Miss Becky Dwinell and her sister Debbie at CIA's Miss Becky farewell.

Miss Becky Dwinell and her sister Debbie at CIA's Miss Becky farewell.

“Miss Becky” says farewell to Cook Inlet Academy

Becky Dwinell, fondly known to a generation of Cook Inlet Academy (CIA) preschoolers as “Miss Becky” is moving on. At her farewell celebration May 1 at CIA, the gym was filled with old friends and former students who came to share their experiences with her over the last 27 years.

“Teaching young kids is what I always wanted to do from the time I was a student at the original CIA in the basement of the Soldotna Bible Chapel,” Dwinell said. “I was totally humbled by the turn out today, kids, parents, community members, my sister drove down from Anchorage to be here and it was an emotional day.”

She says she’s not leaving Alaska, but will join SOAR International ministries in Kenai and is traveling to Russia to deliver Christmas stockings and the gospel to orphans.

“I’m going to continue to ‘Soar’ like an ‘Eagle,’ but will miss the kids,” Dwinell said.

As well as the turn out for her farewell celebration, Dwinell said her jaw dropped when the CIA principal Mary Rowley asked her to guess what her going away present was.

“I’m a huge Celtic Thunder fan. I listen to their music all the time and they’re touring the U.S. this year,” Dwinell said. “I never thought I’d hear them live and when Mary (Rowley) said my present was a round trip plane ticket to whatever concert I chose to attend, with a ticket for any seat in the house of my choice and two nights’ hotel stay, my jaw dropped and the tears I’d working so hard to hold back all day just burst out. Then when they told me this year’s CIA Annual was being dedicated to me I lost it again. So much love went into those gifts I was just blown away.”

When asked what the highlight of her 27 years of teaching she replied, “the hugs! Whether they were in my class this year or whether they were in my class 26 years ago, they still come up and give me hugs and love that will never stop.”

6-year-old Madison Machade tells what she liked best about Becky Dwinell's pre-school class at Cook Inlet Academy.

6-year-old Madison Machade tells what she liked best about Becky Dwinell’s pre-school class at Cook Inlet Academy.

Gary and Sharon Hale share memories with Becky Dwinell.

Gary and Sharon Hale share memories with Becky Dwinell.

More in News

The Kenai Peninsula College main entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chiappone and Dunstan to speak at the KPC Showcase

Kenai Peninsula College continues its showcase with two new speakers this week and next

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday. (Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed)
Begich leads in early results, but Alaska’s U.S. House race won’t be immediately decided

About 245,000 ballots had been counted by 11:32 p.m., and Peltola trailed by about 5 percentage points

The Alaska governor’s mansion on Wednesday. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is considered a contender for a post in Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Election summary: Trump wins, GOP takes over U.S. Senate, Alaska may get new governor

Begich and repeal of ranked choice voting narrowly lead; GOP may lose control of state House.

Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2024. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Voters line up at the polling site at Anchorage City Hall on Nov. 4, 2024. City Hall was one of the designated early voting sites in Alaska’s largest city. It is not a designated site for Election Day voting. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Republicans lose two seats in state House, increasing odds of leadership switch

Rural Alaska precincts had reported few results by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Donald Trump won or was leading as of Wednesday morning in all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election. (Doug Mills / The New York Times)
Donald Trump returns to power, ushering in new era of uncertainty

He played on fears of immigrants and economic worries to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.

A voter is handed as ballot at Woodworth School in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. One of the most consequential presidential elections in the nation’s modern history is well underway, as voters flocked to churches, schools and community centers to shape the future of American democracy. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
Trump verges on victory, picking up Pennsylvania

Donald Trump has captured Pennsylvania, the biggest prize of the seven battleground… Continue reading

Signs and supporters line the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Unofficial results for the 2024 general election

Preliminary, unofficial election results as of 9:55 p.m.

Poll worker Carol Louthan helps voters submit ballots at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Bjorkman, Ruffridge, Elam and Vance lead in election night results

Several residents said that they came out to vote because they knew this election was “a big one.”

Most Read