New Century Press ? Retiring teachers recognized for service, share ...

The close of another school year also meant the retirement of three West Lyon Community School teachers. As they prepared to leave employment with the school district, they took time out to share some of their thoughts about their years of service and plans for the future. id="0">

Mike Kern id="2">

?I like working with children and, of course, the obvious ? summers off!? was the reason retiring elementary instructor, Mike Kern, gave for going into the field of teaching. id="3">

After graduating from Dakota State College at Madison, S.D., Mike taught a half year at Beresford, S.D., before joining the faculty at West Lyon. Of his 39 years on the staff, 38 were as a fifth grade teacher. He taught sixth grade one year. id="4">

Memorable moments of his teaching career were provided by the students in his classroom as well as by the boys he coached in golf and their being very successful in their high school golf events. Something Mike will never forget is breaking his nose twice while at West Lyon. id="5">

Mike?s family includes his wife, Audra, an elementary teacher at West Lyon; sons Clayton (wife Stacy and children Kimberly and Kylae) who manages a golf course in Gillette, Wyo.; Jon, who lives at Renner, S.D., and recently started a new job as a supervisor at an asphalt company in Sioux Falls, S.D.; Austin, who is an ICU nurse at Sanford in Sioux Falls, and daughters Loghan, a junior at West Lyon, and Anna, a sixth grader at West Lyon. id="6">

Now that he?s retired, Mike plans to relax, fish, golf, and possibly do some substitute teaching. id="7">

As he ends his teaching career, Mike commented, ?I don?t think young teachers will be able to go for 30-something years. Being an educator is a different ballgame now!? id="8">

Marj Wollmanid="10">

?I love kids and have always had a passion for teaching about the family and believe it is the most important foundation of our society,? said Marj Wollman, who retired after 29 years as a family and consumer sciences and health instructor in the secondary level at West Lyon. id="12">

Marj received her bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State University at Brookings, S.D. having majored in family and consumer sciences education (home economics education) and textiles and clothing, and interior design. She began her teaching career at Tulare, S.D. Two years later she took a position at Jasper, Minn., where she remained for two years before joining the West Lyon staff. id="13">

At West Lyon she taught all of the family and consumer sciences and health classes, which have included: Foods & Nutrition I, Foods & Nutrition II, Skills for Life, Child Development and Parenting, Family Living, Entrepreneurship, seventh grade Family & Consumer Sciences Exploratory, seventh and eighth grade Health & Careers. id="14">

?I wish I had kept a journal of all the funny things kids say,? said Marj when asked about memories and humorous moments. ?Over the years, I have seen amazing kids go on to succeed in amazing ways. I loved having a National FHA officer, being active with local FCS teachers, organizing the West Lyon dinner theatre and Sports Day competitions, and most of all developing friendships with great people that will last a lifetime.? id="15">

While not mentioning anything specific, Marj said she has ?seen a lot of changes in kids over the years.? id="16">

In addition to spending more time with her husband, Glen, and nephew and niece, Christopher and Erinn, Marj?s future plans include traveling, quilting, wedding coordinator, women?s bible studies, time with friends, and finding beaches, mountain trails and people that speak foreign languages. She pretty much summed up her plans when she said, ?Enjoying id="17">lifeid="18">! Having FUN! and Finding JOY!? id="19">

As she leaves teaching behind she reflected on her years in education, saying, ?I loved seeing kids? faces light up when they learned something new and ?got it? in their mind and soul and seeing that pride in their sense of accomplishment. I was blessed by the amazing students that go the extra mile. They are the cream of the crop ?and then some.? Those are the students that are naturally kind and caring to those around them. I have found over the years that those students have grown up in great families and have great parents! A special Thank You to all those parents and students.? id="20">

Connie Rentschleid="22">r id="23">

?I always liked school and just knew that was what I wanted to do,? said Connie Rentschler, secondary instructor at West Lyon for 30 years. id="24">

Connie received a bachelor?s degree in home economics and biology from Wayne State College, Wayne, Neb., in December 1967. She taught home economics and earth science at West Lyon from January 1968 to January 1971. She eventully went back to school and earned a master?s degree in special education from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., in 1988. Since August 1985, Connie has taught in the high school resource program at West Lyon. id="25">

Connie had no trouble remembering an event which, looking back, is now quite humorous. id="26">

?For several years we had an organization named Snack Pack. We made homemade treats and sold them at junior high events after school. We did a service project with the proceeds and also took a nice field trip each spring. On one occation we were serving a junior high basketball game after school. We managed to create a certain amount of smoke with the popcorn popper. The fire alarms work well here, and we set it off. We cleared Shelly Monroe and the volleyball girls out of the big gym and junior high basketball players out of the little gym. It was quite a sight! I was embarrassed, but thankfully, it only happened twice!? id="27">

Looking back over her years of teaching, Connie said, ?Times change, but I think people are basically the same. We all need love and acceptance, challenges and victories, and a purpose in life. Hopefully, all students with guidance and learning will have these. The biggest force in schools and life in general is technology. It is constantly changing and updates are needed often. Personally, it is a big challenge for me.? id="28">

Connie and her husband, Norman, have four sons. id="29">

John and Stephanie live in Sioux City. John is a fireman and a carpenter specializing in tiling and cabinetry. Stephanie is a paramedic. id="30">

Thomas and Janelle live in Larchwood. Thomas is owner and practicing veterinarian at Tea Vet Clinic and Janelle is a fifth grade teacher at West Lyon. Their children are Mitchell, 13, seventh grade; Taylor, 9, fourth grade, and Emersyn, 4, in transitional kindergarten. id="31">

David and Stacie live in Spirit Lake. David is a veterinarian who is coordinating and teaching the vet tech program at Iowa Lakes. Stacie is a nurse and works at the hospital in Spirit Lake. Their children are Isabella, 7, second grade; Evelyn, 4, in preschool, and Harrison, 5 weeks and a growing boy. id="32">

Mark and Penny live in Larchwood. Mark teaches junior high Science and is track coach at West Lyon. Penny teaches second grade at West Lyon. Their children are Veda, Xander and Malison, all 5, and entering kindergarten next fall. id="33">

For Connie, the future means ?spending more time with family and friends and pursuing many things I like to do that have been on hold. We will watch the grandchildren grow up and support their activities.? id="34">

Some words of wisdom from Connie concerning teaching and education are ?It is important to be flexible and open to change at all times. In this age of technology, we need to maintain personal interaction with students and parents.?id="35">

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