Utah Catholic Schools teachers to retire/ Jeanine Higgs

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Jeanine Higgs

Jeanine Higgs, who is retiring from teaching at Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School, has many memories she will take with her. She is blessed to have spent her entire career at St. Joseph’s, Higgs said.

Growing up in Ogden, Higgs attended public school, but once she determined she wanted to be a teacher she always hoped she’d get to teach at St. Joseph’s, she said.

After she graduated from Weber State University in elementary education, that hope became a reality 26 years ago. During her final six months of college, Higgs had substitute taught at St. Joseph’s, so, not unexpectedly, the principal at the time called and offered her a position.

She was delighted to accept, Higgs said.

“It is an awesome place to teach,” she said. “It has been my whole life.”

Higgs taught middle-school classes her first year and followed that with four years as a fourth-grade teacher. For the last 21 years, she has taught third grade. It’s a grade level she loves.

“It’s a fun age,” she said. “They’re starting to become independent but they still need you. At this age, their own personalities start to come out.”

She will miss the community at the school, she said.

“It’s like a little family in the school; in the classroom there’s a lot of respect,” she said.

The administration and other faculty members have always been very supportive, Higgs said.

“Our principal, Nancy Essary, is very hard-working and a good role model,” she said. “I am really thankful to have had this opportunity to work for the diocese and the school.”

Essary praised Higgs as “definitely one of the strongholds of the school.”

“Jeanine is extremely patient and a good model of Christ,” she said. “We are going to miss her.”

Both of Higgs’ children attended St. Joseph Schools. Amanda recently graduated from the University of Utah; Brian, who graduates this week from St. Joseph Catholic High School, plans to attend Weber State University.

Higgs, who is retiring to spend more time with family, lost her mother in October and said she particularly wants to spend more time with her father. She also has some projects lined up around home. Her husband, Tim, is still working, but after he retires they hope to do some traveling, she said.

The school will honor Higgs with a celebration Tuesday, May 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. All are invited.