Riverside PE Teacher Tim Schmidt
Retires After Nearly 40 Years in Education
Physical Education Teacher Tim Schmidt has officially retired after calling Plymouth Community School Corporation home for 39 years. He first started his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary. Two years later he moved to Webster Elementary school where he taught third-grade Warriors for six years and then moved up one grade to teach fourth grade at Webster for the next four years. For the past 27 years, he has been teaching P.E. Fifteen of those years he split his time teaching gym at both Webster and Washington. For the last 12 years, Schmidt has taught gym class for fifth and sixth-grade Rockets at Riverside Intermediate School. Mr. Schmidt left a lasting impression on his students. Willow Joseph, a Plymouth High School sophomore, said she will never forget having Mr. Schmidt as her gym teacher when she was at Riverside in fifth and sixth grade. “He always pushed us to do our best because he knew we could. He taught me to push myself because you will get to your goal.” PHS sophomore Michael Sheely who had Schmidt in fifth and sixth grades as well said, “I did enjoy him as a teacher and his class.” “Mr. Schmidt had many activities every day I came to his gym class. Every day was different and that’s what I love about his gym class. He was also a very respectful and kind person who loves to interact with kids,” said PHS sophomore Winston Edwards.
For 29 years, he has coached students in some type of athletic capacity outside of school. Schmidt said, “Out of the thousands of kids that I coached or taught, I hope that I have made a difference in at least one of the student's lives over the years.”
Riverside Principal Kyle Coffman is more than confident he has. “It’s hard to imagine Riverside Intermediate without Mr. Schmidt,” Coffman said. “He dedicated his life to serving our students and our community. As our staff prepared a few farewell gifts for him, it was brought to my attention that Mr. Schmidt inspired a staff member’s spouse 30 years ago, leaving that student with a sense of pride and accomplishment.” Coffman relayed. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
He received both his bachelor's and masters in education from Ball State University. Schmidt said he decided to go into education because “My father and older brother were teachers. I took cadet teaching in high school, and enjoyed the time with the younger kids very much.”
Tim and his wife Suzie have been married for 41 years. They have two children, their son Travis and daughter-in-law Kate have two children, Aiden 3 and Owen turned 1 in April. Tim and Suzie also have a daughter named Katie.
He said he will not miss getting up early, but will miss many of the Riverside teachers and students. Schmidt said he plans to enjoy his retirement by “traveling, riding my bike, visiting my grandkids in Sweden, and also volunteering to rock babies at an area hospital!”
