Central is losing more than a teacher this spring—it’s saying goodbye to a pillar of excellence. After eighteen years in education, Mrs. Marci Hecker is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of rigor, grace, and an unmistakable “calm chaos” that has shaped the lives of students and colleagues alike.
“Her teaching is grounded in structure and clarity,” says Mrs. Wahl, a longtime colleague and friend, and BCCHS theology teacher. “She knows the why behind everything she teaches, and she brings that into her classroom every day.” Students in Mrs. Hecker’s room didn’t just memorize formulas – they understood them. From theorems to trapezoids, every lesson came with purpose.
In the math department, Hecker’s impact was transformative. Mr. Trafton, now the principal of BCCHS but once a student of Mrs. Hecker’s, who worked closely with her on curriculum as principal, emphasized how she “brought structure to chaos” and had a knack for making sense of the most complex content. “She makes sure it’s not just about learning math,” he said, “but understanding how it fits into a bigger picture. She teaches kids how to think.”
Mrs. Kelly, a BCCHS theology teacher who is also retiring this year, remarked, “My first impression of her was that she was very friendly and open, and very intelligent: that has been proved through an incredible math teacher, and her enthusiasm and her creativity in her classes for years has always impressed me.”
While she’s maintained her friendly demeanor and passion for teaching, Mrs. Hecker has also evolved. She observed, “I don’t think I sweat the small stuff as much as I used to. I used to worry a lot if kids didn’t know all of their math facts or were struggling with specific things. I want them to enjoy the subject and have fun with it and make mistakes, and they’re probably never going to know everything. I haven’t mastered the topic of math, and I have a degree in it.”
That being said, Hecker has always expected a lot from her students, knowing they would rise to the occasion. Kelly admired this, “She taught math with a passion, and held her students accountable. That is such an important aspect of teach: she was firm on that, and taught kids that, yes, there is a deadline, yes, you have to be responsible for yourself when you are absent.” Señora Dicken, BCCHS Spanish teacher, adds, “She’s been an excellent teacher, and students have learned a lot in her class. She has high expectations for them; and she is organized, and she is always well prepared for her classes.”
Still, even with her reputation for high expectations, Mrs. Hecker remained grounded. “She knows not every student is going to love math,” says Mrs. Kelly, “but she’s always treated each one with respect. She meets them where they’re at. And when she sees a kid really trying, she’s the first to cheer them on.”
Christian Reck, a freshman at BCCHS who takes her Geometry course, relayed that his older sister was inspired to pursue a degree in mathematics because of Mrs. Hecker’s passion. Similarly, he said of his own experience, “The way she teaches shows how much she really loves math: she instills that love of math into my brain. She doesn’t just teach the math, but also teaches us to love learning and love learning math.”
BCCHS’ beloved math teacher, Mrs. Hecker (Ella Fairbanks )
But it wasn’t just her teaching that stood out. “She’s funny, honest, and direct,” discussed Dicken, describing Hecker as someone who brought not only knowledge but light to the faculty. “She tells you exactly what she thinks, which is refreshing. And she’s always been willing to collaborate — she’s just a great teammate.”
Wahl remarked, “First, my kids were high school age, and both of my girls had her; then I was lucky enough to be a colleague of hers, and we’ve become good friends. I enjoy our lunch dates: we have lunch every day in the office together, and we just talk and chat and share stories of our families.”
Baxter Jensen, a junior whose had two of Hecker’s classes, reflected, “I’m going to miss having her class each day, and I’m going to miss her and the person she is, because she is always so nice. She’s always made my day easier: I know, going into her class, that it will be a positive experience.”
Similarly, Wahl shared, “I’m going to miss her humor. I’m going to miss her competitive nature. I’m going to miss her stories about Mr. Hecker. I’m just going to miss the way she can make everybody feel welcome, like you’re the most important person in the room: she sees you, and she makes you feel like you’re important, and she’s happy to see you, on a day to day basis.”
Now, as she reflects on her career, Mrs. Hecker herself is feeling both grateful and nostalgic. “It’s not the lessons I’ll remember most,” she says. “It’s the little moments – laughing with students, hallway chats with coworkers, solving the puzzle of how to reach a struggling learner. That’s the heart of teaching.”
She plans to spend retirement traveling and spending time with family. But she leaves Central with a final message: “I hope students remember that I believed in them, even when they didn’t believe in themselves.”
As the school year draws to a close, it’s clear that Mrs. Hecker’s presence will be missed – not just for her mind, but for her heart. She will leave a legacy both of academic excellence in her students and colleagues and of kindness and friendliness: stopping outside of her door to greet each student with a smile as they walk into her classroom.
