After 30 years of teaching, 25 of them at Maryland Avenue Elementary, special education teacher Sherry Heisterkamp has retired.

She has seen many successes in working with students with learning and behavior disabilities. Several years ago, she had a student who struggled with learning disabilities. She kept in touch with him throughout high school and college. She went to his wedding. That pupil eventually became her son’s fifth-grade teacher.

"I am so proud of you!"’ she told the former student at an educational event. "This is the kind of story that makes it all worthwhile."

Heisterkamp, who moved a year ago to a farm house in Lancaster, had lived in Bexley since she was a second-grader at Montrose Elementary. A 1968 BHS graduate, she received a bachelor’s degree in education from Capital University and a master’s from Ohio University.

The first five years of her career were spent in the Bloom-Carroll school system. She and her husband Jim have two children who attended Bexley schools. Tyler now is at the College of Wooster and Abby is pursing a career in education, attending Capital University.

As a special education teacher, Heisterkamp liked the experience of teaching students from different grade levels. "It has been really nice to have a range of age groups," she said. "It makes for a fast, challenging day."

Her school day consisted of working in her own classroom with students, grades 2-6, in the mornings. In the afternoons, she taught in other classrooms.

Heisterkamp thought that Maryland Avenue Elementary is a special place to work because of its smaller student population.

"It’s helpful to have a small school where the staff not only knows their own kids but the others in the school," she said. "There is a strong sense of family among the staff. I can’t think of a better place to have worked for 25 years. I don’t know how many people can say that after 25 years."

"Through the years, we have lived through some tragedies," she said. "It pulled the staff closer together. Bexley is a great place for children. The kind, caring staff go way beyond the call of duty."

Heisterkamp plans to work part-time after her retirement. She has a number of interests and has submitted a resume to Capital University to work with student teachers.

She said she may volunteer to work in the food pantry at her church, Christ Lutheran, in Bexley.

Other plans include working for a veterinarian. "I have seven cats and two dogs of my own," she said.

She also likes camping and gardening ("I can hardly wait to fill the pots.") She also plans to spend time just sitting on the front porch — reading a book and enjoying a country view.