Jennie Ward Walder Class of 1960
Ms. Walder was born in Rosedale Mississippi; the first child of two educators, so it seems she was destined to become a teacher. As a daughter in an Air Force family, she was fortunate to live in many difference places, A born traveler, she spent time in Mississippi, Colorado, Bermuda and Massachusetts before finally settling down in good old Bordentown, N.J. in 1955.
As a student at William MacFarland High School, Ms. Walder was a Varsity Cheerleader, a member of the Choir, Varsity Hockey team, the Officials Club and the Girls Leaders graduating in 1960. She excelled academically and earned a scholarship to attend Trenton State College. While at Trenton State College, Ms. Walder joined the Gamma Sigma Sorority and the Women’s Physical Educational Education Association. In 1964, she was awarded a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education.
Ms. Walder’s first Health and Physical Education teaching position was at Burlington Township High School and only lasted from September 1964 through January 1965, when she resigned to get married and move to California. Now the wife in an Air Force family, she lived in California for one year and North Dakota for three before moving back to Bordentown. In March of 1974, Ms. Walder began her illustrious teaching career at Peter Muschal Elementary School here in Bordentown. For the next 29 years she was responsible for molding the future of thousands of terrific students.
In 1980, Ms Walder expanded her educational opportunities by completing the course work to receive her certification in Elementary Education. This enabled her to take on other roles in the school community and for nine years, in addition to teaching Health and Physical Education, she taught remedial reading and mathematics. In 1995, Ms. Walder was chosen as Teacher of the Year and honored by the Burlington County Education Association.
One of Ms. Walder’s most notable accomplishments actually occurred over an 18 year period. She coordinated Peter Muschal’s annual Jump Rope for Heart even. In these 18 years, the students, under Ms. Walder’s direction, raised more than $175, 000 for the American Heart Association to fight heart disease and stroke. In the year 2000, Peter Muschal was the top fund raising school in the state and in 2002 the generous students and parents of this community raised $22,000. From 1999 through 2003 Peter Muschal School remained in the top 4 schools in New Jersey and the “Top 100 Schools” in the nation for Jump Rope for Heart. For these tremendous accomplishments she has been recognized by the American Heart Association and the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Throughout the years in Bordentown, Ms. Walder has taught swimming, coached soccer and served on many committees and organizations. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Bordentown, has two children, 5 grandchildren, a sister, a very proud mother and many life-long friends in this community dedicating 29 terrific years to the children of Bordentown, Ms. Walder retired last June, However, teaching is still in her blood as she volunteers one day a week for a Kindergarten class at Peter Muschal.
