After being in the fashion industry for 25 years, Mrs. Plunket decided to make a career change; and to the benefit of the William Floyd school community, she became an art teacher. Happily, she taught for 20 years at William Floyd.

The first three years of Mrs. Plunkett’s teaching career started as “Art on the Cart,” as she shared her time in four William Floyd elementary school buildings. Following that, she became the art teacher for the sixth grade. The remainder of her career was in the high school, where she taught several classes including studio in art, painting, ceramics, sculpture, illustration and fashion design.

Mrs. Plunkett helped to establish the National Arts Honor Society in the high school and assisted with the installment of the Sue Hersh Memorial Art Gallery displayed in the north entrance lobby of the high school. She developed the high school’s first fashion design class, and painted alongside the students as they created several murals in Mastic Beach and won $5,000 in scholarship money from the WALK 97.5 FM radio mural contest. Additionally, Mrs. Plunkett contributes to the Art Scholarship Fund and continues to be involved with the William Floyd Beautification Committee.   

Retirement for Sue has been exciting. She continues to travel and paint while enjoying her new grandchildren and volunteering at national parks in the southwest.