Bainbridge Elementary celebrates its retirees

Principal JoEllen Cook (left) and teachers Richard Lyon, Jan Pennington and Deborah Elliott celebrate their respective retirements from Bainbridge Elementary School Tuesday afternoon. In addition to free time for family and leisure, retirement also brings the loss of the kids they teach, something each of the retirees will miss when they leave.

BAINBRIDGE -- Students, staff and family members gathered at Bainbridge Elementary Tuesday to say goodbye to four retiring staff members.

Principal JoEllen Cook, speech and hearing specialist Deborah Elliott, kindergarten teacher Jan Pennington and physical education teacher Richard Lyons are all retiring at the end of the school year and each of them plans to travel and spend time with family.

When discussing what the teachers will miss the most about the job, a resounding answer of "the kids" seemed to be the repeated response.

Principal JoEllen Cook has given 30 years to Bainbridge Elementary and is looking forward to getting in the car and just driving away for a while.

"We might be gone a week, a month, who knows?" Cook said.

Cook spoke of various parts of the country that the she and husband Bruce have never seen, at least not together.

She has seen California, he hasn't.

He's been to New England, she hasn't.

Cook is looking forward to this next chapter in her life, spending time with her retired husband and their shitzu Molly.

Speech and hearing specialist Deborah Elliott has spent 37 years teaching and while she looks forward to spending more time with her family, including her grandchildren, she is also going to miss her time at the school.

"The kids," Elliott said in regard to what she will miss about the job, "No hesitation, the kids."

As part of their travels, Elliott and her husband are also planning to spend a portion of next winter in Key West, soaking up some sun.

Jan Pennington has given 42 years to teaching children. Nearly half a century of teaching later, she'll be retiring at the end of the year and looks forward to spending time with her husband and family.

Pennington and her husband plan to garden, landscape, remodel and generally continue to work on the home they built together 25 years ago.

"I'm just gonna relax and enjoy life," Pennington said contently.

The soon-to-be retired Pennington also plans to take some gourmet cooking classes to improve upon her skills in the kitchen.

When asked about her years of service and what she'll miss, it seems to be right in step with the lot "The kids. I teach kindergarten, there's just nothing like it," Pennington said.

Richard Lyons has ridden his bike across the country, crossed Montana, paid visits to Zion, Arches, Bryce and Canyonlands National Parks, stood atop Hoosier Pass in Colorado and now, after 30 years of service in the teaching world, he plans to do more of the same.

In addition to his desire to bike and travel the country, Lyons also looks forward to spending time with friends and family.

While these individuals will continue their roles at Bainbridge Elementary until the end of this school year, it was clear Tuesday that they will all be missed by students and faculty alike.

Cake with blue and orange frosting, cookies and punch, flower bouquets, books, snacks and knick-knacks given as parting gifts; the going away atmosphere was filled with laughter and appreciation as the teachers prepare for the next chapter of their lives, outside the walls of the school.

Karl Menninger, quoted on one of the many miniature chalkboards placed throughout the room, summed up the feeling quite well:

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches."