Across the country, retired teachers are teaching in critical need areas due to a major teacher shortage.

Many Chapman teachers are doing this.

History teacher Fara Stewart has been working retired for three years  and enjoys it.

“I never intended to truly retire,” she said. “I love teaching. I just discovered a way to make more money while continuing in a job I love.”

Although teaching while being retired may seem great, there are downsides to it.

“The downside is that you can be let go at any time, and you will not be rehired if the area you teach in is no longer considered a critical needs area,” Stewart said. 

That worry doesn’t outweigh the biggest benefit: the money.

“The best benefit is financial,” she said. “You can draw a retirement salary while also receiving a teaching salary as long as you work in an area that is considered critical needs.”

English teacher Holly Hollifield is in her second year teaching while being retired. Like Stewart, she also enjoys it but does acknowledge it can be difficult.

“I’m getting older and losing patience,” she said. “Also, seeing other people my age traveling and having a much more flexible schedule and the new school rules are making my job harder than it should be.”

Even with that, she’s not ready to hang it up. 

“I am not ready to retire,” she said. “When I’m teaching, I still have big breaks, like winter and summer breaks, and I love teaching.”

Virtual lab teacher Ricky Pace, who retired from his position as an administrator in 2022, said he does it because he truly loves Chapman.

“I love it here,” he said. “When I officially retire, I want it to be from Chapman because it’s my home. I want to complete my career here.”