After a 34.5-year career in education, Tammy Good reflects on her teaching experiences. She says, “I am proud of the continued professional growth I made over the course of 35 years. While teaching trends came and went, and authors and gurus had plenty of influence, it was both challenging and refreshing to practice, advance and refine my teaching skills.”
   She has learned the value of trusting, respectful relationships along with the importance of being flexible. In a career where planning and preparation are paramount, knowing when to step back, reflect and adjust or take a new direction is essential.
   Tammy spent the first eight years of her career in Walla Walla and Federal Way Public Schools in Washington state teaching fourth grade students.
   From 1994 until the present, she has taught for the Great Falls Public School District spending four years at North Middle School as a reading intervention and sixth grade teacher; five years at Meadowlark Elementary as a reading intervention and kindergarten teacher; 17 years at Lincoln Elementary teaching kindergarten, second and fourth grade students and as a reading and math intervention teacher. This last half year, Tammy spent at TSA as a first-grade remote learning teacher.
   In recalling a memorable teaching experience, Tammy relates this story: “One evening during a parent teacher conference marathon early in my career, I noticed parents seemed a bit uneasy and weren’t making eye contact as much as usual. Then, at the grocery store on my way home, the clerk at the check-out also avoided eye contact and was having a hard time keeping a straight face. It was not until I got home that I realized I had Vis-à-Vis wet erase marker on my face (and plenty of it!) from a cleaning session with my overhead projector transparency roll. Doc cam projectors and Smartboards have been a welcome advancement and a much cleaner teaching tool!
   Tammy will miss the colleagues, students and families that have become such an integral part of daily living. She says, “The people are truly the heart of a good school! Without mentioning names, I will miss the colleague who belts out songs from the central foyer at 8 a.m., the friend who stays late at work solving life’s problems with me, and the wide-eyed excitement of a kinder kid who has just realized she is reading!"
In her retirement, Tammy says, “I plan to spend time with family and help more on our family farm. I also hope to improve my golf game, read all the fiction books that have accumulated on my bookshelf…and travel!”

​   Karen Moullet's story and career have spanned the time of 29 years, the distance of three states (Montana, Nevada, and Washington), and the space held by students in classrooms at every grade, K-12. She says, “My double major of Elem Ed/Special Ed allowed me this privilege.”
   She recalls, “I know I could have, and maybe should have, kept notes to author a book, but the one early memorable experience that comes to mind is from when I was student teaching in second grade. I put my hand over my heart to recite the pledge with the class and quickly realized I still had my jammies on under my dress. This experience has kept me humble all these years!”
   Karen has learned and advises other educators with this advice. “Gather a solid support team, get sufficient rest, laugh at yourself, remember you are human, and keep your hand in God's -- always.”
   In reflection, Karen says, “I have been blessed with supportive principals and amazing co-workers in every teaching assignment. However, I will carry the faces of the children in my heart always.”
    After her retirement, Karen knows she will greatly miss the camaraderie with her co-workers, as well as the joys and challenges that came through the classroom door every day. She said, “I'm a people person, and I thrive on engaging with others in a spirit of teamwork, working toward a common goal.  This biz is tough, but well-worth the blood, sweat and tears.”
   Karen has set her retirement goals. She says, “First things first:  rest. Then, I have two, two-week summer sessions scheduled for Grandma Camp with my grandchildren in Washington. After that, I plan to reinvent myself, but have no idea what that might look like at this time.”

   Hired in 1989 as a paraprofessional at Skyline Preschool, Bonnie Johnson worked in preschool for 17 years in various buildings.
   As Bonnie relates her career journey, she says, “I left my para-position at Head Start to student teach, and then, I returned to finish the school year as a paraprofessional. The following fall, I was hired as a special education resource teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. I worked with students ranging from kindergarten through sixth grade who required special education services. It was a huge adjustment for me, but it ended up being a wonderful experience.
   I was recruited by Sharon Linstrum, director of Special Education, to move mid-year from Lincoln to Head Start to provide Great Falls Public School special education support. I worked with Head Start students for about six years before moving to Skyline where I was the special education resource teacher with the students in full-day preschool.
   Eventually, I taught in a self-contained classroom. I loved working with the preschoolers who needed special education support.
   Bonnie remembers a “practice lockdown” when she was working with Head Start students. She says, “I missed the memo that a lockdown means doors are locked; lights are off, and no sound is made.” The lockdown became memorable because she had her students take out musical instrument. She says, “We were having a loud, fun time until the principal came in to let us know that we were supposed to be quiet and have no lights on.”
   In reflecting on what makes her most proud about her teaching experience, Bonnie says, “I have always been proud to say I am a special education teacher. When I see my former students out in the community, I love when they come and fill me in on what they are doing. I have been invited to graduation parties of former students. I told one former student it warms my heart and makes me so happy to see them as successful as they are.
   From her teaching career, Bonnie says, “I feel I have learned to understand the importance of compassion and respect for everyone, and that everyone can learn to become as independent as they can be. I will miss the relationships with staff, families, and my students. I will also miss seeing the growth each student achieves from the beginning of the school year through the end of the school year.”
   Bonnie says her plans for retirement include being as involved in her grandson’s life as she can be as well as having time to sit back and breathe. “My father recently passed away, and I am super busy with getting his affairs in order. Eventually, I might want to volunteer in a school.”