More than 4,000 students graduated from Howard County's 12 high schools in the past two weeks, but a different sort of commencement exercise was held June 7 at the Ten Oaks Ballroom, in Clarksville. There, 65 retiring educators received their own special farewell at the system's annual retiree reception.
Deputy Superintendent Mamie Perkins officiated the mock graduation, filled with laughter and only a few tears.
"I want you to recognize that you're graduating from the finest schools in the country, so I don't want any shenanigans," she teased. "I don't want any foolishness. Some of you have had as many as 40 years to work that all out."
Indeed, some have even more: William Beachy, band and strings teacher at Waterloo Elementary, has been with the system 45 years.
In the accompanying articles, Beachy and other retiring faculty members — an administrator, a custodian and a principal — share their stories.
Click the links below to read about each of these retiring faculty and their journeys through the Howard County school district.
Custodian trades school hallways for cruises
Specialist readies for retirement
After 35 years, Nowack retires
—Sara Toth