After 29 years as part of the Trinity community, Chris Hempsted is retiring from her role as guidance counselor and learning specialist for high school. While at Trinity, Hempsted has seen the school go through a lot of changes, especially in the realm of field trips, food banks and community service.
“I think one of my favorite memories at Trinity is when we used to do the food drive, and we would load up all the food into students’ trucks and vans and cars,” Hempsted said. “And then we would take a caravan down to Second Harvest and actually help them unload it. That was really cool because the kids got to see not only the collection process, but actually where it goes. So I felt like that was very impactful for students.”
Not only did Hempsted start the food drive program at Trinity in November 2008, but she also helped make our school one of the most successful contributors. At one point, a few years after the initiative began, Trinity was Second Harvest Food Bank’s third overall provider behind huge corporations. Another legacy that Hempsted is leaving behind consists of her fighting hard for students’ accommodations in classes.
“I’ve done a lot of stuff with accommodations and getting that process to run very, very smoothly,” Hempsted said. “I hope that whoever takes my place … can continue that so that it runs very smoothly and kids get what they need.”
Hempsted always took the time to make relationships with her students and to understand them better so that she could benefit them in the best possible way.
“I’ll miss the kids,” Hempsted said. “There are a lot of kids that I’ve been working with for a couple of years that I’m not going to see graduate, which is hard. But also my colleagues. I’m very good friends with a lot of people. We do things outside school. We travel together. And this has really been a social place for me as well as a place of work.”
Hempsted was also involved in various clubs and activities throughout her tenure.
“I would (say), especially (to) younger folks that might have more time, to really get involved with the community here and go to the baseball games and the football games and see the kids in the plays and everything and go on those forensic trips,” Hempsted said. “Just do something that might not be part of your job description, but it ingrains you into the community, and it really makes you love this place a lot.”
Hempsted is retiring on a high note, ready to start the next chapter of her life while remaining grateful for all she has accomplished at Trinity. She advises new teachers to remain present in everything that is happening around campus.
“It just felt like it was time,” Hempsted said. “I want to spend some more time with my family and do some other things too, so I was ready.”
Whether it be helping them in the classroom, giving them advice or simply providing a safe space to vent, Hempsted dedicated all her time at Trinity to supporting students.
“I hope they remember that I helped them and that I always tried to help them with their best interests at heart, even though sometimes it was hard,” Hempsted said. “I maybe said things that weren’t necessarily what they wanted to hear, but it was in their best interest. And I hope they felt supported by me and like I was somebody they could always come to if they needed something.”
