Michelle Peacock smiles brightly when she thinks about her 32 years as Community Education Director for Becker School District.  

Community Education has long been her passion since graduating from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Elementary Education.  Peacock became only the third Community Education Director for Becker when she accepted the position in 1987.  She officially retired on Jan. 2 of this year, but continued to help out until Jennifer Johnson, the new Director, took over. 

“This community has been phenomenal!” gushed Peacock. “There isn’t a better community to be a Community Ed Director.  People feel connected.”

Partners

For Peacock, Community Education was and still is a partnership between members of the community, the school district and the community education department.  Minnesota is unique because it is the only state that funds Community Education through a statewide levy.  Community education began in MN in 1969 with the passing of the “Lighted Schoolhouse Legislation”.  That legislation made it possible for community members to use school buildings on evenings, weekends, and times when school is not in session.  After all, Peacock reminds us, the schools are owned by the districts tax payers. 

Local churches host services and activities on Sundays and Wednesdays and area businesses in partnership with the Becker Chamber of Commerce use the district’s schools to host events.   Peacock feels that the community really takes pride in the quality of its schools and want to be connected to them. 

Developing Programs

The mission statement has not changed.  The purpose for Community Education is to develop and promote the wise use of human and facility resources within the school district to foster lifelong learning, social interaction, and create fun for district residents.  Peacock always worked to make that mission a reality.  

She listed a litany of programs developed during her time as Director – early childhood programs, GED classes, Senior Driving classes.  Peacock noted that community ed was where the Becker Youth Association began when they started offering tee-ball and youth baseball.  Archery, the Bass Fishing team, and robotics also began as Community Ed programs. 

Peacock said her job was to “listen to what the community wanted.”  

Often, a program began because a person or persons were passionate about an idea and then went out and organized and promoted it.   Though not every idea seemed feasible.  Peacock was surprised at the success of Belly Dancing and Group Hypnosis to help people stop smoking or to eat less.  Peacock shared that Community Ed must have taught every kid in Becker how to swim.  When asked what was her favorite program, she responded by saying, “That’s like asking a parent which is their favorite child.” 

When asked if she wanted to thank anyone, she quickly dismissed the question knowing that her list would be incomplete.  

“I’ll drive away and remember three or four names that I should have said.” However, after a brief pause, she felt that she could not pass up the opportunity to thank her support staff – Jackie Cox, Dawn Gulczinski, and Jennifer Edling who have over the years become family. 

Retirement plans

Peacock plans to travel the world with her husband Tracy.  She thought maybe Ireland or Australia.  Even though she is from and still resides in Sauk Rapids, MN, Becker will always have a special place in her heart.  She plans to keep in touch with the people who made her 32 years special.  She will always feel nothing but pride for Becker Community Ed.  It is special.  

In her words, “It is one of the best programs in the state.”