claire hanley

McLean Teacher Retires after 20 Years of Service

By Henrietta Gomes
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 5/17/07) claire hanley

MCLEAN — Rambunctious 4-year-olds have surrounded her all day for the last 20 years, but soon it will change as Claire Hanley, pre-K teacher at St. John the Beloved School in McLean, retires.
“I just want to go quietly in the night,” the educator said. “I don’t want a big fuss,” she said after making numerous attempts to stop any type of retirement celebration. However, as the teacher who has been at the school the longest and who has taught children in many parish families, a quiet disappearance will be hard. The parish and school will thank Hanley for her dedication at a reception after a May crowning on May 18 at 7 p.m. at the church.
Hanley, a parishioner of St. John’s for 34 years, started the pre-K program at the school and watched it evolve over the years. She remembers picking out all the supplies and setting up the classroom.
“She is one of the most well regarded teachers by students, staff and parents,” said Principal Peter Schultz. Her retirement, “is a huge loss to St. John’s.”
Hanley, is “caring and giving to the students … a phenomenal teacher for our students and great example to her colleagues,” he said.
“I’m sure I’m going to miss [teaching],” said the New Jersey native, who looks forward to spending time with her 4-month-old granddaughter. Aside from quality time with her granddaughter, Hanley also hopes to spend time volunteering at area hospitals, sewing, reading, doing needlepoint and learning how to use a computer.
The lifelong and devout Catholic will miss teaching religion and art the most. The daily communicant starts the day with religion class. In honor of the Blessed Mother this month, her students are learning to pray the rosary, a few prayers at time she said, pointing to the altar in her classroom with flowers and a statue of Mary. Reminiscing about her years at St. John, Hanley said she always enjoyed watching her pre-K students grow up and receive the sacraments. It is her faith which “is the daily basis of my life,” said Hanley, who serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the parish.
Deep devotion to her faith runs in the family, noted Hanley, whose older brother is a priest in Albuquerque, N.M. Her brother-in-law is a priest in New Jersey, and her nephew Father Dan Hanley, serves at St. James Parish in Falls Church.
Teaching preschool has been “quite an experience,” she said with a smile. “I have always loved the younger children.” She initially started her teaching career as a high school biology teacher. After two years she took time off to watch her five children grow up. When her youngest was in second grade she returned to the classroom at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, where she taught for seven years. Shortly after, Hanley started the preschool at St. John and has remained there since.
“They’re a handful, but you just get used to it,” Hanley said about her active preschool students. “I love the things the kids say.” She recounted a time when a student told her that his father was a dentist. After asking the student where his father practiced, the little boy quipped, “He doesn’t practice, he’s a real dentist,” she said chuckling. “They tell you the funniest things.”

“She’s an icon around here,” said Anne Tidwell, who is the teacher’s aide in Hanley’s class. “The stuff she does with the kids, you don’t see that anymore. She’ll stay up until midnight cutting yellow ducks out of construction paper,” Tidwell said in admiration. “She’ll be greatly missed.”