The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Longtime educator to retire
Elaine Briggs launched the Peer Mediation and Leadership courses
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
Milan High School teacher Elaine Briggs begs the question: Where does she find the time to do all she does?
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"I don't know," admitted Milan High School Principal Ron Reed. "It's pretty remarkable."
With her announcement last week that after more than 20 years with the Milan Area School District she plans to retire at the end of the school year, the question now, however, has become, who can replace her?
"I don't know," said Reed again. "She's leaving pretty big shoes to fill. We need to find someone who has passion for character development and growth. We're hoping we can find a person who can fill that role."
Briggs, who is in her 12th year teaching at the high school, launched the Peer Mediation and Leadership courses three years ago after teaching special education for nine years. Before coming to the high school, she spent 8 1/2 years teaching at the Milan Federal Correctional Institution.
Briggs and her husband, Larry, moved to Milan in 1970. He began farming and in 1985 it became necessary for Briggs, who had a degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University, to find a teaching position to supplement the farm's income.
She approached Phil Barnes, coordinator for adult education.
"He said, 'I've got a job in ESL at FCI,'" recalled Briggs. "I had no idea what he was talking about."
But she took the job, teaching English as a second language to inmates at the prison. She taught herself Spanish because many of her students were Hispanic.
"I found I liked helping the underdog," Briggs said. "You have to believe you're doing something positive when you're teaching at the prison."
More than eight years later, she took a special education position at the high school, running a self-contained classroom for emotionally impaired students.
Three years ago, Reed approached Briggs about starting a leadership program.
"I told her to come back tomorrow with some ideas," Reed said. "The next day, she came back and said here's what I'd like to do. It was amazing."
The philosophy behind the course was students helping students and the community beyond the school's walls.
That first year, the leadership class had 25 students. Today, there are some 125 students enrolled.
"It really blossomed," Reed said. "It all started with Elaine recognizing that every kid here has leadership qualities. She's been amazing. I feel fortunate to have been able to provide support for her, and watch somebody who has that passion for what she does and has the talent and energy to deliver on it."
Briggs spends five to 12 hours a weekend in prep work for her courses, including a reading enrichment program and a "little buddy" mentoring program run through the leadership class in coordination with Paddock and Symons elementary schools.
The time demands, she said, are significant.
But it's worth it, she added.
"I have such wonderful memories of how students have made an impact," Briggs said. "There are a lot of things we do to touch others and make the world a better place. There is story after story that touches my heart and makes me feel good about what we do."
Briggs' students have organized can drives, fund-raisers, assemblies for Black History Month, workshops to deter bullying, and led an effort to make the school more green. The list goes on and on.
"The community has really benefited from Elaine," Reed said. "She's really made a difference."
Briggs said the decision to retire was not an easy one. She broke down in tears when she announced her plans to her peer mediation class. But she is looking forward to having more time to spend with her grandchildren.
Her husband is in his last year of farming and they plan to build a house. She also hopes to write a book about her father titled "The Life and Times of Joe Dew."
"I've still got some other things to do," she said.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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