Photo provided
Leslie Samelson is retiring after nearly three decades as a science teacher at Krueger Middle School. Samelson has been a staple of not only Krueger, but also the community. She has been active as a gymnastics and cross country coach, as well as a robotics teacher.
Krueger’s Samelson to retire after a brilliant career
By Jackie Ramirez and Jasmine Ford
Staff writers
MICHIGAN CITY – What a career it has been for Leslie Samelson.
Samelson is retiring after teaching science at Krueger Middle School for 29 years.
She has played many different roles in Michigan City, including coaching cross country, gymnastics and running the robotics club.
It’s all a part of her desire to use her talents to make the world a better place.
“The most rewarding thing in the world is to give up one’s stuff, because that’s the ultimate joy in giving someone a skill that they’ll use the rest of their life,” Samelson said. “Teaching them confidence that they can do things that they never thought they (could) do.”
Samelson was born and raised in Michigan City as the youngest of six children. She grew up with a religious background.
As her dad died when she was 14 years old and her mom died when she was 27, she relied on her beliefs to get her through the traumatic experiences.
“My faith has kept me through thick and thin,” Samelson said.
She also spent a lot of time with her siblings. She tagged along with her older sisters and got into gymnastics because of them.
She competed in gymnastics and cheerleading as a student at Marquette High School. She was a hard worker even then, getting a job to pay for her cheerleading shoes.
She continued her work ethic by coaching gymnastics to kids at the YMCA. One of those kids was Gillian (Phillips) Kieft, who went on to become a successful gymnast and coach.
Kieft credited Samelson with helping do well in the sport.
“Faced with the challenges of our inexperienced team and limited equipment, (Samelson) worked tirelessly to train us to not only become better gymnasts but well-rounded individuals,” Kieft said.
Samelson also got a job working in a factory to pay for her college tuition. She got her teaching license at the University of Evansville, and extended her license at Valparaiso University.
She started working at Queen of All Saints as a substitute teacher in the 1980s.
After that, she worked at St. Paul Lutheran Church & School for two years and taught at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic School for two and a half years.
But, she found her home at Krueger Middle School in 1993.
“(She) absolutely loves everything about Krueger,” said Krueger Middle School principal Josh Malone. “(She) goes above and beyond for all of her students (and) for the staff.”
Photo provided
Leslie Samelson (back row, far right) coached middle school cross country for 19 years. A seven-time marathon runner herself, Samelson was a successful mentor. She coached a group of girls who went on to win a state championship in high school.
She also was the gymnastics coach at Elston High School. She coached levels 1-9 in gymnastics.
In addition, she coached cross country for 19 years.
She had a lot of success, such as when she coached a gymnast who made it to the regional final, because she was very good with mentoring kids.
She coached middle school girls cross country runners that even became state champions in high school.
“For them to be state champions at the high school level, I felt like I was a part of their commitment,” Samelson said.
Samelson was no stranger to success in running herself.
She ran her first of seven marathons in 1991 when she ran in South Bend. She then ran the Pavo Nurmi, which was very hilly, in 4 hours, 16 minutes, 53 seconds in 1995,
But, it was in 1998 that she ran the Chicago Marathon to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
She ran that race in 3:44:27 in 1999.
She is really proud of doing the Boston Marathon.
“Every person that crosses that line is a winner, and that’s amazing,” Samelson said.
In the classroom, she’s been a big part of creating elements of Krueger’s environmental center.
She also has been very passionate about running Ingene, a robotics club that teaches the students to use robotics in life.
“The goal is to be technical craftsmen so that you can have your own job (as) the entrepreneur,” she said.
She has been teaching robotics for about seven years. In addition to participating in robotics competitions, students have built an electric unicycle, a go-kart and electric skateboards.
Students also use technology to create their own songs.
Photo provided
Leslie Samelson has been on close-knit teacher teams during her time at Krueger Middle School, including the one pictured above. (Front row, from left) Jeanine Peo, Teresa Jamieson. (Back row, from left) Samelson, Kathy Brill, Kirk Rogers, Reagan Blair, Joanne Thorne.
Her biggest impact is in how she treats people day in and day out.
“She loves people,” said Mrs. Peo, a fellow Krueger teacher. “She’s a very social individual, so she embraces the association and relationship she builds with students and staff.”
Peo has known Samelson for 35 years, and works with her to this day. She and Samelson are alike and are both always on the go, so they work very well together.
“She’s dedicated,” Peo said. “Science is her passion and it shows through.”
One teacher who has benefitted from her dedication is Julia Christensen.
“She’s been a good mentor or friend,” Christensen said. “She’s always been there for her team and for her students.”
Ke’von Whitlow is a student who appreciates her mentorship.
“She’s a great leader,” he said.
As Principal Malone said, she’ll be missed.
“She’s just here day and night, even on the weekends,” he said. “Even in the summer, she’s always here. It’s gonna be a big loss.”
Ms. Sam is still close with her biological family, but will miss her students and her Krueger family.
“I’m very proud to be a part of Krueger and Krueger’s family,” she said.
Overall, Samelson can look back on her life with pride, and be grateful she had people she could lean on, just as they leaned on her.
“It’s just the fact that I’ve tried to put a positive spin on things, and know that it’s your own mind that depletes and defeats you,” she said. “So, when I needed a lift, I could always count on friends and family to help me with decisions.”
Mariah Williams contributed to this story.