As the 2025–2026 school year unfolds, three revered Columbus City Schools educators are ticking off the days until retirement. Jennifer Bradley, Tracey Johnson, and Wanda Mays, with over a century of teaching experience combined, are preparing to leave their classrooms for the last time. The legacy they're set to leave behind is the thousands of students they’ve helped shape at Berwick Alternative Elementary and beyond, according to a recent feature on the CCS website.
Jennifer Bradley's career, spanning 34 years, kicked off in an open-concept classroom that she says captured her interest precisely because it came with a warning to steer clear. Her time with CCS saw her not only instructing eager minds in the realm of science but also accompanying them on journeys across states and continents. “I tell my students, if you get a chance to go out of the country, go. Live life. Explore,” Bradley told the CCS website, recounting tales of students who took her advice and ventured far and wide.
Tracey Johnson, a stalwart in the mathematics department since 1992, leaves behind a classroom where rhythm and movement turned numbers into joyous discoveries. She’s held multiple roles, including four years as president of the Columbus Education Association, and has been a paragon for putting students first. Her prowess hasn't gone unnoticed, with former students echoing her techniques in their classrooms. “Everything I negotiated and every meeting I took was about putting children first,” Johnson said via CCS website, in a statement that underscores her dedication to education.
Wanda Mays asserts that teaching wasn't just a job but a calling for her, and, after 35 years, she's seen her passion flourish in the halls of CCS. Recipient of numerous accolades like the Extra Yard for Teachers honor by The Ohio State University, Mays has made her mark by garnering recognition far beyond the classroom walls. “Columbus City Schools is all I know. My passion is here,” according to CCS, Mays expressed her unwavering commitment to the district where she has been a nurturing force for both students and educators alike.
Their impending retirement marks the end of an era at Berwick Alternative Elementary, where their collective contributions have been a guiding force. As these educators gear up for their final goodbye, their stories, as much as their teaching, serve as a testament to their profound influence on the lives they have touched. The CCS community, recognizing the value of such educational stalwarts, celebrates not merely their professional achievements but the indelible impact they’ve made on generations of learners.
