T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS Many laughs were shared among friends at Wednesday’s Marshalltown Community School District/Marshalltown Education Association Retirement Tea. In this case, Lenihan Intermediate School instructional coach Jenny Allen, left, reminisced on the time she and 2018 retiree Beverly Fisher, right, had during their years as coworkers.

Every year, a group of teachers, administrators, paraeducators and others bid farewell to Marshalltown Schools and to their careers in education; on Wednesday, they were recognized for their service.

“It’s surreal that I’m the one standing here, now, doing this speech,” said retiring Miller Middle School math teacher Beverly Fisher to an audience of district staff seated in Dejardin Hall at Marshalltown Community College for the annual Marshalltown Community School District/Marshalltown Education Association Retirement Tea. “Being in the district 19 years pretty much has covered an entire generation of kids.”

Fisher was one of 16 retirees recognized at Wednesday’s tea event. She said she looks forward to retirement, but expects to still see former students around town in grocery stores, restaurants, at parades and elsewhere.

“I yearn for the days of not worrying about (students) anymore, and I yearn for the days of not carrying home a 10-pound bag, as I did tonight, and not grading papers as I did the other night until 10 o’clock,” Fisher said. “But, secretly, I always hope they will run up to me in Fareway.”

Retiring Lenihan Intermediate School counselor Mark Chardoulias also said he’ll miss his time at the district, where he’s worked for the past 25 years.

“I’ve enjoyed the people I work with,” he said. “I’m 65, and people say ‘Why didn’t you quit a long time ago?’ And I say, ‘Well, I enjoy what I’m doing.'”

District Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte and Marshalltown School Board President Bea Niblock, herself a retiree from the district, praised this year’s group of retirees.

“From a district standpoint, we’re just losing a tremendous amount of talent and skill and ability that our students, our staff, our parents and our community has benefited from for a large number of years,” Schutte said. “Thank you so much for your efforts to make a positive difference for our kids, for their families and for our community.”

Niblock drew laughs from the audience with a set of changes she said retirees will experience after working in education for decades.

“You will avoid all cafeteria-style restaurants … but, I’m sorry to say you will still hear bells,” she said. “You will find no red pens in your home; you will be stalked by AARP.”

Taking a more serious tone, Niblock said retirees should cherish the last few days of the semester before they bid the district farewell.

“As you retire, take a moment, stroll through your beloved hallways in the school and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear every nook and cranny sadly whisper ‘You will be missed,'” she said. “The vacancy you leave behind may be filled in, the position you had may be held by others, but, in our hearts, you’re simply irreplaceable.”

The other 14 retirees honored Wednesday were: Sharon Baughman, Jody Britnall, Linda Britnall, Dee Coulter, Penny Duer, Cheryl Dunham, John Fitzgerald, Kathaleen Hale, Sammi Jo Luse, Patricia Moore, Susan Pollpeter, Kim Proescholdt, Karen Roessler and Cindy Wirkler.

Also honored at Wednesday’s event were two Marshalltown High School seniors, Gretchen Benscoter and Sam Irwin, who received MEA scholarships.

The Assistance League of Marshalltown was also honored, and members were awarded the Friend of Education Award for their “My Marshalltown” project, which saw several large “M” statues pop up around the city to showcase school and community pride.

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Contact Adam Sodders at (641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com