MENOMINEE — Vicki Howell, a long-time chemistry teacher at Menominee High School, is retiring after 33 years of teaching.
What’s different about students today?
“You know what? Not much,” Howell said. “I think the kids have been the constant through it all.”
And that’s exactly how it appeared as hundreds of students, colleagues, friends and family sent her well-wishes and shared memories on her Facebook post announcing her retirement.
No matter if the person graduated last year or a decade ago, many reflected on the impact “Mrs. Howell” had on their lives.
She was almost speechless as she tried to describe the congratulatory comments from her former pupils, stretching in age from 18 years old to those in their 40s.
“It’s just been a wonderful treasure to have done the job in the first place and then to have that kind of response,” Howell said.
To cap off her final year, Howell will be recognized with the Outstanding Person in Education OPIE award on Thursday in Escanaba, nominated by the Menominee City District Educational Association.
The OPIEs are selected annually by local union members of the Michigan Education Association, which represents around 120,000 teachers and support staff in the state. This year, 17 OPIE recipients in the south central U.P. will be honored.
She didn’t have a lifelong dream of wanting to be a teacher, she said. She graduated from Northern Michigan University with an education degree, but had been pre-physical therapy before her junior year, thinking she’d go back for physical therapy.
“I thought I would teach for a little bit,” Howell said.
However, after four years at Marinette Catholic Central, she fell in love — mostly with the energy and personalities of high school students.
She started in 1995 at Menominee High School, hired by Ken Hofer, who was the principal at the time.
Throughout the years, she’s advised numerous classes, served as the union’s secretary and retirement chair and led Tri-Y.
Nate Djupstrom, guidance counselor and Howell’s colleague for 23 years, said they came up with a slogan about 20 years ago when advising one of the classes.
“Anytime one of us has a problem, we’ll just look at each other and say, ‘It’s fine. It’s going to be fine. Everything’s fine,’” Djupstrom said.
It’s her can-do attitude that stood out to Leah Simi, English teacher, when she was hired in 2015. Simi is the one who also nominated Howell for the OPIE award.
“I was advised, ‘When you’re not sure what to do, talk to Vicki.’ And I did,” Simi said. “I remember asking her, and she lit up. That’s the way she always is. She’s always got this positive light to her.”
Simi said she’s always been impressed with how Howell addresses issues.
“She’s not known as the easy teacher,” Simi said. “She teaches the hard stuff. The first time they do poorly on a test in her class, they don’t cry about it. She challenges the kids, and they still love her.”
Blake LaFond, a senior, said Howell leaves an impression on each graduating class because of her openness to letting kids into her life. He’s had her for four classes: environmental sciences, college success strategies and both chemistry classes.
“The way she connects with the students — how comfortable you feel in the classroom — you can really tell she cares about what she’s teaching and who she’s teaching it to,” LaFond said.
It’s not just with students, it’s with staff, too.
“You always know where you stand with Mrs. Howell, which in my opinion is great, because you never have to guess,” Djupstrom said.
Principal Justin Bardowski said her skills and dedication were a true asset.
“She’s passionate about the kids, which is the biggest thing,” Bardowski said. “Our district and our building are incredibly fortunate to have had her.”
She agrees that the kids have always been her focus, joking that she wasn’t sure how she’d make adult friends after spending so much time with teenage personalities for more than half her life. Howell is 56 years old.
Howell said the shift in teaching during COVID nudged her to start thinking about how she wanted to spend the rest of her working years, just how the pandemic changed everyone’s course of thinking.
“I didn’t think I would retire this soon,” Howell said.
Howell earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification last year and is also considering enrolling in Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College’s new two-year physical therapy assistant program in 2025. She will also join the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy staff next year, teaching chemistry for one hour a day.
Howell also has a family in husband, Leigh, and three kids, Tyler, Nathan and Spencer.
She wanted to credit her own parents for some of her skillset, who were not teachers, but who showed her how to be frugal, inquisitive and think independently.
“I’m grateful for their teaching skills and how they helped me be able to find mine,” Howell said.
She said the key to connection, no matter the age, is showing compassion, having high expectations and mutual respect. It also helps to have a few jokes tucked away.
“Humor goes a long way,” Howell said.
She said that throughout the years, she’s been able to keep the same silly sayings with her kids.
“Do what you otter, add acid to water.”
And with friends.
“It’s fine. Everything’s going to be fine. It’s fine.”
It just comes naturally for Howell.
“It’s never been a job for me,” Howell said. “It’s always been something I’ve loved to do.”
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