After helping lighten the hearts of young people for over 40 years, Peggy Rankin will officially retire from teaching at the Immanuel Lutheran School at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Since she joined Immanuel Lutheran’s staff in 1996, Rankin is still grateful for all the creative opportunities and growth the school has provided.
A double major in elementary education and physical education from Concordia University Chicago, Rankin began his career teaching in Wilmington, Illinois. While enjoying the ties of a small-town community, she taught middle school physical education and worked as her director of athletics.
After moving to Tampa Bay, Rankin sought an opportunity to teach 4th grade at Robles Elementary School for a year before settling for 3 years as a 5th grade teacher at Limona Elementary School. Despite being awarded Teacher of the Year in his final year at Limona, Rankin cited a strange twist of fate as the reason he earned the position at Immanuel Lutheran.
While walking the church grounds after a service one day, Rankin ran into a friend from college. The friend was teaching at Immanuel Lutheran. Her friend, who was going to move her, suggested that Rankin take her place. At that time, the principal of the Immanuel Lutheran Church came down the steps of the church and offered Rankin an interview. Believing it was time for him to return the favor, Rankin accepted the job.
“I believe God has a plan for you,” Rankin said.
Her first few roles at school included covering 7th grade science, 8th grade mathematics, 7th and 8th grade computer classes, and five physical education courses, as well as assisting the track and field coach. That was it. Within a year, she founded the school’s student council. She developed her own legacy further, starting her sports day tradition that same year, offering students of different grades the opportunity to work together, and in the process, she eventually became an athletic Became a director and held that position for 17 years.
Rankin, who eventually became a sixth grade teacher in 2007, opened a classroom treasure chest where children could exchange “big money” for prizes when they completed their homework or helped fellow students. created. Noticing that her students were learning valuable lessons about how to count and save, she founded Immanuel Lutheran Superstore and, with the help of volunteers from her church and her own parents, Opened her once a month for about 12 years.
While she looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren and doing volunteer work after retirement, she will still miss being a part of her students’ “light bulb” moments.
“The thrill you get when you’re teaching students and that they figure it out. All of a sudden, a light bulb comes on and they’re like, ‘Oh!’ – I miss that.” Because it is
Rankin’s colleagues are now creating a Kudo board for community members to post send-off messages. Interested parties can find the page by visiting www.kudoboard.com/boards/Jt3vMVU2#view. Additionally, Rankin will be able to meet her past students and their families at her retirement party, which will be held at her Lutheran gym on Saturday, May 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. I’m looking forward to it.
