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Viewpoint

Post Retirement: Movers and

Shakers Continue to Make a

Difference

By Kaye Dotson and Phyllis Broughton

Baby Boomers, the new “silver tsunami,” have a bonus opportunity to change
the world. When they pair skills, years of education, experience, refined
professional dispositions, and intents with the gift of time, amazing things
can happen. This gift of time is called “retirement” and offers an opportunity
for individuals to move toward fulfillment of other dreams and services,
enhancing these dreams with skills acquired during professional careers.
Many in education who are very near retirement age may have
difficulty envisioning a future that doesn’t include “education” in their
lives. There is, in fact, no reason to consider such a future when avenues
of service are available to explore, with opportunities supporting
teaching and learning whenever and wherever one may choose.
Although many examples exist of continued service and continued
fulfillment of one’s passion in life, even after retirement, one specific individual
captured the attention of these authors. She did so due to the longevity of her
work and the global aspect of her efforts. Her commitment to the education
of many diverse and far-ranging students was, indeed, notable. We want
to share a brief overview of the adventures of Martha Sue Todd (1920–
2017), a devoted member of Beta Upsilon Chapter of North Carolina State
Organization of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG).
One of the key Purposes of DKG is to “stimulate the personal and professional
growth of members and to encourage their participation in appropriate programs of
action” (DKG, 2022). The intent of this article is to show how Todd continued her
own personal and professional growth, managing to be an instrument of change and
support after a lifetime of service as an educator. Todd’s example may subsequently
serve to inspire others to follow their own dreams and climb walls of their own.

Continuing Personal and Professional Growth
Martha “Sue” Todd, born in rural Duplin County, North Carolina, began
her higher education at Campbell College, then a 2-year institution. She
continued her undergraduate degree studies at East Carolina Teachers College
(ECTC), completing her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She taught in Pitt
County Schools; Montgomery, Alabama; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Bertie
County Schools, North Carolina, where she retired after having served in
multiple schools on the national level (Broughton & Dotson, 2021).
After retirement from teaching in public schools, Todd joined the faculty at North
Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Leaving there, she traveled
to Nogales, Arizona, where she taught the Yaqui Indians, later applying to teach in
China, where she surpassed her own plans and taught for an amazing 13 years.

22 · Volume 88-4