RETIRING TEACHERS HONORED AT KC HALL

Nine Jackson School employees were honored recently at the Knights of Columbus Hall on their retirement. All of the employees had spent more than 20 years with the school district.

Recently, they talked about retirement and their plans after this school year.

For Beulah Marie Crites retiring from the Jackson School District after 23 years will mean missing her co-workers. She worked as a full time employee for 19 years and part time for four years.

Pamela Rose Brock Friedrich has taught school for 31 years, 30 years at Jackson. One year she taught in the Crystal City School District.

Friedrich said she would miss the other kindergarten teachers who have been there for support, advice and friendship.

"Above all," she said, "I will miss the kindergarten children who have taught me so much these past years. Everyday is an adventure in kindergarten. The events that I'll never forget are the events that can't be put in print -- they will forever remain in my heart!"

Joseph Michael Crain has been an elementary school principal in Jackson for 18 years and a principal for 27 years. He also taught at Sikeston and Meadow Heights.

Crain will miss the dedicated faculty and staff who supported him and worked so hard to make the school special for the students.

Retirement plans include doing what he wants when he wants.

For Brenda Crain, who has taught 30 years in the Jackson District, retirement will include rose gardening, hiking, horseback riding, traveling, fishing, reading and spending more time with her friends and family.

Velma Whitledge has been an English teacher in Jackson for 16 years. She said her most memorable moment teaching was "attending high school with my daughters and enjoying their activities." Her retirement plans are doing a little work, traveling and a whole lot of grandparenting.

Sonja L. Davis, who spent 24 of her 30 years of teaching at Jackson, will teach part-time during her retirement. She had also taught at Scott City and at Johnson City, Tenn. She was a language arts and remedial reading teacher.

She said she will do something she can do in fewer than 55 hours a week.

Patricia Ann Schwent has been at teaching for 30 years, spending 26 of those years at Jackson. She has directed the band for grades seven through 12. She also taught in the Woodland School District from 1971-1975.

For her, she plans to open a private music studio, play professionally, stay physically fit, travel and spend more time with her husband.

Don Wiley Pugh had spent four years teaching at Meadow Heights before spending 26 years teaching Jackson students English and science. He also has been a senior high school counselor .

Pugh will carry the memory of filming his students performing their short stories.

Retirement for him will include working full time for the Missouri School Counselor Association.

Gene Andre Galnore has been a teacher at Jackson for more than 29 years, teaching elementary school students.

In his retirement, he plans to build a house, play a little golf and find another job to pay for the house.