OGDEN — Much of Arlene VanDyke’s life has been dedicated to nurturing and molding the young minds of kindergartners. She’s been a fixture in Ogden schools for generations, turning 90 years old on Jan. 16.

VanDyke joked that she was delighted the schools and half the town was shut down for her birthday.

“Yeah, just me and and Martin Luther King Jr.,” she said.

The youngest pupils attending Wasatch Elementary get much more than one-of-a-kind instruction from VanDyke — they walk away with a lifetime of unconditional love and affection.

Over more than 50 years in classrooms, VanDyke has played a key role in developing a love for learning with her “kids.” Even former students nearing retirement age are kids for VanDyke, with some still coming back and visiting.

Initially, it was the half days that drew VanDyke to teaching kindergarten, but she said it was their twinkly eyes, enthusiasm, love of life and their “little grabby hands” that made her stay.

“They really saved my bacon,” she said.

VanDyke thought she was done teaching when she retired at 62, but her husband passed away the following year. Just like that, VanDyke was back in the classroom.

She said she didn’t want to be alone, so she returned to her happy place — with her kids. At first, VanDyke was volunteering with music class until former Wasatch Elementary Principal Suzanne Bolar, herself one of VanDyke’s students, offered to put her on the payroll as a teaching assistant.

Among her responsibilities as a teaching assistant are sitting, cuddled and learning with a small group of kindergarten accelerated readers. And she loves every second of it.

“We give a lot of huggles,” she said.

According to Wasatch Elementary principal Shannon Wilcox, VanDyke was ready to return to school post-COVID, until she was told hugs could not be given due to safety measures when reopening. She decided to wait, though, because the hugs were non-negotiable. In 2022, VanDyke returned once again to her kids.

Tricia Taylor, administrative assistant at Wasatch, said some people are just born to be with kids and VanDyke is a perfect example. Taylor said VanDyke’s love for anyone she has taught reaches beyond the classroom.

VanDyke doesn’t have an end in mind for her teaching career. She’s been a classroom fixture since the 1960s and promised to keep teaching until she can’t continue. For now though, she’s taking things one year at a time.

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