Susan Wyder: Putting Community First

written by Sue Schindler

It’s 1980. Susan Wyder is a brand new 6^th grade teacher. One of her students continually vomits each morning. Susan realizes that this child is pregnant. Thirty-nine years ago, society was not as supportive to pregnant girls-especially the very young ones. The girl’s parents want nothing to do with her or her baby. Susan eventually becomes this young girl’s home instructor and continues her close attention.

Even as a young teacher, Susan is first and foremost an advocate. She finds maternity clothing and baby items for her student at Valley Interfaith Center. Susan strongly sees the needs for these types of services in the Princeton City School District. She gains approval through Student Services Director, Mari Phillips by talking about the many students’ needs and how it would help them. This is the beginning of the Princeton Closet and Susan’s role as Princeton’s strong community leader and connector.

“The Closet is critical to Princeton. Susan Wyder’s dedication to provide clothes, supplies and other items are essential to those in need. She is simply amazing. I continue to hear stories about the help and support provided by Susan and specifically the Closet. The community is fortunate to have both,” Princeton City School District Superintendent Tom Burton shares with me.

Once housed in a small upstairs room of the now demolished Burton Building on Lippleman Road, the Princeton Closet recently moved from the Board Office and into the Princeton Operations Center, 11786 Highway Drive, in Sharonville to accommodate expanding needs. Susan admits some uncertainty with the most recent move. “It always seemed as if space was too small for Susan because she does a great job promoting the Closet,” says Dr. Phillips.

Still a strong, integral part of the Princeton family in her role as Associate Superintendent, Mari Phillips is instrumental with this move. “Sue has done a wonderful job in supporting students who are in need of clothing and food through her 501-3C nonprofit organization. With her move to her new location at the Princeton Operation Center, I told her that bigger and better things would come to her ministry, and it has.  She goes out of her way to help students and families get what they need so that they can access their education.”

Susan is quick to point out, “Kids cannot learn if they are hungry, cold and have no school supplies.” When asked if there are any misconceptions about the Closet, she answered, “I know in my heart it is needed.”

In addition to her Closet responsibilities, Susan has also served on the Princeton Board of Education since 2011 and is a fundraiser for the Princeton Education Fund.

Princeton City School District sprawls through northern Hamilton County. The District serves over 5,600 students within 10 schools. Families reside in Evendale, Glendale, Lincoln Heights, Sharonville, Springdale and Woodlawn. The District also includes parts of Blue Ash, Springfield Township, as well as, parts of Butler County’s West Chester Township, Warren County’s Deerfield Township and the northwest corner of Sycamore Township.

Some 65% of students are on free or reduced lunch. Princeton City School District public schools have a diversity score of 0.72, which is higher than the Ohio average of 0.24. The most diverse district school is Sharonville Elementary School and the second most diverse elementary within Ohio.

Statistics only tell part of the story. Princeton is a story of strength and increasing graduation rates. They are recognized for their distinguished International Baccalaureate program in Princeton High School. Their 2019 graduate, Kevin Simmons, was one of only 300 national students who received the prestigious (Bill & Melinda) Gates Foundation Scholarship for academics and community service. Princeton’s Community Conversations regularly take place at local recreation centers for residents to talk about what is happening within the district- good and bad. Strong teamwork among school staff and community make Princeton a family. Their motto is, “Princeton empowers all students for college, careers and life success.”

Student and family’s needs range from the simple to complex. As with other districts, Princeton has surged in the number of grandparents suddenly and unexpectedly raising their grandchildren. 15 generous donors quickly responded when Susan posted a Facebook request to send 3 sibling grandchildren with disabilities to Camp Stepping Stones day camp, while their grandmother recovered from recent surgery. With Stepping Stones staff providing transportation, the siblings are safely enjoying the outdoors this summer as they participate in activities specifically designed for their abilities and success.

Susan invites me to the Princeton Closet at 8:30 AM. She’s held up by a train after picking up a check from a Princeton school principal. He writes a check for the Closet to pay it forward. Susan does more by 8:30 AM than most of us do throughout our day.

As the Princeton Transportation Department is also housed in the Operations Building, I stop to talk to several of the bus drivers who eagerly comment on the great work that Susan provides.

In turn, Susan shares the pivotal role the bus drivers take in making referrals. The bus and transportation drivers are the ones who see the students daily and are aware of their living situations. Drivers frequently hand out Susan’s business card and ask for parents to call. Referrals are especially high for shoes and coats. “They are amazing advocates for the kids,” she said.

During the recent 2018-19 school year cold snap, drivers ask why students aren’t wearing coats. When a student replies that he already outgrew his coat and his mother doesn’t have money for a new one, the bus driver has a coat ready from the Closet on the student’s drive home.

The walls of the Closet are lined with racks of all types and sizes of shoes. Winter coats hang from the middle of the room. St. Michael students organized and displayed the endless racks and displays of shoes and clothing by sizes and gender. Susan’s husband of 48 years, Walter, is responsible for building many of the shelves and does the heavy lifting.

