EDUCATION: Durham to retire after many years in classroom

By Jill R. Wilkes Sara Durham began teaching in 1971, and she has been teaching in the Northeast School Corporation since 1986. Currently a kindergarten teacher at Dugger Elementary School, Durham will retire at the end of the school year.

"I still love my job , but I know it is now time to do other things, to make some other choices. I am very happy to retire, but I will miss the excitement of bringing new ideas to my students every year," Durham explained.

Durham began teaching in 1971 at Freetown (Ind.) Elementary.

"It was smaller than Dugger. I was teaching fourth grade, and then my husband, John, was transferred to Germany. I finished out the year and then joined him in Stuttgart, where I taught preschool on the Army base for a year."

The couple returned to the United States in 1973 and started a family.

"I was fortunate enough to stay home with my children, Tim, now 33 and Amanda, now 30, for 11 years," Durham added.

The family then moved to Sullivan County and in 1986 Northeast Sullivan Schools hired Durham as a kindergarten teacher in which she taught four years, splitting her time between Fairbanks Elementary and Shelburn Elementary.

"In 1990 they closed the Fairbanks School and I was fortunate enough to get the Dugger kindergarten position. It was nice not to have to travel each day, and I have been here ever since."

Durham also feels fortunate to love what she does every day.

"I am so blessed. A huge percentage of Americans do not like their job. I love what I do. I realized at 19 years old, after my parents urged me to go to college, I ended up observing in a kindergarten classroom for a child development class. I remember thinking I would really like to do this. She (the teacher) was so lucky to be able to work with these children every day. I still feel like working with 5 and 6 year olds every day is the world's best kept secret. We are here to help them enjoy their childhood, and childhood should be enjoyed."

After many years of half-day kindergarten Northeast Sullivan began the all-day kindergarten program.

"I love the all-day program. I am delighted with the opportunity to have the time to teach the lessons and refine the skills without being hurried," Durham said.

One of the things Durham says she will miss is being able to prepare such lessons to open up the world and inspire her students.

"I get really excited when it is time to get the units started each year. For example, my butterfly unit, I have always loved to find new things to show and teach my students. I get so excited to get the plans out every year and prepare to bring this to a new group of students. I will really miss that."

Durham has chosen to take a personal day during the kindergarten pre-enrollment this upcoming April.

"I don't want to meet children I'm going to miss spending time with, I feel it will hurt too much. I have always looked at pre-enrollment as Christmas Eve, you get a glimpse of all the beautiful packages you will soon get to unwrap and enjoy. I will miss that process too."

Durham will also miss the imagination and wonderment of the young students she has spent so much time with.

"We are getting ready for our Teddy Bear Picnic. The students still love to bring their bears. The bears sleep over and the next day there is always a mess where the bears had their party while we were away. I love to hear the questions and imagination of these students. They ask, 'How did they get to Subway?' or 'I wonder what they ate from Casey's?' They really enjoy the fantasy and play of the whole event and I really enjoy sharing it with them."

This preservation of imagination, play and childhood is what Durham sees as a challenge for kindergarten educators of the future.

"I hope whoever teaches kindergarten always remembers to keep it as a children's garden and to be an advocate for children, young children and childhood. Play and imagination are so important for young children. As the teacher you can be here to just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the experience as I have."

Durham has enjoyed it so much she plans to return to volunteer once a month after she retires.

"It has been a privilege to be on staff here, through 19 years, working with a strong group of teachers with team spirit. We didn't always agree, but we have always worked for the common good of the students we teach. This has been a good place to work. I am a person of faith and this job has been a blessing and a gift for me and my family. Since we don't live here, I want to return frequently, and not lose connection with the Dugger community."

Durham enjoys having that connection to the community and former students.

"It is so special when the students grow up and come back, run up to you with a hug or talk to you about something they did in kindergarten. It is great to have played a part in their lives, to help make productive citizens and good memories. That is the real payday!"