After 37 years of teaching—26 of them at Hudson High School—Mrs. Spaulding, an AP Physics and Honors Chemistry teacher, is putting her pencil down and retiring. She is one of four HHS teachers who have decided that this will be their final year. Much like the Class of 2026, they are living with the bittersweet feeling of seeing a change in sight.
As the teacher of some of the most challenging courses in the school, Spaulding is looking forward to beginning a new chapter outside of teaching. That said, her final year has not been an easy one. During the first semester, her mother-in-law became seriously ill, forcing Spaulding to miss many days of school to support her family. While she was away, her teaching responsibilities continued to pile up. Eventually, her family suffered the loss of her mother-in-law. When Spaulding returned to school, she had to quickly resume her duties while catching up on everything that had happened in her absence.
When asked what led her to retire this year, Spaulding explained, “I’m ready to be a grandma.” At the start of the school year, she welcomed a new granddaughter into her family. She added that she is looking forward to spending more time with her loved ones, saying, “My family has moved out of state and is far away, and with my mother-in-law passing, it all just felt like it was time.”
Despite her decision to retire, Spaulding has always held teaching in high regard. “Growing up, I played house and I played school. I wanted to be a mom, and I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. She found that the profession complemented her role as a parent, allowing her to share vacations, weekends, and evenings with her children while maintaining her career.
When asked about her favorite part of teaching, Spaulding didn’t hesitate: “Interacting with students.” She built those connections not only in the classroom but also through her 16 years working with student government. From 2008 to 2024, she collaborated with fellow teachers to organize events and guide the program. She began advising when her own children were in high school, making for some especially busy years. After her children graduated, student government helped fill the space they left behind.
Some of her favorite memories at HHS come from that involvement. “Other than my favorite students over the years, student government was my favorite—prom, homecoming, all the events,” she said. She also noted that while she may not remember every name, she remembers her students’ faces—a reflection of the care she brought to her work.
Looking ahead, Spaulding is excited about the freedom retirement will bring. She hopes to travel on her own schedule, avoiding peak vacation times. “I want to go to Florida in October, when the weather is beautiful, not during the busy season,” she said. Her dream destination is Greece, which sits at the top of her bucket list.
Spaulding’s impact on Hudson High School will not be forgotten. Since joining the school in 2000, she has watched generations of students pass through its halls. Now, it is her turn to move on to the next phase of life—one without tests to grade or lessons to plan. As seniors walk across the stage in May, Spaulding will be recording her final grades, closing the book on a remarkable career.
