Bonnie Gamary | Dublin Scioto | High School | Dublin CIty Schools | Dublin Ohio | Columbus Ohio | Columbus suburbs
Photos courtesy of Bonnie Gamary
Dublin Scioto High School teacher Bonnie Gamary had just begun her teaching career when she earned national accolades.
The family and consumer science teacher was top in the state and the nation in her field, designated New Professional of the Year by the National Association of Family Consumer Science.
Since then, Gamary has made a name for herself at Scioto, where she has taught for 11 years of her 29-year career. She received the Golden Shamrock award in 2010.
Though Gamary, 53, entered into education because of her love of family and consumer science, she’s now motivated most by those she teaches.
“There is such joy in guiding students to learn and watching them be successful in their learning,” she says. “That’s just awesome.”
A natural leader herself, Gamary enjoys helping her students develop the same skills. She leads the Irish Core, a subcommittee within student senate, which she co-advises. She also started a chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America when she came to Scioto in 2005. As an adviser of the American Cancer Society Youth Ambassadors, she helps students raise funds to fight cancer, and also helps students educate their peers in supporting cancer patients and their families.
In the classroom, Gamary teaches material that’s evolved considerably from home economics in order to remain relevant for current students. Those needs include financial literacy, food choices, nutrition, parenting, child development and career choices.
Gamary teaches six different courses across all high school grade levels. In a course called Food and Fitness, students cook almost every week. In another course, Global Gourmet, Gamary teaches students about different cultural foods and the nutritional benefits of each.
“It is amazing, because we address the needs of each student,” she says.
Gamary was introduced to a variety of cooking and nutrition projects through 4-H Club, which she did from ages 10-18. Growing up as the middle child with two brothers, Gamary was accustomed to pitching in on her family’s farm in Dresden, which raised beef cattle and grew corn, hay and soy beans.
As a high schooler, Gamary joined a variety of clubs and found her knack for leadership. It was a trait she would further build upon when she joined the Air National Guard at 18 to attend The Ohio State University.
Like her teaching career, Gamary’s passion for the military has evolved over the course of the 35 years she has served. Now a lieutenant colonel, Gamary has been deployed overseas a few times and also served the governor and the president.
“I find it an honor to serve the country,” she says.
Throughout her years in teaching, Gamary’s natural leadership has motivated her to work with her peers beyond the classroom. In her early 30s, she was president of the Family Consumer Science Teachers Association’s Ohio chapter. As part of the Future Educators of America group, she advises prospective teachers.
Gamary started her own teaching career at Southern Local Schools in Perry County, later working at Springfield City Schools. She moved into an administrative role, running the adult education program at the Franklin County Educational Service Center, now known as the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio. A love of the classroom brought her back to teaching.
“I missed high schoolers,” Gamary says.
Even before she worked there, Gamary knew she wanted her own children to attend Dublin City Schools. She and husband, Glenn, moved here in 1997 when their oldest child, Kristen, was going into first grade. Both she and younger sister Delanie are graduates of Dublin schools and were involved with the Girl Scouts from elementary school through high school graduation. With a daughter in each troop, Gamary was a Girl Scout leader for many years and co-led with other parents.
As her children have left the school system, Gamary’s love for the community has kept her in Dublin. Over the years, her family has made local volunteering a priority, from canned food drives to the Dublin Irish Festival and other local events.
Gamary’s love for her City also extends to an appreciation for its connected paths, which she and a friend use to walk and run.
Gamary picked up running in her late 40s. Now, she participates in 5Ks and quarter and half marathons, including the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon, the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon, OhioHealth Emerald City Half & Quarter Marathon and IGS Energy Dublin Irish Festival 5K. The preparation is her favorite part of the sport.
“I stick to it because there’s a goal at the end of it,” she says.
Sarah Sole is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
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