READY: Saying 'thank you' to retiring teachers

When I retired in 1997 from Choctawhatchee High School after 30 years, I “graduated” for the second time, my first graduation having taken place in 1963.

I remain GREEN from my student days at Choctawhatchee through my retirement as a teacher.

I was privileged to teach with its excellent faculty, some of whom are ending their days this year at my alma mater. For teacher retirees, summer’s end will bring the strange, emotional tug when the first day of school arrives. It will feel weird for a while to be in a grocery store during school hours, fearing somewhere you’ve left a classroom full of waiting students, and you’re not there to keep them from running amok. You’ll also continue to “teach” other children and adults as you’ll find it impossible to ignore a grammar faux pas, an inaccurate historical reference, egregious math errors, and scientific misinformation.

Once a teacher, always a teacher.

Six Choctawhatchee faculty members have celebrated their last “first day” of school in the 2014-2015 academic year, and soon will celebrate their last “last day.” If any of your children or grandchildren had one or more of these teachers, they were in generous and gifted hands.

Linda Patrick Evanchyk-McMain‘s many prestigious awards and distinctions testify to the excellence of her skill as a teacher of journalism. I enjoy reading Facebook comments from her former students, all remembering the positive impact she had on their lives. Mary McElvain not only taught students to love the Spanish language and culture, but her kind heart and understanding nature gave them someone to turn to with all that teenage angst. My son still remembers how she helped him at a bad time in his student life. He also learned a love for writing and literature from Peggy Mitchell, my fellow teacher of English. I left her my classroom 2B09 (with its two sunny windows) when I retired. Miriam Laird, along with Mary, are the longest tenured Spanish teachers at Choctaw with both being in on the inception of the International Baccalaureate program (IB) and both enriching their instruction with culturally relevant activities such as trips and guest speakers. Dr. Della Mandel has served as guidance counselor, assistant principal and math teacher. She has worked with at-risk students, finding them programs which enable them to obtain their high school diplomas. Joan Smith retires as chairperson of the math department, teaching courses on all levels including IB and dual enrollment with Northwest Florida State College. Peggy, Linda, and Della all have National Board Certification.

Like me, Joan, Miriam, and Linda are all Choctaw graduates, among the 40 alumni currently on staff.

Obviously, this year’s retirees — including those at Fort Walton High, Niceville, and Crestview — leave a deep void in a dedicated force of teachers across the county who give their all for their students. But they leave behind a remnant of outstanding teachers and an upcoming group of fresh-faced, starry-eyed young educators whose passion for teaching will continue their tradition of excellence.

A recent run of social media comments have opined that teachers get paid way too much for the work they do. I didn’t jump into that stream of posts by folks who are clueless as to what a teacher does because I avoid arguing with people who are both uninformed and stubborn.

For those who are unaware of a teacher’s typical duties, here’s a VERY partial listing of the things this year’s retiring teachers did for children over 30 years (usually) of their careers.

Parking lot duty, morning, noon, afternoon, evening — often at weekend events

Many extra hours at night and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons

Club and academic program sponsorships requiring car washes, school plays, banquets, homecoming events, talent shows, etc.

Tutoring struggling students after school

Parent-Teacher conferences, either on planning time or after school

Keeping detention hall students after school

And more, more, more.

With no overtime and no bonuses, teachers give of their free time and spend their own money to promote their students’ preparation for the future as intelligent, contributing adults.                       

Finally, to Anne Powell, Randy Nash, Bess Jones, Connie White, Margie Zant, Joy Aplin, Jo Yeager, Beverly Pedersen, Jackie Hails, Anne Dilworth, Betty Holmes, Anne Johnson, Fred Pitts, Mary Jane Ross, Ray Vick, J.C. Mayfield, Dodie Glowa, Nancy Hale, Peggy Herndon, Jenny Hamilton (and those I’ve unforgivably overlooked or who have gone on to teach in heavenly halls, like the amazing Coach Melody Jackson), I’ll always treasure the years I taught with you at Choctawhatchee. I hope your retirement has been blessed by sweet memories of a career which touched the lives of all those students fortunate to call you “TEACHER.”

Mary Ready of Destin is a twice-retired English teacher and long-time area resident. Her columns are published on Saturdays.