After 25 years of teaching seventh and eighth grade math at Hamilton Middle School, longtime educator Andee Grabinski is preparing to close an unforgettable chapter in her life and career.
For more than two decades, Grabinski has helped generations of Hamilton students navigate everything from the Pythagorean Theorem to algebraic equations — all while creating a classroom environment where students felt safe, supported, and encouraged to challenge themselves.
The decision to retire was not an easy one.
“The decision was not easy to retire, but the opportunity arose,” Grabinski shared. “I’m at the point where I can, and I don’t know, it’s time for something new.”
While math has always been her subject, students quickly learned that Grabinski had a unique way of connecting lessons to real life — especially during baseball season.
“We’re doing the Pythagorean Theorem,” she laughed. “It’s the middle of baseball season, so my house is baseball. So, you get a Pythagorean Theorem baseball question.”
Although she is stepping away from the classroom, Grabinski said the relationships she built over the years will be what she misses the most.
“I think what I’ll miss the most is the people here,” she said. “Students are great. Staff is great. The friendships that I’ve made — they’re never going to go away.”
Retirement may change her daily routine, but Grabinski said Hamilton will always remain a major part of her life. Her husband, Brian still teaches in the district at Hamilton High School, and her family remains deeply connected to the community.
“It is a little weird because I’m not really leaving,” she said. “My husband’s still teaching here for a few more years. We’ve got a kid in high school for a few more years. So, it’s not that you won’t see me around.”
Throughout her career, Grabinski said her biggest goal was helping students feel comfortable being themselves while discovering that math could actually be enjoyable.
“Throughout teaching, I think the biggest thing is just hoping that students feel safe, feel comfortable to be themselves, get a little challenged in a subject maybe that they don’t think they like or love,” she said. “I mean, clearly I love math. I think there’s some really cool things about it.”
She also reflected on how Hamilton Community Schools has evolved during her 25 years in the district, especially in the opportunities now available for students.
“There’s way more opportunities now than maybe when I first started teaching,” Grabinski said. “I think that’s great. We’re growing and giving kids lots of options.”
As someone who spent her entire teaching career in one district, Grabinski said Hamilton’s culture and sense of community made staying an easy choice.
“I think working in Hamilton is just an easy choice,” she said. “There’s great kids, there’s great families, there’s great opportunities. We keep good people around. There’s got to be a reason for that.”
Looking back, she says she feels fortunate to have spent all 25 years of her career in a place where she felt appreciated and valued.
“I think it’s cool that I get to say that I taught in the same district for 25 years in a row,” Grabinski said. “I have felt valued and I have felt like I wanted to stay. Our admin and our community have created that, and I think that’s something that I’m proud to say.”
