t how your heart can hold all those people, but she finds a way,” she said.
Fike said she’s always like children. “I wanted to have 10 children, but after I had two and I was still teaching, I thought that might be enough,” she said.
However, now she has 10 grandchildren whom she hopes to spend more time with during her retirement.
“I think I’m going to be a fulltime grammy,” she said of future plans.
Her last day at Stingel is May 29.
“I’m excited about retirement, to see what God has planned for me in my next chapter,” she said.
“Mrs. Fike was instrumental in starting, shaping and growing the preschool program into the outstanding program that it is today,” said Mike Ream.
