The Ignacio Education Association hosted its annual teacher tea Tuesday afternoon at the elementary school. Teachers and administrators enjoyed fruit and orange sherbert punch and assorted munchies, including several choices of pies. Fifth grade science teacher Libby DeHaan was recognized as the only teacher retiring this year. She is finishing her 31st year in the district. That tenure was beat out by Sue Searle, who is in her 32nd year with the district but isn't retiring just yet. Previous retirees Emma Shock and Davylou Beaty, who also taught for many years in Ignacio, were recognized as well.
District Curriculum Director Kathy Pokorney said she met DeHaan when she (Pokorney) started teaching at the then intermediate school. "I had the class that all the kids were suspended by the time I got up here in the afternoon," Pokorney said. "Fourteen years ago, I was announced to be the principal (at IIS). We were the black sheep of the school district. We thought of ourselves as the Queens of the Hill."
She recalled the science lab that was crammed with things that were never going to be used again. "Libby offered to clean it up if she could be the science teacher." She did clean the room and aced out another teacher who wanted the position. "She really turned the corner for us regarding science and has gotten kids excited about science," Pokorney said.
DeHaan said, "I couldn't have worked in a more wonderful district. It's been awesome. This is a wonderful community."
