Experienced staff retire from Creston schools

(Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on retirees in Creston Community Schools. A separate story will be published on retiring superintendent Steve McDermott.)

Teachers and staff members with a combined 367 years of experience in the district are retiring from Creston Community Schools. The average term of service for the 16 employees is 23 years.

They will be honored along with those reaching milestones in years of service at a public recognition program at 2 p.m. Friday in the Creston Community High School auditorium, followed by a reception in the commons.

Brief profiles of seven of the retiring teachers follow.

SHARI WALTERS, elementary art (35 years).

Age: 58.

Originally from: Ottumwa, Creston (age 8).

Current position: Elementary art teacher.

Past positions in Creston schools: Always elementary art — different grade levels the first couple of years.

Other school districts worked: Santa Rose, Texas (one year).

Graduate of: Creston High School; Northwest Missouri State University, bachelor of science degree in education, major in fine arts.

Favorite part of work: Getting to know the kids, learning about their lives and interests. Watching the kids’ creativity blossom. Making lifelong friends with many fellow teachers.

A memorable experience at Creston: Watching the progress as the new elementary school was designed, the hole dug, the school built and then going through the process of moving in with all of the students’ help. Also, 35 years of having each student each year — starting in kindergarten — draw a self portrait that was then saved and all of them sent home with those students at the end of their fourth grade year. One of my favorite parts of my job as an elementary art teacher has been passing those out to the students each year.

Plans after retirement: I plan to work with my dad, Stew Stewart, at Stewart Realty, and hopefully have more time to travel and see our kids Taylor and Maxx, and spend more time with my husband John.

CRAIG TAYLOR, physical education, high school fitness physical education (30 years).

Age: 59.

Originally from: Creston.

Current position: High school physical education teacher.

Past positions in Creston schools: Always high school physical education teacher; assistant volleyball coach; assistant wrestling coach; wrestling official for the past 35 years.

Other school districts worked: Raytown (Missouri) High School, ninth grade physical science teacher, assistant football and wrestling coach; Norwalk High School, substitute teacher and assistant wrestling coach.

Graduate of: Creston High School, 1978; Northwest Missouri State University, bachelor of science degree in secondary education with physical education major and science minor.

Favorite part of work: Being an active role model in every class, working with all of the students on the importance of staying active throughout life, participating in both fitness and leisure activities.

A memorable experience at Creston: The 2007 state champion wrestling team. I did not want to miss any meets for tournaments because I knew they were an exceptional team.

Plans after retirement: Stay active, work and get more involved in church activities.

ROBBIE TANNER, fourth grade (33 years).

Age: 59.

Originally from: Cromwell.

Current position: Fourth grade.

Past positions in Creston schools: Taught fourth grade for all 33 years in the district.

Other school districts worked: Taught in Creston entire career.

Graduate of: Southwestern Community College before transferring to Westmar College in Le Mars.

Favorite part of work: My favorite parts have always been my co-workers and the kids. I have learned so many things from them all and there is always something new each day. The support of my fellow teachers during good and hard times have meant to much. We are a family. The kids are close to my heart and I care about them as if they were my very own. Watching them grow in academics and as young adults is so rewarding.

A memorable experience at Creston: I will never forget the excitement for the kids and myself in getting to move into our new elementary building. We officially moved right before Christmas vacation that year. New rooms, desks, chairs, everything. It was the best gift ever. Also, I will never forget how the community came together when were hit by that tornado. Teachers, parents, kids and people from other communities came together to help pick up. I remember driving into the elementary that morning to help. The mess was huge, but even more impressive was all of the people there cleaning up.

Plans after retirement: I plan to substitute teach, help on the family farm, enjoy my flower gardens and hang out with my kids.

PHIL WARDENBURG, high school industrial technology (23 years).

Age: 62

Originally from: Williamsburg, Iowa.

Current position: industrial education and technology.

Past positions in Creston schools: Assistant wrestling coach.

Other school districts worked: Industrial education and technology instructor in Villisca School District and O’Fallon (Missouri) School District.

Graduate of: Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, Missouri.

Favorite part of work: Seeing students succeed.

A memorable experience at Creston: Having all three of our children graduate from Creston Community High School.

Plans after retirement: Time with wife, work, fishing, hunting, visiting and rest.

JIM HYDE, middle school success coordinator (22 years).

Age: 67

Originally from: Aledo, Illinois; Vinton, Iowa; Denison, Iowa.

Current position: Middle school success coordinator.

Past positions in Creston schools: Technology coordinator; middle school science teacher; coach in softball, soccer, middle school basketball; mowed grass, painted, substitute custodian (“Thanks Clair, Larry, Robert, Marty and Clairy!”); painted lines on athletic fields; snow removal; broke equipment (“Thanks Gerry, Gary, Tim and Mike.”)

Other school districts worked: Woodbine Community Schools, science teacher, technology, coach of football, basketball and girls varsity track, which won 1992 state championship.

Graduate of: Westmar College in Le Mars, bachelor of arts in science department; Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, middle school education.

Favorite part of work: Colleagues and kids.

A memorable experience at Creston: Getting to watch my kids grow up. Getting the school district connected to the internet (“Thanks AEA, Dave, Dennis and Scott!”); seeing the changes that have been brought to the district and the continued work of Jeff, Brandalee and Kim.

Plans after retirement: Work on house, time with family, fishing, golf.

JEFF WIGNALL, Elementary, Early Childhood Center counselor (35 years).

Age: 58.

Originally from: Beatrice, Nebraska.

Current position: Elementary school guidance counselor for past 30 years.

Past positions in Creston schools: High school special education teacher the first five years.

Other school districts worked: None.

Graduate of: Peru State College, Peru, Nebraska; Master of science degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.

Favorite part of work: Talking to kids.

A memorable experience at Creston: Cleaning up the school grounds after the tornado.

Plans after retirement: I have accepted a teaching position at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Lihue, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai.

RICHARD SIGLIN, high school science (21 years).

Age: 59.

Originally from: Minburn, Iowa.

Current position: High school science teacher.

Past positions in Creston schools: Sixth grade science teacher for nine years beginning in 1998.

Other school districts worked: BGM (Brooklyn); Elk Horn-Kimballton; AHST (Avoca).

Graduate of: Central Dallas High School, Minburn; and Iowa State University.

Favorite part of work: Working with technology to make lessons more fun and engaging.

A memorable experience at Creston: Having the opportunity to score and announce for the baseball program for several years was a lot of fun.

Plans after retirement: We will be traveling to Berlin, Germany, to see my oldest daughter sometime this summer. Then I have to do a lot of intense reflection to determine what I want to do when I grow up.