Four teachers will be leaving OHS this year after announcing their retirement. As they prepare for this new chapter of their lives, they know there will be aspects of their careers that will be hard to leave behind.
“I will miss the daily interactions with students who are excited about learning, as well as the daily lessons those students teach me,” science teacher Rebekah Kirchhofer said.
Kirchhofer has worked in the teaching field for 30 years. She intends on spending her freedom taking trips and seeing the world wherever the wind takes her.
“I have some familial obligations to fulfill upon retirement. After I fulfill those obligations, I’m hopeful for some great adventures that might involve traveling, friends, animal welfare and an array of leisure activities,” Kirchhofer said.
As far as traveling is concerned, Kirchhofer wants to explore, get out the old road map, pick a place and go.
“When I used to travel, I pulled out the atlas (map) and picked a place. I mean, it was really, really no planning whatsoever, and it was just kind of wherever the open road takes you. Sometimes I would end up on the east coast, sometimes the west coast, but it was just kind of an adventure and so that would be nice again to get out that old road atlas and pick a place and just see what I see,” Kirchhofer said.
Though she has worked here for 30 years, being remembered is not a priority for her.
“I don’t care if I am remembered. However, I do hope that in terms of my career in education that I have made at least one positive impact or difference for at least one person and that the difference I made for that one individual has a continuous positive ripple effect,” Kirchhofer said.
Some teachers remember students, some remember experiences. Math teacher John Souris, who has worked in his field for 35 years, 25 years being at OHS, remembers a specific moment back in 2007 that stands out to him above all else.
“In 2007, receiving a grant of $10,000 from the State of Missouri for Students to use the internet and computers,” Souris said.
Souris said that he enjoys teaching and sharing joy through learning, and he encourages everyone to be “CHOP” (curious, helpful, open minded and patient). The idea of sharing joy through learning is not an uncommon topic, as PLL teacher Karla Schmid has very similar views as well.
“I have been working in this field for 41 years … I just want to know that I’ve made a difference in teaching students, that I’ve been a positive influence through teaching them,” Schmid said.
In retirement, Schmid wants to spend her time traveling and spending time in northern Wisconsin. Throughout her years of teaching, she says that she has followed a strict routine, so she is looking forward to a more open schedule.
“For all these years, my life has been very scheduled because I knew what I was doing during the school year. I was tied to a schedule,” Schmid said. “Now, I think my challenge is just going to be figuring out what my new schedule is and how to continue to stay active because I need to feel productive.”
While all four of these teachers are not entirely sure what will happen once they step out of OHS for the last time on May 22, it will be diffficult to quantify the impact they will leave behind.
“I hope I’m remembered for my passion towards education,” Schmid said, “as well as my drive towards helping students.”
