Joan embraced the opportunity to take early retirement when the school needed to balance the books and shed staff. It was very early retirement of course. After 18 years at Canon Lee Arts and Community College she had mixed feelings. She says, “It was the right time to go”. Her life has changed – with more time for what she wants to do. After a few weeks away from the school she was invited back for a few weeks as receptionist. A part time job until the new person could take over.
Now she is training in a new part time role as a Learning Facilitator with York Museums Trust. Sometimes she has to dress up as a Victorian School Teacher and teach the visiting children in the strict manner that would have been the norm in those times. She even has a cane in her hand, but no children are harmed in the process.