Susan’s enthusiasm, connectivity, heart for the students and savvy for fundraising have established the Princeton Closet into a welcoming environment where community members eagerly volunteer. Phyllis McKinley is one of those volunteers and can be found at the Closet several days each week. She was a Mt. Zion Church Lady for 30 years. Now retired, Phyllis acknowledges that she initially came to the Closet as a skeptic. She quickly changed her mind after meeting Susan, and the rest is history. “Susan is awesome. She is on the move. I love it,” says Phyllis.

Phyllis eagerly shares stories about students benefitting from the Closet. One father drove his middle school-age daughter to downtown Cincinnati. He left her with nothing, so that she would not testify against him for a crime. When she called home for help, the father replied, “I’m holding your clothes hostage.” Fortunately, she made it to school, and her teacher reached out to the Closet. The girl received clothing and toiletries until moving in with a welcoming family.

The former Closet at the Board Office was the size of several classrooms.  However, the new facility is even more expansive. As I’m shown the Food Pantry that was set-up by Phyllis, Susan shares that the canned items have pop tops. Many families, especially those living in hotels, don’t have access to a can opener. Non-perishable food is always needed for the pantry along with items not available through Food Stamps- toiletries, paper products and laundry and household cleaners. “All it takes is a bump in the road for a single mom to go homeless,” says Susan. Loss of a job or medical expenses can leave a family without housing. The closet even assists with temporary motel rooms costs, until the family gets back on their feet.

Community involvement is nothing short of miraculous. As we enter another room, racks are filled with clothing from the Western Hills Dillard’s Outlet Store. Donation value is $220,000! Phyllis, who was involved with unpacking most of the 250 substantial-sized boxes, shares that this Dillard’s donation provided many young women with lingerie that can be expensive and difficult to fit. The donations allowed for Princeton High School girls to wear new prom gowns, while the football team wore new buttoned shirts and ties on game day. Racks are lined with new swimsuits and clothes for all types of weather.

Princeton Closet collaborates and shares with many organizations, Matthew 25: Ministries received many items from the Dillard’s Outlet donations. The Closet benefitted from the First Presbyterian Glendale’s, “Fill the Glendale Square with Food,” Day” along with Valley Interfaith.  Dan Regenold, CEO of at Frame USA, Inc., in Springdale, included the Closet as part of their “Fill The Truck and will be their July, “Charity of the Month.” Organized Living is providing volunteers as part of their 100 -year birthday celebration.

Princeton High School students, under the direction of Victoria Valerius, volunteer at the Closet to learn vocational skills. Students learn extensive sequencing skills by putting enrollment packets together for the district’s new families. They also assist in other ways. Susan is looking forward to increasing the Closet size this summer with the addition of tables, chairs and easy access for wheelchair users.

No doubt that all collaborations are special. One non-profit collaboration that especially is meaningful to Susan is the, “Missy 500.” Missy and her sister, Laura Haverland, were former students. Recovering from a knee replacement, Missy wrote Susan a heartfelt letter and sent a $500.00 check for the Closet. She unexpectedly died the next day. Missy’s family & friends started the “Missy 500,” to continue the memory of Missy’s very generous nature. They adopt a Princeton family at Christmas and make other donations. Missy’s cousin, Christian McCord, built Closet shelving in his fulfillment of St. Michael Eagle Scout requirements.

Julie Haverland, Missy’s mother, calls Susan, “an angel.” Julie and friends belong to another group, “Stitching for a Cause.” During the 2018-2019 winter frigid temperatures, water pipes froze at a trailer park near Stewart Elementary. Julie and her friends provided blankets for each family member.

When asked about the Closet and community’s future and needs Susan has several thoughts. Cash is always needed and appreciated. Cash allowed Susan and team to buy winter coats at a nominal cost when Sears Tri-County was closing. Additional plastic hangers are also needed.

Some 500 backpacks will be purchased and filled with school supplies for the 2019-2020 school year. Susan urges community members to make purchases in July. That’s the best month for school supply sales.

Community organizer, fundraiser, motivator, angel, confidant, and friend, Susan does it all. She is essential to the Princeton City School District as an advocate for those in need and someone who is there to share a story or offer a kind word. A favorite former teacher of many, she is someone who continually creates better lives for others.

Dr. Phillips emphasizes, “The Princeton Closet is like a dream come true to hundreds of students and families.  When a family contacts Mrs. Wyder and shares with her their plight, she immediately does her ‘Susan Wyder’ thing and before you know it, she has received donations from countless people to help the family. You can see the smile on Susan’s face when she has helped a student and his/her family.  It is a blessing to have her as our Board member and the CEO of the Princeton Closet.  ‘Susan is the “real deal’.  Her humble attitude and big heart help make the #Vikingdiff in the Princeton City School District.”