WHITEHALL — Whitehall Middle School is saying goodbye to a beloved math teacher and alumna after 27 years with the retirement of Wendy Henderson.
“I grew up in Whitehall my whole life and attended Whitehall District Schools, which I graduated from,” Henderson said. “I started teaching technology, but most of my career was teaching seventh grade math with my co-partner Tom Sheesley. He has helped make my teaching career more enjoyable.”
Henderson’s interest in teaching sparked when she was a kid, from her father who taught eighth grade math at Orchard View Middle School for 35 years.
“He was my inspiration and role model,” said Henderson. “I wanted to be just like him. Unfortunately at that time, teaching was not in demand and my mom, who was in the medical field, pushed me in that direction. My first year at Grand Valley State University convinced me otherwise. I worked on cadavers in my anatomy lab class and realized that it wasn’t for me.”
During her studies at GVSU, Henderson met her future husband, Greg, who would change her life. She eventually brought him with her back to Whitehall.
“He had just graduated from high school and was pursuing a degree in education,” Henderson said of her husband. “I ended up switching my degree to education, and we both attended Muskegon Community College for a couple of years and then transferred to Central Michigan University. Upon graduating, we moved back to Whitehall and got married.”
While Greg was a long-term substitute teacher at Muskegon Public Schools, Henderson got a job at Howmet. During her 10 years there, she completed her master’s degree from Western Michigan University.
She started as a technology teacher and eventually switched to teaching math, but her heart always resided with middle schoolers.
“A coworker of mine told me about a technology teacher position opening at Whitehall Middle School,” said Henderson. “I went to the interview and a week later they offered me the job. This was my dream job. I’ve always wanted to teach middle school, as I thought it was an age that I felt I could make the greatest impact when they are transitioning from childhood to adolescence,which can be tough for kids. This is a time of rapid physical, intellectual, moral, social and emotional change.”
Henderson shared her recent experience of learning the impact she had on a former student who she hadn’t even known at the time. During a recent interview with CatchMark, a Whitehall student who graduated this spring talked about Henderson being his favorite teacher. He appreciates how much she pushed him in his studies and the fact that she “never gave up on him.”
“As my teaching career comes to an end, I have many memories throughout the years that will be with me forever,” Henderson said. “I have also kept a lot of the special notes that I received from students on how I made an impact in their lives, gifts, the bonds made with students and staff.”
Henderson looks forward to having free time, spending more time with family and reconnecting with favorite hobbies.
“This was a very difficult decision, but it is time I joined my husband (in retirement) so we can enjoy each other, as well as our kids and grandchildren,” said Henderson. “I look forward to camping and doing things I haven’t been able to do, like scrapbooking and making jewelry.”
Although she will be retired from teaching math, she will continue to teach driver’s training along with Greg, who’s been doing that for over 30 years.
“Whitehall Middle School is a great family to be a part of.,” Henderson said.
Henderson encourages people who are thinking about pursuing a career in teaching to follow their passion.
“Teaching is not an easy job, but is rewarding in many ways,” said Henderson. “We need passionate, caring, motivated, patient and hard working teachers who want to be there for the kids.”
