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The long career of Dr. Donald Draayer in public education includes teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He also served as principal at all three levels and served as school superintendent for a twenty-four-year period. He taught graduate classes at the University of Illinois and University of Minnesota. Most recently, he has been an educational consultant in his own company, Experience PLUS, Inc. He has spoken to hundreds of audiences on behalf of the Search Institute of Minneapolis regarding developmental assets of children. His work and speaking have taken him throughout the United States, Japan, and China.

In 1990, Dr. Draayer was named National Superintendent of the Year and in 1998 was given the Distinguished Service Award by the American Association of School Administrators. The North Central Association presented him with the John Vaughan Excellence in Education Award in 1993; and in his home community, he was named Person of the Year, Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota, and Minnesota Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Draayer’s wife, Mary Anne, is a retired educator. They have two grown children, three grandchildren, twins are on the way, and live in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a western suburb of Minneapolis, where they continue to be active in school, community, and church life. The inspiration for this book came from the hundreds of educators across America who enriched his professional and personal life and have shared their retirement journeys with him.

This book includes straight talk by hundreds of educators, teachers, specialists, administrators, and professors about their retirement experiences. Their thoughts, feelings, and collective wisdom bring clarity to the choices, challenges, and commitments in retirement. My intent is to provide readers with a helpful road map that draws from these educators’ vast experiences. Stories from their lives are like headlights that point out road signs to possible destinations and illuminate dangers and critical crossroads along the way. These stories, as well as my own, reveal the diversity of pathways into and through retirement years. My objective is not to prescribe a specific path but to illustrate possibilities in the first twenty chapters of the book.

““Retirement Straight Talk: Stories and Wisdom from Educators” – Into Life’s New Chapter

Life after retirement should be something to look forward to. However, some people dread the notion of letting go of their positions and trying to adjust to a more relaxed and slow-paced life. This proves to be very true, especially for educators. Retirement is not a milestone indicated only by age. Every decision to “hang up the boots” should be preceded by conversations, investigations, and follow-throughs.

As a teacher, mentor, principal, superintendent, adjunct professor, and educational consultant across the country, and a retiree himself, Donald Draayer understands these woes. In his book, “Retirement Straight Talk: Stories and Wisdom from Educators,” he provides a compilation of honest narratives from educators that will help four types of readers:

Educators who are about to — or are planning for their retirement.
Educators who are well into their retirement.
All retirees, regardless of occupation.
College and university professors who are teaching/studying stages of life, change, and aging.
Every chapter of the book provides valuable wisdom that will help make the retirement transition as seamless as possible. This is made possible by the contribution of over three hundred educators and their insightful narrative on the realities of retirement. The book provides a streamlined guide that will holistically deal with issues about economic security, housing, relationships, health, continued caring for others, and spiritual well-being.

The balance between technical and practical knowledge in Draayer’s writing style makes the book more conducive to learning. Draayer also infused his own life experiences that will certainly provide a paradigm shift in the way educators perceive retirement.

To quote a line from the book: “For my own retirement, I appreciate powerful reminders: (1) Fresh starts are often a mixture of fantasy and vision as well as anxiety and challenge; (2) The past is like a springboard to what lies ahead; and (3) I am not alone on this journey.”

Live life to the fullest. Grab your copy now!”

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