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Kimmel pioneered program in District 88

Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Special education teacher Sue Kimmel sits on a staircase at the Washington Learning Center. She is retiring after 32 years in the district.

NEW ULM — Retiring Special education teacher Sue Kimmel could not see her life turning out any other way.

As the end of her professional life draws near, Kimmel said she was not surprised about where she ended up.

“I always had an inkling that I would end up here,” Kimmel said. “I knew that I would be in special education. I knew that I wanted to work with children with autism and I did.”

Kimmel was born and raised in Springfield. She went to Mankato State University, receiving special education and elementary education degrees.

She spent a year working in Madelia and two years in Lake Crystal before going back for licensing in early childhood special education and an autism license.

Kimmel has worked for Independent School District 88 for 32 years. Over three decades she has seen special education shift from seclusion to inclusion-based techniques.

Special education students used to be entirely separate from general education, Kimmel said.They would have their own room and teachers. Now, depending on a student’s needs, most kids spend a lot of the time in a general education setting.

“I also think that we do a better job of teaching the whole child now than we used to,” Kimmel said.

The “whole child” refers to emotional and social skills along with traditional academics.

One of Kimmel’s favorite memories on the job was working in the Theo Wright Center. It worked on researching what kind of education autistic children need.

“It was the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota,” Kimmel said. “That was just a great experience, and the school district was really supportive. It was great, it was just great.”

The retiring teacher advised anyone starting out to follow wisdom she got from her parents and her aunt.

Work hard, do your best and “bloom where you are planted,” Kimmel said. Spread seeds of compassion, and a happy teacher can change the world, she added.

Kimmel does not see herself travelling or spending her days fishing, she said. Instead she wants to remain engaged.

“I am a learner, I will always be a life-long learner and I will always be a life-long teacher,” Kimmel said.

In the immediate future, Kimmel said she would like to spend a couple of months relaxing and contemplating how she will stay engaged.

She expects to do some more work with kids and the environment. Spending time with her family is also on her to-do list — including helping her daughter who she said is looking to start campaigning for public office.

“I will be right there where the action is, supporting my community and the families and children in my community,” Kimmel said.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.

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