Kindergarten teacher ready to graduate

Sandy Mansfield earned an honorary doctorate in kindergarten.

Before an audience of roughly 300 of Mansfield’s current and former students, parents and friends, parent Denise Brothers explained that “there’s no one who knows more about kindergarten than Mrs. Mansfield,” and presented her with a cap, gown and diploma.

The group packed the pews Thursday at First Presbyterian Church for a surprise ceremony to honor Mansfield for her 20 years as kindergarten teacher at the church’s school.

“I was speechless. I thought it was choir practice,” said Mansfield, whose mouth fell open when she saw the crowd. “I have kids in there in every row.”

In addition to coming out on a rainy evening to see their beloved teacher, fans showed their appreciation by donating about $1,500 in her name to the proposed Inland Empire Science and Technology Center.

Mansfield, 60, recently realized there would never be a good time to retire because she still loved what she was doing. But she also felt it was time to move into the next phase of her life – volunteering and giving back to the next generation.

Last month, she was part of a brainstorming session for the science center, and then was asked to volunteer. Suddenly everything made sense.

“Now I can keep doing what I love in a volunteer/service way and help bring the science center to kids in Spokane,” said Mansfield, who taught her last class at First Presbyterian on Thursday. “This is the bridge to my tomorrow.”

The oldest child in her family, Mansfield can’t remember a time she wasn’t teaching. The influence of a high school biology teacher and his wife helped light her passion. The man “brought out the best in everyone by challenging everyone.” His wife was a kindergarten teacher. Mansfield helped her set up science labs for her students, and saw how well science can be taught at a young age.

“Young ones are so naturally full of curiosity, so hands-on,” said Mansfield, whose enthusiasm often erupts in an effervescent giggle. “And science is full of discovery and experiment.”

In everything she’s done at First Presbyterian, Mansfield has tried to share her love of science with her students, to show them the natural wonder of the world. In addition to the nature hikes and class hermit crab, students and parents have vivid memories of the dinosaur, whale and wilderness museums Mansfield created each year with her students, working together to transform the whole classroom into a giant display.

Students created ceiling-high dinosaurs from boxes covered with plastic and adorned with tissue paper scales. They would then guide other students through their museums, sharing all of their new knowledge.

“It was not surface learning,” said Denise Brothers, whose two children were students of Mansfield’s. “You send your kindergartner off and they learn about dinosaurs, ocean life and come home and want to take apart the old telephone in the basement.”

Sam King, who just finished ninth grade at St. George’s School, said he has never forgotten Mansfield and the things he learned in kindergarten.

“She always saw all the potential in every kid,” added Sam’s mom, Mary Jo King. “Even though they were little she made them feel big.”