For more than four decades, Brenda Fox has been educating students in the Hamilton USD 390 district. This month, Fox will close her chapter of teaching Tigers at Hamilton and retire from the education field. She began teaching fourth-eighth grade math in Hamilton 44 years ago. The next 43 years, she would spend teaching third and fourth graders that graced the halls of Hamilton Elementary School. She also coached high school volleyball for 10 years, high school basketball, junior high track and junior high volleyball for one year each.
“One of my favorite moments (of teaching) is when the “light bulb” goes on and a student usually exclaims... ‘Oh, now I get it,’” stated Fox.
She also shared that teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic was the most challenging period during her 44 years of teaching. “Remote learning, complying with health requirements and lack of personal interaction with students was very difficult,” she stated. Although she attended several schools across the country growing up, she knew early on that she wanted to live and work near her family, which made teaching in Hamilton an ideal situation for her. Fox was born in Anchorage, Alaska and attended schools in California, Washington, Arizona and Kansas. She graduated from Eureka Junior/Senior High School and furthered her education at Butler Community College and Emporia State University.
Even though she has received teaching awards in the past, her favorite recognition remains those coming from current and former students. “I love talking with former students and hearing how they’ve been doing,” she stated.
“I’ll miss the personal interaction with the students and colleagues. I’ll also miss watching the ag program grow,” Fox concluded.
With retirement fast approaching, Fox plans to travel and spend more time with her grandkids. She is also hopeful to spend more time gardening and shopping.
She and her husband of 41 years, Ben reside in Eureka. They have two children, Brandi Young and Brett, and three grandchildren.
