Julie Wilson retiring after 34 years

CRESCO - Julie Wilson is retiring after serving the students of Howard County for 34 years (three at Notre Dame and 31 at Howard-Winneshiek). “I have taught grades 1-8, but most of those years have been spent in the fourth and fifth grade classrooms,” she said.
Over the years, Mrs. Wilson has learned all students are going through tough things at different times in their school careers. “I have learned to give students time and understanding. Little humans need grace and time to work through the tough stuff, just like we adults do.”
Her funniest moment came when she planned a joke. “It was on our good-natured, good-hearted, do-anything-to-help-a-person-out custodian, (the late) George Sobolik. You’ll have to ask me in person if you want to hear the story.”
Sometimes teachers wonder if they are making a difference in a student’s life. They might not find out until years later. That happened to Mrs. Wilson.
“I had a student that was ‘sent’ to me from another school in the district. This student was really struggling to learn. I went with the family to some medical appointments, we got this student on the right path, and that student learned to focus, learn and read. 
“Two years ago I saw this student at a wedding. We hugged and cried together about how far he has come and how successful he has become. That was the best!”
She mentioned she will miss all of the smiles, hugs and funny things that students say and the jokes they tell. “I will miss all of the friendly ribbing. Fourth and fifth graders have wicked good humor! I will also miss those ‘aha’ moments when the light bulb goes off.”
She added, “I will not miss indoor recess for the ‘umpteenth’ day in a row, when it is cold or rainy. I won’t miss being asked, ‘What time is it?’, when there are multiple clocks on the wall. I will not miss being called Mrs. Wilson in a Dennis the Menace voice.”
Her plans for retirement are to spend more time with family. That includes husband, Bart; daughter, Andrea and Jameson Eberline; and son, Ryan and soon to be daughter-in-law, Katie.
There are also plans to travel, sleep in once in awhile and help on the farm, if hubby allows it.
“I will also give more time to the organizations I volunteer for and have some part-time jobs lined up. I’m going to work on the golf game. It sure needs work!”
She added, “Everyone always says that it’s an honor and a privilege to have worked somewhere. It TRULY has been both of these! It has been so fun to have had many generations of the same families in school.”
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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