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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
Retiring educators honored for dedication
 Wapakoneta High School Industrial Technologies teacher, Del Elsner, center, accepts his retirement gifts during the Wapakoneta Education Association’s Retired Teacher’s Tea Wednesday at Wapakoneta High School. (Staff photo/ Matt Nichols)
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Wapakoneta City Schools educators Wednesday honored three teachers and a late business owner for their decades of service to the students of the district.
Wapakoneta High School special education teacher Janet Clark, industrial technologies teacher Del Elsner, and Northridge Elementary teacher Pat Shaw were honored at this year’s Wapakoneta Education Association’s Retired Teachers’ Tea at the Wapakoneta High School Commons.
Dozens of friends, family and colleagues turned out to show their support for the teaching threesome, which were awarded with roses, certificate, restaurant gift cards and $25 in cash. The ceremony was put on by the Centennial Elementary Tea Committee.
Jean Turner, Centennial Title I teacher and Tea Committee member, said the annual tea has been in existence for nearly 65 years. Every year is based on a theme, and with the Kentucky Derby just recently being run, Turner said this year was titled “Out of the Gate — Can’t Wait! 2008.”
Superintendent Keith
Horner and school Board President Laura Frame spoke during the ceremony, which began with a performance by the high school show choir, Singsation.
Of the three teachers honored, only Shaw and Elsner attended Wednesday evening’s event.
Shaw, who will officially retire in October, said she felt very humbled to be an honoree.
“It’s just wonderful to see all my colleagues that are here as well as friends and teachers from the past who have retired and come back to celebrate with me,” Shaw said.
Shaw said what she’ll miss the most after 30 years of teaching will be the students.
Elsner said his countless students will be his greatest memory as well.
“Some of the students you won’t miss, but most of them you will,” Elsner said laughing. “But seriously, we’re really blessed in this town, because we have some great kids and it’s been a lot of fun.”
The final award of the night was the WEA’s Friend of Education Award.
This year’s award went to the late Larry Sanders, the proprietor of the Beer & Wine Depot. A devout supporter of Wapakoneta City Schools, Sanders delivered meals to classroom parties, athletic teams and teacher lunches.
Sanders was instrumental in the success of the WEA chicken cookbook scholarship fundraiser.
The Beer & Wine Depot owner also employed countless Wapakoneta students at his carryout. Sanders died in a plane crash in Tennesseein April 2007.
To a standing ovation, Sanders’ family accepted the award on his behalf.
As members of his family quietly sobbed behind her, his wife, Jill, said if her husband were still alive, he likely wouldn’t want to accept the award. He never liked recognition.
Jill Sanders said her husband “did things quietly and personally.”
“Our daughter told me of a saying that epitomized her dad closer to anything that I’ve ever heard before,” Jill said. “It reads as follows: ‘My father never taught me how to live my life, he showed me how to live my life and how to live it to the fullest.’ And that’s what Larry did for all the kids that he had.” |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 May 2008 )
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