In the last half of Cindi Sempert’s 29 years at Sandy High School, she got to
experience something she saw as “extra special” – being a counselor to
students who were children of her former students.

“That’s kind of fun to reconnect with the parent as a parent instead of as a
student,” Sempert said.

But last month, after 35 total years in education as a teacher and counselor,
Sempert retired. And while she made the decision last December, news that
one former student, Kim Ball, would return to SHS as the principal this fall
had Sempert second guessing herself a little.

“That’s probably my biggest regret, is not knowing she was going to be
principal next year, because I probably would have waited,” she said.

Sempert, a mountain resident since 1985, started working at the high school
one year earlier, where she taught English and journalism while serving as the
yearbook advisor. After 20 years as a teacher she became a counselor, and
never wanted to leave where she lived or worked.

“It was just kind of the right place to live,” Sempert said. “I love the people I
work with at Sandy High School and always have.”

Sempert noted benefits to both parts of her career in education: getting to
know a group of kids as a teacher and getting away from the bells and the set
schedule as a counselor. And for all her hard work in both positions,
Sempert’s colleagues honored her with an Excellence in Education award,
presented on Thursday, May 9 at Good Shepard Church.

“Cindi has been a pillar in our district,” said Aaron Bayer, Oregon Trail School
District Superintendent in a statement “Her contributions have substantively
impacted the course of thousands of lives. She will be dearly missed.”

Sempert noted that while she does not have big plans yet for her retirement,
she expects to do some traveling, including going to Hawaii with her father
and taking trips with her children after they graduate from college. She also
plans on being a substitute at the high school and volunteering at the college
and career center, one of the favorite parts of her job as a counselor.

“That’s appealing to me, to come back to this beautiful building and be with
the kids again,” Sempert said, adding that she’ll be glad she won’t have to
prepare lesson plans or grade papers as a substitute.