WORTHINGTON — There is perhaps no one more surprised that Dave Blanchard is retiring from his career in teaching than, well, Dave Blanchard.

But after 32 years in the classroom, he’s decided to close one life chapter and flip to another with the conclusion of the District 518 school year.

Blanchard has been an art teacher at Worthington Middle School for the past 22 years. Before that, he worked 10 years at Murray County Central.

“A few months after I started teaching here (at Worthington), my dad passed away and we have something here called the ‘Sunshine Committee’ that really showed up for me (with cards and kind notes) and I knew then this is where I wanted to be.”

Blanchard earned his teaching degree from Minnesota State University and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University. He said growing up, he always thought he would be a forest ranger, even though his dad wanted him to be a preacher because that was his profession.

Blanchard said he was inspired by various family members and friends to pursue an art education degree, saying, “My family, parents and siblings were talented with performing and visual arts… I wanted to facilitate others in having a positive experience with the visual arts.”

Blanchard pointed to a painting hanging in the back of his classroom that was done by his sister Lynn. He said while growing up, the painting hung above the couch at home and he looked at it often. It wasn’t until their adulthood when he asked if they might swap favorite pieces, to which Lynn agreed.

As he reflects on 32 years of teaching, Blanchard said one of the things he’ll miss most is seeing his students get that “aha” moment, where they connect with an idea or the piece they’re working on and learn to trust the process.

Even though school will end on May 30, Blanchard said it likely won’t hit that he is retired from teaching until this fall when classes start back up again, saying, “It’s difficult to wrap my head around the idea.”

So far, Blanchard has no set plans for his retirement, but knows he wants to keep busy. He plans to work at least part-time for the next three to five years. He also said an ideal way to spend his time would be to train under almost any and every profession out there, learn the inner workings of each and move onto another career.

“I just want to know how everything works,” he said with a laugh.

No matter where retirement takes him, Blanchard will be able to look back fondly at his teaching career. Over the years, he has saved up lots of art in what he calls his “Smile File.” It’s packed to the brim with artwork given to him by current and former students, some of whom have gone into art education themselves.

Whether it’s a quick sketch on a receipt or a drawing on a huge sheet of white paper, Blanchard has kept each and every one of the items in that folder, naming the students and the memories associated with them as he goes along.

For Blanchard, those are the moments and memories that he’ll take with him on his way out of the classroom.

“I believe I have accomplished the goals I set for myself,” he said. “It’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life.”

Hope Moural is the community editor for the Globe as of May 2024. A born and raised Nebraskan, Hope has a dual bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Concordia University, Nebraska, and has previously worked as a general assignment reporter.