This is surely a time to rejoice.
Three of our respected colleagues are retiring. They will no longer be bound
to the school’s clock and calendar. For them the future is a thing of complete flexibility, options, whims and doing those things that one has for so long promised to do.
But before we release them to this paradise, allow me some remarks concerning their tenure here at our school.
Pat is an accomplished educator and good friend. Of that, there is no doubt. She is popular with staff, students and parents. And her husband will always be popular with me. He made a delicious dish of escargot, of which I am particularly fond and the ride I had on his Harley Davidson will always be one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Of all of Pat’s professional and colleagial strengths, I will personally remember her for her courage and sense of duty. Few women can have experienced breast cancer and the loss of one’s beloved husband in such a short time. So did she collapse into mass of self-pity? - for which she had right to.
No. Each time Pat pulled herself to-gether and gave once more, the finest education she could provide for those students who depended on her. It is difficult to capture my feelings except I am in awe of her strength, her bravery and her love of her students. I love her, will very much miss her, and applaud her.
For those who know her, Cathy is the quiet giant of our school. She is that kind of professional that you refer to as a role model, exemplary profession-al, master teacher, and completely dedi-cated educator.
In my twenty-five years’ of teaching, coordinating and administering, I have had the privilege to serve with many talented and committed teachers. Cathy is as good as it gets.
Among the many other projects she led or supported, she coordinated the after-school early literacy intervention tutoring project. It meant not only considerable work beyond her usual classroom responsibilities but it required
staying after the regular work day ended.
When I offered her a differential to provide compensation for her extra work,
she said very quietly, Thank you, but please use the money, instead, on the students. While , understandably, many of us cannot or will not make this sort of sacrifice for our students, her response to this moment needs to be treasured and celebrated.
She is that one in a million teacher and I feel privileged to have served with her and will miss her greatly.
Seven years ago, when I first arrived at Third Street School - and it seems
before I could unpack all my boxes, Susie W. was already working on a grant that would bring a $10,000 TEAMS science check to our school. Needless to say, my first experience with Susie W. was filled with respect and appreciation.
Over time, my assessment of Susie W. simply continued to grow and grow. She
represents that type of strong, private teacher who works quietly and master-fully. She is the teacher who would take on the behaviorally challenged students and do a wonderful job with them. That she cared about her students and provided them with a superior education has never been in doubt.
Susie W. provided the school with that special kind of stability and strength that only excellent veteran teachers can. To say that I and the school will miss her strength goes without saying. The school and I will sorely feel the void left by Susie W’s retirement for some time to come.
In ending, let me note the obvious: this is one of those bitter-sweet moments.
On the one hand, we do not want to lose these highly valued educators, dear
friends and respected colleagues to retirement.
On the other hand, we can only congratulate them on reaching that moment when
one can retire from this noble endeavor and move onto new adventures and
exotic challenges. There are few of those among us who do not envy them
their new found freedoms.
With a tear in the corner of our eyes, we can only say, thank you for all
that you have taught us and given to the students and in your retirement, may
you have health, wealth, and happiness.
In the final analysis, however, let not our last thoughts today be those of
sadness for our loss of these fine educators.
Let our last thoughts be those that are happy for them.
Let us not forget that they go to a very nice place.
They go to a place where every evening is Friday evening.
Where every day is a holiday.
Where every weekend is a three-day weekend.
Where every morning is the first morning of that never-ending summer vacation.
Thank you colleagues and friends and Godspeed.

Suzie K. Oh can be reached by email at Sko1212@aol.com or by fax at (323)256-1765.