Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
Chelsea Park Elementary School educator Vickey Bailey enjoys her drive-by retirement celebration Aug. 26. Bailey recently retired after her 43-year career as a teacher. She estimates she has taught more than 1,000 students during her career and has been connected to at least 500 more.
After a 43-year teaching career, Chelsea Park Elementary’s Vickey Bailey retired Aug. 31. She’s moving from her classroom of children to focus on another important child in her life.
“The decision to retire was made when I got my first grandbaby,” Bailey said. “Also, not being able to hug and smile at all the students is really hard for me as a teacher and a person. I felt this was the time to say goodbye and move on to another chapter in my life, and I plan to keep my grandbaby when my daughter returns to work.”
She began teaching in 1977 at the YMCA in Bessemer and finished her degree in physical education and driver’s education in 1978. At that time there was a shortage of teachers for elementary school, so in 1979, she joined what was then known as Teacher Corps, a recruitment program to encourage people to go into elementary education. She taught elementary students and earned a master’s degree in elementary education through this program.
Bailey, a Gifted Resource Center teacher, was named Shelby County Division III Teacher of the Year in 2019 and was one of 16 finalists for Alabama Teacher of the Year. She has been at Chelsea Park Elementary since the school opened.
Her GRC classes supplement what the students are doing in their regular classroom, but they also have their own curriculum to encourage critical thinking skills.
Bailey estimates she has taught more than 1,000 students during her career and has been connected to at least 500 more. She said her goal was to connect with as many children at school as possible, because “you never know who will need a smile or a hug.”
CPES Principal Jennifer Galloway said Bailey has had a huge impact on the Chelsea community.
“She has served and touched the lives of so many students and families,” Galloway said. “She is that teacher who is there for everyone. Her passion for teaching and students shines through each and every day. She will be dearly missed.”
Cherry Moody did her student teaching in Bailey’s classroom in 1992 and has worked with her since. She described it as “the most rewarding experience.”
“Her inspiration, guidance and knowledge has shaped me into the teacher I am today,” Moody said. “I can truly say I have loved coming to work every day because of our wonderful students and Mrs. Bailey. She has touched the lives of so many — students as well as teachers. She will be definitely missed, and I wish her nothing but happiness during her retirement.”
Third grade teacher Angie Harris described Bailey as the Michael Jordan of teaching. “She makes everybody around her successful,” Harris said.
A drive-by parade was held in Bailey’s honor Aug. 26, where former students could come by and say their goodbyes from their cars. Some brought balloons, cards, flowers and posters for her.
“The retirement parade was absolutely terrific,” she said. “It was so much better than a party because I could speak to everyone individually and say my goodbyes privately. I positively loved the signs and the cards because I can go back and reread them numerous times. I felt humbled and full of pride to have known such great and beautiful people.”
There will be a lot of things that she will miss, some being the greetings and the students’ beautiful smiles.
“The interactions with the children are the things that kept me connected and young at heart,” she said.
