TOWAMENCIN- The lively classroom of A111 is lined with playbills, English posters, and student’s work, home to North Penn English teacher Mrs. Susan Cassel. After 18 years at the high school, Cassel has decided she is ready to retire at the end of this school year.

“I think it’s time. I’m 68 and I started back when I was 50. There’s a lot of changes coming next year and I don’t want to deal with that,” joked Cassel.

Cassel started subbing at North Penn in 1997, and got a full time job in 2001. Both her sons went to North Penn and she lives in the district, so it was a great fit. She teaches 10th grade Gifted English and 12th Grade British Literature. Cassel decided to be a teacher because back in her high school days there weren’t as many job choices for women.

“If you wanted to go to college it was either to be a teacher or a nurse, and I fainted at the sight of blood, so that’s how I chose teaching! And I chose English because I love to read and I really enjoy talking about literature. It turned out to be great,” shared Cassel.

After graduating college Cassel taught at Reading High School for over two years before taking a break from teaching. She was then a part time transcriptionist for 17 years for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, along with being a part time actor.

“As a transcriptionist I got to travel all over the state of Pennsylvania because we had meetings every six weeks in different parts of the state,” explained Cassel.

Cassel has enjoyed all her jobs over the years, but is definitely excited to relax in retirement and spend time with her husband who has been retired for a few years.

“Hopefully we’ll go travelling because I really love that. I mostly want to go to Europe, we go to California every year, and I want to go back to New Orleans. I’d also like to do something with theatre, not acting, but maybe volunteering or something,” shared Cassel.

One thing Cassel is most looking forward to in retirement is “not having to wake up at 5 o’clock in the morning.” When asked what Cassel will miss most about North Penn, her answer was simple: her students.

“It’s always fun to get to know the kids, they keep me young. And I hope they will take joy with them, I want them to have learned something but also leave with something fun,” said Cassel.  

Along with her students, Cassel is going to miss her English Department colleagues, and all of North Penn’s traditions. One of her favorite classroom memories ironically was not related to English at all.

“I don’t know what class it was but one of my favorite memories was when we all sang the entire American Pie in class one day. I don’t know why that happened but it was really funny,” remembered Cassel.

As Mrs. Sue Cassel moves onto another chapter in her life, faculty and students thank her for her time at North Penn and wish her the best in retirement.