Five Selah School District staffers end career
http://www.selahnews.com/articles/406/1/Five-Selah-School-District-staffers-end-career/Page1.html
Denise Keller
By Denise Keller
Published on 06/23/2008
The school bell rang a final time last Friday for five Selah School District staff members.
Pictured: Retiring third grade teacher Vivian Russell enjoys a visit from former student Traci Stout. Denise Keller photo
The school bell rang a final time last Friday for five Selah School District staff members.
Pictured: Retiring third grade teacher Vivian Russell enjoys a visit from former student Traci Stout. Denise Keller photo
The school bell rang a final time last Friday for five Selah School District staff members.
High School librarian Eugenia Flickinger, Intermediate School teacher Nell Jeschkowski, Lince Elementary School counselor John Sweesy and teachers Sue Record and Vivian Russell retired this year.
“It won’t hit me until next fall when I’m not here two weeks before school,” Record said.
Turning in her retirement notice signifies the end of a long chapter in Record’s life. She began teaching in Selah 32 years ago at the age of 22. Although she was eligible for retirement two years ago, she “wasn’t quite ready” until this year.
“I’ve had many wonderful students through the years,” Record said. “Seeing students come back and visit having succeeded in life makes it all worthwhile.”
Some of Record’s former students have even returned to her classroom as parents of her new first grade students.
Across the campus, the last two weeks of the school year brought several of Russell’s former students back to her third grade classroom after word of her retirement spread.
Traci Stout, now 23, stopped by with an orchid and a hug for Russell just minutes after students were dismissed Friday.
“She is the most amazing teacher,” Stout said of Russell. “She touches kids’ lives, she makes an impact, she really cares.”
Stout wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke. Russell’s eyes filled with tears, as well.
“It’s been an emotional day, but it’s also been a lovely day,” Russell said. “It’s very touching to know you played an important part in somebody’s life that was positive.”
Russell taught in Selah for 22 years.
Sweesy began his counseling career in Selah 32 years ago. He spent the last eight years at Lince.
“It was just time,” Sweesy said of his decision to retire this year. “I love my job and I just wanted to leave on a really positive note.”
Sweesy anticipates missing the students and his coworkers.
“There are some real special people here who will be friends for life. It’s not just an eight to five type of friendship,” Sweesy said.
Sweesy plans to increase his hours teaching at Heritage University and also spend some time volunteering, gardening and traveling.
Russell will be teaching GED and other courses for adults, volunteering and taking art classes.
Record plans to substitute teach next year.
“I have to get my kid fix,” Record said. “I enjoy teaching, I’m just ready to not have the full responsibility of evenings and weekends.”
On the last day of school, Record was giving away things from her classroom. She held a raffle to divvy up little goodies for her students to take home and made classroom supplies and teaching materials available to any interested colleagues.
For teachers just beginning their careers, Record offered some words of wisdom.
“Appreciate the differences of all the children and all the parents,” Record said. “Treat all children and parents with respect.”
High School librarian Eugenia Flickinger, Intermediate School teacher Nell Jeschkowski, Lince Elementary School counselor John Sweesy and teachers Sue Record and Vivian Russell retired this year.
“It won’t hit me until next fall when I’m not here two weeks before school,” Record said.
Turning in her retirement notice signifies the end of a long chapter in Record’s life. She began teaching in Selah 32 years ago at the age of 22. Although she was eligible for retirement two years ago, she “wasn’t quite ready” until this year.
“I’ve had many wonderful students through the years,” Record said. “Seeing students come back and visit having succeeded in life makes it all worthwhile.”
Some of Record’s former students have even returned to her classroom as parents of her new first grade students.
Across the campus, the last two weeks of the school year brought several of Russell’s former students back to her third grade classroom after word of her retirement spread.
Traci Stout, now 23, stopped by with an orchid and a hug for Russell just minutes after students were dismissed Friday.
“She is the most amazing teacher,” Stout said of Russell. “She touches kids’ lives, she makes an impact, she really cares.”
Stout wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke. Russell’s eyes filled with tears, as well.
“It’s been an emotional day, but it’s also been a lovely day,” Russell said. “It’s very touching to know you played an important part in somebody’s life that was positive.”
Russell taught in Selah for 22 years.
Sweesy began his counseling career in Selah 32 years ago. He spent the last eight years at Lince.
“It was just time,” Sweesy said of his decision to retire this year. “I love my job and I just wanted to leave on a really positive note.”
Sweesy anticipates missing the students and his coworkers.
“There are some real special people here who will be friends for life. It’s not just an eight to five type of friendship,” Sweesy said.
Sweesy plans to increase his hours teaching at Heritage University and also spend some time volunteering, gardening and traveling.
Russell will be teaching GED and other courses for adults, volunteering and taking art classes.
Record plans to substitute teach next year.
“I have to get my kid fix,” Record said. “I enjoy teaching, I’m just ready to not have the full responsibility of evenings and weekends.”
On the last day of school, Record was giving away things from her classroom. She held a raffle to divvy up little goodies for her students to take home and made classroom supplies and teaching materials available to any interested colleagues.
For teachers just beginning their careers, Record offered some words of wisdom.
“Appreciate the differences of all the children and all the parents,” Record said. “Treat all children and parents with respect.”