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Canfield teacher retires after 45 years
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Dolores Saunders
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Dolores Saunders, 70, of Canfield, retired Friday after 41 years with the Canfield School District. Saunders, a physical-education teacher, goes over the rules of kickball during a session outside with a class at Hilltop Elementary.
By Elise Franco
CANFIELD
After more than four decades as one of Canfield’s favorite educators, Dolores Saunders is hanging up her whistle.
Saunders, a physical- education teacher at Hilltop Elementary, retired Friday after 45 total years as a teacher and 41 years with the Canfield district.
“I’ve been in school for 65 straight years — and I’m 70,” she said with a laugh. “I thought that was enough.”
Saunders, who taught her first four years at Villa Maria Academy in Pennsylvania, said she undoubtedly will miss those who have impacted her the most — her students and colleagues.
“It’s been great, and these people are like family,” she said. “And when the kids do a good job, I say, ‘I taught them that,’ and it makes me feel good.”
Superintendent Dante Zambrini said in Saunders’ 41 years she’s taught at every school in the district.
He said it’s Saunders’ approach to physical education that helps her connect with students.
“She has a heart of gold. She’s a very kind and caring individual,” he said. “She would give you the shirt off her back because she is very strong in her faith, generous to others and very passionate about physical education.”
Zambrini said she’s brought many new things to every level of physical education in Canfield, including ballroom dancing, gymnastics and martial arts.
“She’s a very creative person,” he said. “And she always likes to try new things.”
Saunders said she gets the greatest satisfaction when she sees success from a child who may be less athletic than his or her classmates.
“I have these little, petite people who don’t play sports,” she said. “I try to build their confidence. ... When they catch that first ball, every student knows what it took to accomplish that.”
Saunders said it’s important that each of her students has an equal chance to participate and succeed during her class.
“That teaches compassion and respect,” she said.
Zambrini said more than 20 of Saunders’ former students have returned to the district as teachers.
Karen Pavlov, a teacher at C.H. Campbell Elementary, said she was in Saunders’ gym class in 1974.
She echoed Zambrini’s sentiments.
“She’s dedicated to the kids,” Pavlov said. “She was always looking for new and interesting activities to get them interested in physical health.”
Pavlov said though it was many years ago, she remembers her time as a student under Saunders.
“She really seemed to enjoy what she was doing, and she definitely had a love of teaching,” she said. “Maybe that’s part of what helped me decide to go into teaching.”