For more than 30 years, Robin Gatten has dedicated her heart and career to the students of Lee County Schools. This May, the longtime second grade teacher at W.B. Wicker Elementary School will retire, closing a remarkable chapter that began at Deep River Elementary School in 1993 and has touched generations of students across the community.
Robin's journey in Lee County Schools spans several schools and seasons of life. After teaching at Deep River until 2014, she briefly stepped away before returning as a tutor at Greenwood Elementary. A shared mentor connection between local principals quickly led her to a second grade opening at B.T. Bullock, where she continued doing what she loves most, helping children learn. Even after an early retirement from B.T. Bullock to spend time with grandchildren, Gatten felt a pull back to the classroom. When she learned that Wendy Carlyle would be Principal at the newly opening W.B. Wicker Elementary, she knew it was the right place for her to return. "I love school. I love the atmosphere. I love working with the people I work with. I love being here for the kids," she smiled.
Nearly always a second grade teacher, spending only five years in third grade and the balance in second, Gatten says the most rewarding moments are when learning "clicks." She said, "There is something about when a student grasps a skill that you are working on. It's that look on their face. That confidence," she said. "To know that I had a little part in that means more than I can put into words." Over time, what began as a necessity to work became her calling. Teaching became not just what she did, but where she wanted to be.
Lee County has always been home for Robin, both personally and professionally. She still lives on the same road she grew up on, on land once farmed by her grandfather. That deep sense of place has made teaching here especially meaning ful. "Seeing kids that you taught being out in the community, working, making a difference. That's really part of what makes it rewarding," she shared. Over the years, she has even taught the children of former students, creating unforgettable full-circle moments, like the day a former second grader from Deep River walked into her classroom at W.B. Wicker's Open House with her own child, smiling ear-to-ear as she waited to say, "Hey, Mrs. Gatten."
Reflecting on changes in education, Gatten points to technology as one of the most positive shifts, from dial-up computers to today's powerful classroom tools. At the same time, she acknowledges the growing challenge of meeting the wide range of student needs. Still, she remains proud. Proud to be a teacher. Proud of her longevity in the profession. Proud of the countless small moments that make a big impact. "Just being able to say, "I'm a teacher' is one of the proudest things I can say," she explained.
As Mrs. Gatten prepares to retire this May, we are proud to highlight her and thank her for three decades of dedication, compassion, and commitment to students. Her legacy will live on in the confidence she build, the relationships she nurtured, and the many lives she helped shape. One thing is sure. She will most often be remembered with a smile.