Words & Photo Heidi Hackman, District Career Coordinators, SD 63
In the world of education, June is a time of celebration and transition, as students graduate and embark on new journeys. Similarly, retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with travel, new hobbies and the freedom of unscheduled time. This month, we honour an exceptional educator who is “graduating” from her professional career as a teacher, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and guidance, relationships and community building.
Colleen McNamee, affectionately known as “Mac” to most, began her journey in the Saanich School District in 1988 as an intern at Stelly’s Secondary. An energetic PE teacher, she taught her all-girls class to play football, complete with grunting and tackling! While Colleen loves all sports, her true passions lie in basketball and track and field. She has coached, cheered and sponsored teams, truly doing it all. This year she led the track and field team at Parkland Secondary and organized the city and Island championships in May, showcasing that her energy and enthusiasm has not waned in her 37 years of teaching!
Colleen took a few years off to raise her kids, Charlotte and Oliver, before returning to teaching part-time at the Individual Learning Centre (ILC). She taught Math and pioneered the dual credit Hairstyling Program, even naming the teaching salon Studio 63! Since then, Colleen has been a provincial leader in Career Education. Currently, she works as a career teacher at both ILC and Parkland Secondary, while also holding a district leadership position as a District Career Lead. In this role, she supports secondary school staff and fosters relationships between districts and with the South Island Partnership through Camosun College. She has helped launch countless students on their career path and has left the Career’s department in the Saanich School District stronger than ever.
There is a saying that a good education can change anyone, but a good teacher can change everything. Colleen’s career has demonstrated that she is one of those teachers. Colleen’s work is marked by compassion and a deep connection to the Peninsula communities and each student’s individual story. Colleen is so connected to our community, it is often the case that she has taught one of her students’ parents! Known for her ability to connect, Colleen often starts a conversation with: “What is your last name? Where did your parents go to school? Oh, I taught them!” These interactions are always filled with laughter and usually end with a hug and a solid student plan.
If you have met Colleen, you could not forget her. We will miss her boundless energy, meticulous attention to detail, rich understanding of process, thoughtful notes, expressions of kindness, gifts for milestones and thank yous, and even the occasional spilt tea.
This fall she will be walking the Camino and is looking forward to spending more time with her parents, Joan and Don, in Kamloops; go Westsyde Whundas! We wish her all the best, and like the end of her phone message: “Peace and Love.”
