Family and consumer sciences teacher to retire after three-decade career at Talawanda

It’s the last day of baking in Sharon Gregory’s classroom, and it’s loud.

Some student groups have opted to spend the period making pizza. Others went for pretzels or cupcakes. No matter where you look, the Talawanda High School students are busy at work in the kitchen, with Gregory there to help problem-solve.

As each group finishes their dish, they don’t dig in immediately. Instead, they divvy up portions — enough for each of their 24 classmates — then head to their seats, plates empty. Only once everyone’s finished will they go back up to the tables to try their own dishes.

The freshmen, sophomores and juniors in Gregory’s class (seniors are done for the year) have spent enough time in her kitchen to know the expectations. Gregory doesn’t need to remind anyone that the cleanup after a meal is just as important as cooking it — the kids are already back in the kitchen washing the dishes and throwing away the trash before the bell rings.

Tomorrow’s class will be classroom cleanup, but today is bittersweet for Gregory as the final day of cooking for her students. This school year is the last for Gregory before her retirement from a three-decade career teaching family and consumer sciences at Talawanda High School through Butler Tech.

“When they asked what I wanted for my retirement party … I said, ‘All I want is a Costco cake and to see my kids,’” Gregory said. “So Butler Tech brought in two Costco cakes, and all the kids could come down if they could.”

Beyond her baking and pastries class, Gregory has taught other food classes, personal wellness, interior and fashion design, personal finance, child development and multiple adaptive courses for students with special learning needs. She also mentors multiple students each year.

Gregory herself was a Talawanda graduate. After getting her teaching degree and spending four years at another school, she came back to Oxford through opening at Butler Tech in 1994. She was offered a job at either New Miami or Talawanda, and the choice was easy.

Much of Gregory’s job extends outside the classroom. She’s in charge of Talawanda’s chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a national service organization. Her classes are integrated with FCCLA, which leads the district’s Veterans Day programming, hosts blood drives, provides opportunities for students to participate in competitions and more.

This year, the organization hosted a “Down on the Farm” at Oxford Seniors, leading crafts, serving food and even setting up a mini petting zoo at the senior center.

Over the past 30 years at Talawanda, Gregory has impacted thousands of students, including the kids of former students. When freshman Baylee Minor told her mom that she’d be taking baking and pastries with Gregory this year, she said her mom was especially excited because she’d learned from Gregory herself.

Baylee said Gregory goes all-out in everything she plans and keeps class exciting. Besides the parties, the service opportunities she’s gotten this year have been especially fun.

“I love doing the volunteer work,” Baylee said. “Me and my friends have always done the volunteer work together, so those have been some of my favorite times.”

Bailee Reed, a junior and FCCLA chapter president, took her first class with Gregory in her freshman year. The next year, she signed up for five.

Bailee’s experience with Gregory and FCCLA have taught her how to be a leader and be comfortable speaking in front of others, she said. This past year, she spoke in front of an audience of a thousand people.

“She’s like a mom to me,” Bailee said. “I could sit in here all day.”

Sienna Weitzel took Gregory’s baking and pastries class this year because she wanted to learn more life skills like cooking. Gregory inspires them all to do their best work, Sienna said. Outside the classroom, Sienna is involved in FCCLA, too, and is participating in a national competition this summer.

Sienna has especially enjoyed her trips with Gregory. For her friend Bre Reed, her favorite memories with Gregory are easier to define: “every moment.”

Gregory is still in touch with students from her first class at Talawanda. She expects her kids to be responsible in her classroom, and while they may not always appreciate it at the time, she said many former students have come back to tell her what a difference she made years later.

“I have high expectations for my students,” Gregory said. “I see a leader in every single kid, because they can be a leader in something they choose to do. Sometimes, at this age, they don’t always want that tough love. Sometimes, I don’t know if they realize how much I care about them.”

Two and a half years ago, Gregory was diagnosed with breast cancer. She survived, but she hasn’t felt the same since then. With her own daughter graduating from Talawanda next week, Gregory said now is the right time for her to step back, despite how much she’ll miss the classroom.

Once the school year ends, Gregory will have one major job left: bringing her FCCLA students to the National Leadership Conference in Orange County, Florida this July. This year, 10 Talawanda members of the organization qualified for the competitive events.