I began teaching English in 1969 through 1979 at Newfane Central School. I coached football, directed school plays, and helped design curriculum. My wife and I relocated to San Diego, CA in 1979, where I worked at San Diego Community College, teaching U.S. Naval personnel through the college program.

We returned to Western New York where I taught English at Starpoint High School, I lost my job due to budget cutbacks. I began studies at SUNY at Buffalo and earned another masters degree in information and library science. After teaching two more years at Medina Central, I resumed work at Newfane Central as high school library media specialist, a job I held for twenty years. In that span of time, I took the library from the 19th century to the 21st century. I maintained and built a school library collection of over 10,000 books, 100+ periodicals, managed fourteen computers, taught classes in research for students, taught in-service programs for teachers, served on district committees, coached two sports, directed school plays, and was advisor to three clubs: Academic Decathlon, Scholastic Bowl, and SADD.

I retired in 2005, and joined our local non-profit Literacy Volunteers of Niagara County. I have volunteered to teach English as a second language, and am currently volunteering to help students in our local BOCES GED program. I am the president of Literacy Volunteers of Niagara County. I have written grants for the emergency communications group in Niagara County as well. I have worked on the board of Lakeview Animal Sanctuary (not for profit) in Pendleton, NY, where I will be writing grants as well. I enjoy volunteering, taking piano lessons at our local Dale Center, and working with GED students. When your turn for retirement comes, treat it as a gift from God, for it truly is.

(Dennis Caisse is a retired member of Newfane Teachers Association)