CHAPMAN TO RETIRE FROM CAPE SCHOOLS

Calvin Chapman, director of special services for the Cape Girardeau Public Schools, has announced his retirement from the district.

Chapman mailed letter to board members on Tuesday, and told staff members Wednesday. His 30-year tenure with the district will end June 7.

In 1961, he began as a teacher at Central High School, and then worked as a counselor at junior high for one year and at the high school from 1966 to 1970.

Since 1970, he has served as director of special services. In that role, he oversees as special education services including gifted education as well as district nursing services and counseling.

Chapman said special education has been a real growth area for public schools in both staff and funding. "When I first came to special education in 1970 we had 11 employees. Now, we have approximately 55 and 35 aides," he said.

"I love the public schools," said Chapman. "This was a difficult decision to make. Hopefully, I've made the right one."

A Cape Girardeau native, Chapman was graduated from the Cape Public Schools. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University, and his masters degree at SIU-Carbondale. He took 30 hours of additional training at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Prior to his tenure at Cape Girardeau, Chapman taught secondary grades at Fredericktown and in St. Louis County.

Chapman resides in Cape with his wife, Marilyn.