There was a cheering, laughing and, yes, even hugging festivity outside at Lakeland Elementary School (LES) yesterday (5.20.20) as four retiring teachers were honored with a drive-through parade and gift card shower.
The teachers were stationed around the campus to greet festooned cars carrying grownups and children who came to bid the teachers farewell: Beth Bagley, kindergarten, was in the front circle; Bonnie Orange, art, was in the bus lane; Kim Hallum, 3rd grade, and Lee Ann Kelly, ESL teacher, were in the car line.
Because of the pandemic which shut schools in March through the end of the current school year (May 22nd), there would be no typical remembrances for the teachers.
“For those of you who have or have had students attend LES, our beloved Ms. Bagley is retiring!! We had planned a big celebration, but now we have to celebrate Covid-19 style,” said Lorna Miller, an LES kindergarten teacher and organizer of the parade. “We decided on a parade because Ms. Bagley has been at Lakeland since it opened in 2001 and she is one of the last original teachers.” She taught for 36 years in public and private schools with the last 19 at LES.
The parade expanded to include the other retiring teachers.
See story about the four teachers: https://lakelandcurrents.com/four-teachers-retiring-this-spring-from-lakeland-elementary-school/
As the cars, many decorated with balloons and streamers, wound around the parking lots, the honored teachers would recognize the children and on at least one occasion, a former LES student came out of her car to hug Ms. Kelly.
There was a decorated red pickup truck leading the parade and cars and SUVs followed with children hanging out car windows or standing through open sun roofs. Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, was on hand to wish the retiring teachers well.
Link to Google album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZcDrCeCdsKMixop76
There were no retiring teachers at Lakeland Middle Preparatory School, according to Matt Adler, principal.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
