After 10 years of dedicated service, Mrs. Wendy Wilcox has finally said goodbye to Mayo High School. Altogether, she has been teaching for 29 years; 23 of them were in Rochester; four years in Chippewa Falls, and two in Eau Claire. While in Rochester, Mrs. Wilcox taught Geometry and Algebra 2 Honors. She has left behind an irreplaceable legacy of a teacher who inspires students.
As people look back on her career and the countless opportunities she has shared with her students, they will see that she worked hard to make Mayo High School better for everyone. Mrs. Wilcox’s passion for teaching has been evident every day through her lessons, activities , and interactions, sparking curiosity in every student’s life that she has taught. Beyond her role as an educator, Mrs. Wilcox has been a mentor, a role model, and as friend to everyone that has known her. Her personality and care for her students have created a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
One of her former students, Chelsea Haywood, said “geometry is a hard thing to navigate through, but Mrs. Wilcox was very good at helping guide me on that journey. She gave us fun activities to learn and grow from. She gave us the time to do our work in class.” Beyond the learning, Mrs. Wilcox was a teacher who was always genuine and sincere. Haywood goes on to say, “I loved it when she talked about her grandkids and what she would do for her retirement. Her door was always open. her smile always welcoming, and her words were always inspiring and uplifting, which makes her an all around good teacher.”
Mrs. Wilcox admits that, “ it’s not an easy job. It has changed a lot over the years. You have to be dedicated and a hard worker. Mayo is a great place because colleges are so helpful and make my job a lot more fun and much easier.” For the last 10 years the Mayo High School Math Department has referred to Mrs. Wilcox as “Mom” because she serves as a great role model to all, always actively helpful to the other staff members, trying her best to help develop the best learning strategies and teaching plans that the department could present.
Natalie Duquaine, a former student said “ I enjoyed being taught by Mrs. Wilcox for Algebra II Honors in my sophomore year. She always made sure that we understood the material and finished class with several examples from the homework. I especially remember all the times she spent helping me retake my exam when I struggled with the concepts. Teaching math post-covid must not have been easy, but she put in the effort to help her students succeed. I hope she enjoys her well-earned retirement, and I am grateful for all of her help.”
During retirement, Mrs. Wilcox is looking forward to spending even more time with her family, especially her grandchildren. As Mayo High School says farewell to Mrs. Wilcox, we share our deepest gratitude for her dedication, her tireless commitment, and her positive impact on teachers and students’ lives. The Spartan community wishes Mrs. Wilcox a happy retirement.
