In the world of education, June is a time of celebration and transition, as students graduate and embark on new journeys. Similarly, retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with travel, new hobbies and the freedom of unscheduled time. This month, we honour an exceptional educator who is “graduating” from her professional career as a teacher, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and guidance, relationships and community building.

Colleen McNamee, affectionately known as “Mac” to most, began her journey in the Saanich School District in 1988 as an intern at Stelly’s Secondary. An energetic PE teacher, she taught her all-girls class to play football, complete with grunting and tackling! While Colleen loves all sports, her true passions lie in basketball and track and field. She has coached, cheered and sponsored teams, truly doing it all. This year she led the track and field team at Parkland Secondary and organized the city and Island championships in May, showcasing that her energy and enthusiasm has not waned in her 37 years of teaching!