Published: October 06, 2008 08:30 am            

Meet your Neighbor - Steve Campbell

Retired Suwannee High science teacher is learning how to take it easy

Some of Campbell's fondest student memories were not in the classroom but during those long nights working on the prom, senior Grad Night and homecoming floats. It was during these events he saw different aspects of students' personalities.



By Barbara Gill

Ah, the retired life ... a morning run through the woods, scalloping on the Gulf with his daughters, planning a fall garden - after 22 years of teaching at Suwannee High, Steve Campbell is one local teacher who didn't have to prepare for fall classes.

Campbell grew up in South Jersey and earned his bachelor's degree in history from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. He accepted a job as lab manager at Key West Junior College and while there obtained a marine tech degree. He continued his education at the University of Florida with a master's in science education while working in the medical labs. (Those with a weak stomach may want to skip the next sentence.) His first duty early in the morning was to clean up the dissection labs - sweep, mop and empty the drool buckets from underneath the tables. Then it was off to breakfast.

Campbell and his family were living in Micanopy when Campbell attended a Great American Teach-In where he met Wyman Harvard and Charlie Sweat, and well ... the rest is history, so to speak.

During his years at Suwannee High, Campbell taught biology and a few other science classes. He remembers one student who didn't look so good while dissecting a sheep's brain. When asked if he was all right he said yes, and Campbell moved on to work with other students. When he turned around, the student was flat out on the floor and Campbell thought he was joking until another student said "Mr. C, he's not kidding!" Fortunately, the student was fine.

Some of Campbell's fondest student memories were not in the classroom but during those long nights working on the prom, senior Grad Night and homecoming floats. It was during these events he saw different aspects of students' personalities. A student that may not have been good at dissecting a heart or may have been on the quiet side, ended up being very good at nailing a float together or be more social on these casual occasions. Campbell also enjoyed the interaction with parents on these projects.

Campbell has always been athletic, playing football throughout high school as an offensive back. His team went undefeated during his senior year. During his time at Key West Junior College, Campbell blew out his knee while playing softball, followed by surgery. He jogs in the mornings now to help stay in good shape.

Campbell's oldest daughter, Jennifer, is married and lives in Tampa, teaching middle school science. Rachel is a junior at FSU, Katherine is a senior at Suwannee High and Carrie started the eighth grade this year.

For now, his rocking chair (a retirement gift from the school) is where he sits and contemplates taking it easy and considering his options: teaching part time at a local community college or maybe something on-line. In any case, we're sure he'll have plenty to keep him busy.

        

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