End of an era: Teacher reflects on tenure in Libby, as Asa Wood educator

As the sun sets on the storied history of Asa Wood Elementary School, there are bountiful stories from its 57-year history.

While its classrooms and halls have fallen silent, and the cafeteria no longer teams with activity, and the aroma of the day’s meal no longer wafts throughout, the memories of Asa Wood will linger. Each student who attended and every teacher will recall their days at 700 Idaho St. in Libby. And, every story is different, unique.

Educators will take with them stories from their years of service— individual tales of successes and of lives dedicated to teaching the young.

One such story is that of kindergarten teacher Ann Simpson, 65, who with the end of the school year and the goodbyes of Asa Wood, is retiring. And like the school, Simpson bid a farewell to students Wednesday.

“I really am ready to retire,” Simpson said. “Although, I don’t know that it’s really hit me yet. It probably will in the fall,” she said, indicating when she feels the emptiness of not preparing a classroom for the onslaught of curious minds.

On Thursday, the day after teachers, staff and the student body gathered for a brief ceremony led by Principal Scott Beagle, Simpson worked in her classroom without the company of children as she continued the post-year ritual she has been doing for the preceding 30 springs in Libby: Packing up her classroom.

“It’s a little different this year,” Simpson said. “This year it’s everything. Everything must be packed up.”

That solitude allowed Simpson time — retrospective insight — to reflect on the years she’s taught at Libby schools.

“Things have changed,” Simpson began.

In the early days, she said, kindergarten was just half-days.

“It was more play. It was easier for the children. It wasn’t as academic as it is today. It was more social. We taught students about standing in line, raising their hands to be recognized — social skills,” she said.

However, since, her first years things have changed.

“It has become more intensely academic. It used to be we just taught them the alphabet and to spell their names. So much more is demanded, and expected, of kindergarten students than there used to be,” Simpson said.

And that’s not the only changes she has seen.

“Nowadays, … well things are just different,” she said choosing her words carefully.

“Now, we see so much more extreme behavior. It used to be if a student threw a spitball, that was major,” Simpson said. “Kids are much more emotional, extreme.”

Asked about the change, Simpson believes it comes from the home.

“In most homes, both parents now have to work, and therefore, are not spending as much time with their children,” she said. “Yes, we are seeing more (instances) where we are doing more that should fall on the parents.”

“I just think parents are not as involved, as they were when we were kids. Families are different now,” she said.

And while, there are instances where teachers have to step in and provide instruction that may normally fall to parents, Simpson said she doesn’t seek those instances.

“If something comes up, and it’s a ‘teachable moment,’ we’ll get involved, but we don’t seek those out,” she said. “Most parents are just wonderful, but it just seems kids are not as respectful as they used to be.”

Simpson said she’s had a career full of surprises.

“Most amazing moment? Oh, gosh. Seems we have those every year,” she said. “It’s when you just think a child may not ‘get it.’  And, then one day, it’s like the light comes on, and everything clicks. That’s the most incredible thing. It’s why we teach.”

Similarly, there have been huge disappointments, she said, recalling two.

“I shared a classroom with a fellow teacher — we each had a class for a half-day,” Simpson recalled. “She was a young woman and so loved teaching. She was diagnosed with cancer. And to watch her (health) decline was so very difficult for me. She had her whole life ahead of her. That was really tough.”

Out of respect, Simpson declined to give the woman’s name.

“I think she may still have family here.”

A second instance, Simpson recalled as disappointing, was the death of a student the summer after she had her as a student.

“She was riding in the back of a pickup truck. I think they were on their way to a lake or something, and there was an accident. It was so tragic. She was so very bright,” she said.

Facing retirement, Simpson said, ultimately, she will move to Missoula where she has family.

“I’ve got two grandchildren, and I’d like to spend more time with them,” she said. “Come October, I will have two more (step)-grandchildren, as my son … is getting married.”

Also, Simpson said learning will not cease just because she’s retiring.

“I want to learn a new language. I want to be able to speak Italian,” she said. “I’d like to travel back to Italy and England. I have ancestors from there who have castles.”

She said she’s not one to sit for long.

“I love to read, work on geneaology, and I’m going to work a garden.”

“I’ve loved teaching, and I’ve loved teaching kindergarten,” she said. “I’ve had chances to move on to other (older) classes, but I’ve loved teaching kindergarten. It’s been great.”