Community Corner
Rogers Middle Art Teacher Retiring to Rural Inspiration
Ann McClintock will return to her roots on a farm in rural Missouri.
After 17 years of teaching art at Rogers Middle School in the Affton School District, Ann McClintock will be retiring and starting a new life on a farm. The school board accepted her retirement at its April meeting, and though she will miss her friends and students, she is eager to go back to her roots.
“We have a farm in north Missouri where we are from, and we plan to move back home,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing more of my family.”
McClintock’s home is a farm between Shelbina, MO—population 1,704—and Monroe— with a population of more than 2,000. Hannibal is about 20 miles away.
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McClintock grew up on a dairy farm outside of Monroe City, and she and her husband still have friends in the area where they attended high school together.
“We won't actually farm, but we have a garden and fruit trees,” she said. “(Her husband) Jerry also has cattle and is partners with a neighbor.”
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Jerry will also retire at the end of the year, and they plan to move right after that.
McClintock said that life for her in rural northern Missouri will involve gardening, keeping the yard mowed and making preserves.
“I’ll keep myself busy,” she said. “And I’ll probably substitute teach at the school in Shelbina.”
McClintock, who, along with her husband, raised five children said she has thoroughly enjoyed working in the Affton School District.
“I like the people I work with and the students. Affton is a great place to work. I feel that the administration is supportive of the arts, especially my principal Jeff Remelius,” she said.
“I always enjoyed drawing when I was young,” she said. “When I took art in high school, that got me hooked. I have a sister who also taught art for many years.”
She was part of an exhibit where seven teachers from the Affton School District displayed their art at Phoenix Potteries on Weber Road in Affton two years ago. McClintock exhibited ceramic pieces and watercolor paintings. She enjoyed the art show, she said, because between working full time and raising her children, she had not had a chance to do a lot of artwork in the past few years.
"Clay has been my favorite medium, with watercolor being more of a challenge," McClintock said.
Out in nature, in the peaceful country life she has ahead of her, she hopes to find the time to do more such artwork and maybe even find a little inspiration.