The graduating Class of 2014 are not the only members of Tunstall High School beginning a new chapter of in their lives, Mrs. Malia Turner is entering into the world of retirement.
After diving into multiple career paths including farming, selling Tupperware, and working as an x-ray technician, Mrs. Turner found teaching.   She began her career in Special Education at Brosville Elementary.  Mrs. Turner then continued her career at Tunstall High School as an Inclusion English teacher where she remained for the next 18 years.

Over her years of teaching, there have been few things as fulfilling as being able to work successfully alongside of her daughter, English teacher, Mrs. Adrian Nester.

“I have had the opportunity to teach several inclusion classes with my daughter, Mrs. Nester.  I was so proud to see what an amazing teacher she has become and I was surprised at how well we worked together.”

Mrs. Nester felt the same way about working with her mom.  “I loved working with my mom.  Because we are so close, it was very easy to communicate and work together. I think we were a good team.”
Unfortunately, retirement means distancing herself from the colleagues she has befriended over the years.

“I’ve really learned a lot from Mrs. Turner.  She’s been my mentor and my friend,” said Mrs. Tucker who worked as an aid to Mrs. Turner for the past five years.

“I’m going to miss her kindness, her understanding, and her patience.  I’m just going to miss her.”

Mrs. Turner is looking forward to being able to spend more time with her grandchildren, traveling to London after the conclusion of this semester, and catching up on some long overdue leisure reading in her newly found free time.

Mrs. Turner’s advice to beginning teacher can be summed up into four hard learned lessons:  “Stay organized; don’t procrastinate about doing paperwork, keep a positive outlook about your job and students, and remember to take a “mental health” day every once in a while.”