After 39 years of dedication to the Eaton school district, Quentin Goodwin, middle school math teacher, is retiring from teaching—according to everyone except Goodwin. Although officially Goodwin will be considered retired, Goodwin says, “I love what I’m doing; I’ll never retire.” Kevin Carbaugh, administrator at EMS, says Goodwin is under a transition contact meaning Goodwin will work part-time at EMS teaching four hours a day. Goodwin says, “They’re trying to transition me to retirement, but it’s not going to work.” According to Goodwin, he is teaching the same four math classes he’s taught at EMS for 39 years, and he is still sponsoring student council; however, he doesn’t have to come to school on teacher work days or attend teacher meetings, and he can’t work more than 140 days in a year.
Many students, including Tony Aguirre (14), claim Goodwin is their favorite teacher. Aguirre says, “He’s so funny, and he really teaches his students.”
Colton Ingram (16), one of Goodwin’s current Geometry students, says, “He’s a great teacher. He doesn’t just throw information at you. He makes sure you understand it and teaches it well.”
Carbaugh says, “He has a knack for developing a rapport with students. He develops relationships with them, and they want to work for him.”
Goodwin says that the greatest part of working at EMS is plain and simply the kids. In the 39 years that he has taught in the district, he says he is most proud of producing successful kids. However, Goodwin takes little to no credit for their success. “I don’t make them successful, I just show them what I expect, and I expect the same out of everyone,” says Goodwin.
Carbaugh says that Goodwin’s accomplishments at EMS are too many to list each one. “He is a valuable asset to EMS in many ways, not just as a teacher. He contributes to the school through his work with student council as well as the other areas he is involved in,” says Carbaugh. Goodwin refuses to state that he is officially retiring. He says, “I’ll probably be here four or five more years.”