March 28, 2024

BMS staffers give retirees a warm sendoff

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Berg Middle School will be losing some of its most familiar faces next year, with several longtime staff members retiring at the end of the year.

Staff members at the middle school gathered Wednesday to bid those retirees a fond farewell. As Newton Community School District Superintendent Bob Callaghan greeted each of the four retirees with a gift in appreciation of their service, he told them the door would always be open to them.

“We just want you to be aware that we appreciate everything that you do,” Callaghan said. “I know you have to take 26 weeks off before you can come back to work, but we’ll be expecting you in January.”

Collectively, the four staff members who are retiring, Steve Pearson, physical education teacher, Ina Hubbard-Heidemann, sixth-grade teacher, secretary Betty Buckley and custodian Kim Hoskins, have spent 121 years working in the district.

At Wednesday’s send-off, teachers at the middle school highlighted the accomplishments of their departing peers. Marlene Huggins and Lorraine Kalkhoff commended Hoskins for her dedication to cleanliness, rapping a tribute to the long time custodian. Staff members reminisced about Hubbard-Heidemann, telling stories about the time she won an arm wrestling competition and the time she got to drive a tank.

Math teacher Andy Cazett introduced his friend, Pearson, bringing out a stack of hats to represent the many different roles the physical education teacher has played during his career with the district. A long-time coach who’s worked with thousands of children in a career that’s spanned nearly four decades, Cazett said he’s going to miss their daily conversations.

“Steve is a loyal friend who goes out of his way to be there for his friends,” Cazett said. “I will truly miss seeing Steve every day.”

Teachers and staff members reserved their highest praise for Buckley, the school’s longtime secretary. Teachers recognized her as the first face” students see every morning when they walk into the building and the last person they see before they leave each night.

Staff members commended Buckley for her service. As she listened to each staff member take a turn thanking her, Buckley was noticeably moved. She asked her husband Frank to read a statement she’d written.

“There was no way I could talk about it without it being an ugly cry,” Buckley wrote. “I have such mixed emotions about retiring”

In her statement, Buckley wrote she felt conflicted about her retirement. After 23 years, her coworkers have become family to her. Modest to a fault, Buckley’s farewell address highlighted the accomplishments of teachers and staff members she’s worked with over the course of her career.

“I have so much respect for those individuals who are teachers,” Buckley wrote. “We have some of the best kids in this school, when I see the smiles on their faces I know we’re doing something right.”

Buckley credited the staff with creating an environment where acceptance is the “go-to” attitude on display at the middle school.

“In my 23 years, I’ve only had one parent make me cry. I don’t know how many parents or students I made cry, but hopefully none,” she said. “We’ve had so many laughs in the front office.”

Looking back on her career, Buckley thanked her co-workers for making the office at the middle such a fun place to work. Steadfast and plucky throughout her time, Buckley wrote she hopes to keep in touch with former coworkers even after she and her husband finalize their move to Bondurant.

“I hope that we can all see each other again,” Buckley said. “Enjoy the new building and start building awesome new memories and friendships.”

Frank Buckley had tears in his eyes as he finished reading the words his wife wrote.

“You’ve had her for 23 years, and I’ve had her for 40,” Buckley told the assembled teachers at the middle school.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com