Steadfast Through Change: Gay Fritz’s 22-Year Journey of Love and Learning in Mahomet-Seymour’s Classrooms

In the last two decades, the landscape of American education has transformed dramatically. Innovations have come and gone, methodologies have shifted, and some changes have caused lasting impacts that educators are still navigating. 

Still, as education continues to adapt to better serve today’s students, some essentials remain unchanged. This is what Mahomet-Seymour’s second-grade teacher Gay Fritz gave to students and their families over her 22-year tenure: a classroom filled with love, challenge and creativity. A place where children thrived.

“My motivation has remained the same: Love the kids, help them grow as individuals, encourage them to be life-long learners,” she said.

Working with children was always something that interested Fritz. Living in the same town as her aunt, who was a teacher, she helped organize books, put up bulletin boards and grade papers. At one time, she thought she might be an Art or Home Economics teacher, but working in a Sunday School class, sealed the deal in working with young children. 

“The most rewarding part of my job has two parts. First, making connections with the students. Second, teach to the best of my abilities and watch them grow academically, socially and emotionally,” she said.

By building relationships with each student and expecting them to give the best they could each day, Fritz was able to see that “light bulb” go off throughout the school year. 

“Teaching is all consuming and often is a very draining profession,” she said. “But, it is very rewarding as well. On one side, kids and families encounter difficult situations like divorce, deaths occur, a family member or pet gets sick, and kids have learning, or social and emotional struggles. With each situation comes and opportunity to stand beside the students and their family members. Loving them, praying for them, offering ideas, taking time to listen or just extending a helping hand is incredibly important. 

“On the opposite side teachers get to experience joys with the kids and their families. Siblings are born, travel to new places occurs, teeth are lost, and victories in learning new concepts take place. Teaching is about much more than academics!”

Being a safe place for children as they process through all of life’s circumstances, gave students the freedom to enjoy the highlights of second grade. 

Being a part of the Mahomet-Seymour School District means getting to participate in the Dawg Walk, the PTO’s annual fundraiser. Being part of Fritz’s second grade classroom meant building covered wagons during the Pioneer Unit, dressing up like an iconic figure after writing a biography report, creating the Plymouth Village with clothes pin people and Christmas craft day. 

While some of the ornaments from craft day might still be placed on the Christmas tree or the photo from the biography reports might be in a frame, Fritz instilled so much more in her students.

“There are a few things that I hope the kids remember from second grade,” she said. “I would hope they learned to work hard and set their goals high because they can and will do amazing things. Another thing I tried to instill in each student is the importance of being honest in everything. Finally, it is important to be kind to others.”

Not every year has been perfect, though. 

Teachers, students and parents experienced some of the most difficult times when everything changed in March of 2020. As everything closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools went remote abruptly, and finding ways to connect with students became nearly impossible.

“Teaching online was my least favorite time because there was very little interaction between me and my students. I felt disconnected from everything,” she said.

With social distancing restrictions in place statewide, Mahomet-Seymour Elementary classrooms were split into morning and afternoon groups. Teaching with a mask was difficult as kids struggled to hear instructions, and not seeing her students’ faces also proved to be difficult. 

“Once the masks weren’t mandatory, I thought I had a whole new group of kids since I had never seen their smiling faces before,” she said.

“During this time, I felt bad for the parents and kids because we were all placed in nearly an impossible situation. We each did our best and, in the process, discovered we could do more than we realized (even though it was less than perfect).”

Perhaps the biggest change in Fritz’s time in the classroom was integrating technology into the classroom.

“One of the most memorable moments was being given an I-Pad at Christmas from my students and their families,” Fritz remembers. “I had no idea how to use the device so I spent most of the days during my winter break learning everything I could about how and iPad worked.”

At the end of break, she came back to the classroom with plans to show her students how the iPad worked. 

“After about 10 minutes, a student raised his hand and said, ‘Mrs. Fritz, I think we all know how these work!’ I stopped what I was doing and asked the students if this was true. They all nodded in agreement. 

“I had no idea most students had an iPad at home. From that moment on, the kids used the iPad in class. Every time there was a question, I simply referred to one of the students for assistance. 

“I have learned more about technology from my students than I ever imagined possible. Both teachers and kids learn something new in school every day!”

As Fritz enters retirement this summer, she knows that her time in the classroom isn’t quite done. 

“I plan to stay involved in teaching,” she said. “I hope to do some counseling with young adults and continue teaching in our church. I also plan to volunteer at MPE. I love teaching and interacting with kids so much, I can’t imagine my life without teaching.

“Teaching has helped me become a better listener, it has shown me the importance of responding in a thoughtful manner, and it has helped me understand that students have strengths and weaknesses but ALL can achieve great things!”

After 22-years in the classroom, coming in early and staying late to make sure that her students had everything they need, Fritz is looking forward to retirement so that she can spend more time with her husband, adult children and grandchildren. 

“We have six grandchildren who are four and under so life will never be boring,” she said. “Rob and I plan to do a fair amount of traveling as well. We both love to explore new places, camp, hike, kayak, and bike. Our favorite places are state and national parks. We plan to take a trip to Alaska soon.”