Students fed her heart, soul

Toni Schlosser takes in every reaction on her students’ faces during story time. The first-grade teacher is retiring after a 37-year career at Twin City Elementary. PHOTO BY ADAM STEWART | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS Two weeks ago, Twin City Elementary first-grade teacher Toni Schlosser stepped out of her classroom for a few minutes.

When she returned, she was serenaded with an impromptu rendition of “skidamarink a-dink-a-dink” by her students.

“It was special,” she said, “kinda surreal.”

As a teacher, you wonder if you’re making a difference, she said. You wonder how the students feel.

The song, which she teaches to her students, is sung in the classroom every morning to start the day.

After a 37-year career at Twin City Elementary, she still wonders if she’s making an impact.

The answer comes in the “little moments,” when students surprise you, she said, not through grades or tests.

“You can’t fool the kids,” said Schlosser.

So, she doesn’t try.

She views her classroom like a family. Respect, love and trust pave the way for learning.

It is the kind of approach honed from experience and natural grace.

From Schlosser’s point of view, it makes the daily interaction fun.

“The kids and I respond really nice with each other,” she said. “I like to be little like them, think like them and have a good time.”

Everything “just flourishes” when you provide a safe, loving environment, she said.

Her favorite time of the day is giving each of her students a hug, a handshake or a high five when they arrive to school; her second favorite time, repeating the process at the end of her day.

As the days tick by, she admits to holding the hugs a bit longer than usual, her glances around the classroom are extended — as if taking a snapshot to capture a feeling — and her sentiments to passing students are becoming more frequent.

She’s taking it all in before her retirement at the end of the school year.

“This school has been my life,” she said. “The faculty is my family. They have always supported and lifted me up.”

As the faculty helped her through bouts with cancer, the “kids fed my heart and soul,” she said.

The hard part of retirement, she said, has been looking back at a career that passed too quickly.

Schlosser started teaching in special education with the Highline School District. A few years later, she and her husband, Terry, moved to Camano Island and both began teaching at Twin City Elementary.

Witnessing certain qualities in Schlosser, a colleague suggested she fill the opening for a first-grade teacher.

“The seed was planted,” she said. “I watered it.”

Early in her career, Schlosser admitted to being “really serious, organized and structured.”

As the years passed, she noticed subtle changes in her pedagogy.

Her focus shifted and the students responded.

“Let the kids know you love them,” she said, “have fun with them, and the academics will fall into place.”

Last week, a student asked Schlosser how much she loves them.

“As big as the day,” she responded, “as deep as the ocean and as warm as the sunshine.”

“Big as it could be,” she added, “with room to grow.”

When the students were asked what they have learned from Mrs. Schlosser this year, one child replied, “To be nice to each other, and to respect each other.”

Schlosser paused and said, “That is what I was hoping would happen.”

A retirement party will be held at the school on Thursday at 4 p.m. The public is invited.