PEA fetes retiring teachers
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POLSON — Polson School District #23 lost over 150 years of combined teaching wisdom and expertise when six long-term teachers retired at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. The teachers are: Mary Davis, 36 years, Carolyn Hall, 15 years, Janis Jette, 25 years, Karl Tait, 35 years, Paul Torgison, 22 years, and Judie Woodhouse, 34 years.
The teachers were honored at a retirement party sponsored by the Polson Education Association on June 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Polson City Library.
Friends, family, faculty members and former students visited with the honorees and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, cake, iced tea and lemonade. Then each retiring teacher was introduced by a colleague and received a plaque honoring their years of service as well as a gift from the PEA.
After the speeches and gifts, Davis said she and her husband have traveling plans. They want to visit the southwestern United States and go back east.
With no time constraints, Davis said, “I can do anything I want, anytime I want.”
Noted for her professionalism, strength of resolves, willingness to help and her “endearing silly laugh,” Woodhouse said she has “big plans.” She’s booked a trip to Hilton Head, N. C., in the fall. In the meantime, Woodhouse wanted to sit on the deck and read a book, “maybe not an English literature selection.”
Torgison taught 22 of his 26 years in Polson as a special education teacher. Since he is fly fisherman, Torgison will be doing some fishing. Also, Torgison planned home repairs and maybe some education consultation work.
Carolyn Hall said she has a wide horizon for her retirement. She and her husband, Eric, have been asked to come and open a school for five to nine year olds in Myanmar, formerly Burma. But first Eric said Carolyn has to rest.
Tait came to Polson in 75, the same year as Bob Owen, who presented Tait with his plaque. Tait was honored for his 35 years of dedicated service — coaching basketball and teaching students to understand and use correct English.
Jette wants to travel during her retirement. She will join Woodhouse and other friends on the Hilton Head, N.C. trip and then travel on to Washington, D.C., to visit her son. Since her daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren live in Park City, Utah, Jette will winter there. Long-term travel plans include jaunts to Australia, New Zealand and Egypt.
Flyfishing, teaching in a third world company or jetting across the country, these teachers have touched many students’ lives and will all be missed when Polson schools resume in the fall.
