On Feb. 5, 1973, Jane McGhee began her CHS teaching career as a physical education teacher. This month, McGhee celebrated her 40th and possibly final year at CHS with 40 dozen doughnuts distributed to students in the quad before school started.
After graduating high school, McGhee earned her masters degree and administration credential at Cal Western University which then turned into USIU. It was there that McGhee discovered her true passion for teaching.
“I had a really great group of professors and other students who all worked and studied together,” McGhee said. “It was this experience that really fueled my fire for teaching.”
Because of her love for teaching and her love for physical fitness, McGhee knew that P.E. was a perfect fit for her.
“Teaching physical education was a dream come true for me,” McGhee said.
McGhee loves her job because she is able to teach teenagers the importance and benefits of staying healthy. Even though working in the same job for 40 years may sound boring, McGhee’s students inspire her to continue her career.
“Whenever I see my students put in all their effort to improve their fitness, it inspires me to keep teaching,” McGhee said.
Though McGhee intends on retiring in June, she admits that it isn’t an easy decision. Because of her hesitation to retire completely, McGhee hopes to return part time next year and teach only two periods instead of six.
“I’m really not ready to go, though. I’m just not,” McGhee said. “How could I ever quit this?”
When she retires, McGhee plans on traveling the world with her husband. This summer, she hopes to return to Spain to finish “the camino”, which is a 500 mile trip across Spain that they had previously started.
“I want to keep it simple,” McGhee said. “Traveling, gardening and exercising, that’s all I want.”
As McGhee finishes out her 40th year, she wants to encourage her students to continue their academic careers.
“My advice to my students would be to stay in school,” McGhee said. “It does not have to be a four year school, just as long as they never stop learning.”
Lillian Murphy • Feb 13, 2013 at 8:30 pm
I’m a friend of Jane McGhee and she is a powerhouse. I’ve never experienced a more motivated, energetic, and dedicated person in the teaching realm, except maybe her husband, Charlie, who inspires students in music. We often share travel plans, destinations, and knowledge of the world, as we’ve often traveled the same paths yet at different times. I hope, in her “semi-retirement”, she continues to inspire students and other educators wherever she goes about what is truly important to self and what one can achieve in life to be happy and giving. A shout out to you, Jane!