School's Out!

Peggy Childs is a little hard to keep up with these days. One minute, she’s cleaning out her desk at the offices of the Washington County School District and being honored by friends and co-workers at a retirement party . . . and the next, she’s not! Well, not retired anyway! This hardworking and highly respected wife to Gordon, mother to 7 adult kids and step-kids, grandmother to 19, and great-grandma to 3, chose to retire early beginning on June 30 when her current contract expires after 20 years as a teacher and later as staff development coordinator for the WCSD. But when she heard of plans by the Utah Office of Education to create a Personnel Development Center in southern Utah, she was intrigued by the chance to share her knowledge and add to it.

With proposal in hand, she traveled to Salt Lake City and after hearing her ideas, the Utah Office of Education wisely offered her a position which involves training teachers, administrators and parents in 41 school districts across the state, including 100 charter schools. "I designed and developed the assignment I just left. We’ll invent this one as we go along, too." The irony she notes with her characteristic light-hearted chuckle, is that beginning July 2, when she goes back to work at 121 W. Tabernacle, she will take up residence in the very same cubicle she just left!

After nearly eight decades of life, most people can be found enjoying the fruits of their labors in retirement – playing golf, supporting activities of children and grandchildren, and traveling the world. Luana Warner of Bloomington was not quite ready for that lifestyle until recently when, at age 77, she retired from her fulltime position as a special education teacher at Dixie Downs Elementary School. There for more than three years, she taught life skills and basic literacy to five students with a range of mild to severe disabilities. With a Bachelors Degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, she also spent five years at Pine View High School using or modifying general education curricula to meet each child’s needs. Her teaching method included individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments and small group work.

When Lloyd, her husband of 58 years, decided to retire, she had just signed a contract with the Greenwood Independent School District near Indianapolis, Indiana. Although she had every reason to abandon her plans to teach another year, she chose to honor her contract and encouraged Lloyd to move to St. George without her to build their dream home. When the year was up – and the house completed – she joined her husband, then accepted a contract with the Washington County School District.

Her desire to help children learn has extended well beyond southern Utah when, in 1995, the Warner’s served an 18-month LDS mission in Pakistan. In the world’s 6th most populated country (located in the mountainous region between central Asia and the Middle East), she helped establish a school to teach English, as well as other subjects, to 50 local children.

The mother of 7 accomplished adults, grandmother to 29 and great-grandmother to 13 reflects on her lengthy career in the classroom. “I have just so much enjoyed helping these children, it never occurred to me it was time to quit!” she notes quietly. What does the future hold for this dedicated educator now that the retirement party is over? “Enjoying my family . . . that’s where I want to be!”

And speaking of school, congratulations to Bloomington 7th Ward’s Class of 2009 high school and college graduates Diana Stanley, Jerry Gardner, Brandon Forsyth, Isaac Puriri and Martin Smith.

On Thursday, May 21, Martin Smith, second son of Eric and Karin Smith’s 5 children, completed his secondary education at Dixie High School as well as four years of seminary. Until he leaves on a mission at the end of the year, Martin will be working and living in Green Valley with some of his friends.

Isaac Puriri, second son of Rakaipaka and Lani Puriri, also graduated from Dixie High School and three years of seminary after studying in Germany for a year as a Rotary youth exchange student. He has already submitted his mission papers and expects to be in service to the Lord before Christmas.

Brandon Forsyth, second son of Steve and Tina Forsyth, graduated from Pine View High School and four years of seminary. He plans to work, play a lot and attend Dixie State College for a year before serving a mission somewhere in the world.

Jerry Gardner, husband to Shauna Peterson Gardner, dad to Ashton and step dad to Tyson, Wyatt and Wesley Woodland, graduated on May 1 from Dixie State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in special education. In the fall, he will begin working with severely disabled children at Panorama Elementary School (a position similar to the one Luana Warner just retired from at Dixie Downs Elementary School).

Diana Stanley, a senior English major with an emphasis on professional and technical writing was selected to represent the Dixie State College Baccalaureate Degree Class of 2009 as Valedictorian and commencement speaker. She earned her Associates Degree with honors in 2008 and on Friday, May 1 received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree. This busy wife and mother of three is now working on a young adult novel and is getting ready to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in preparation for grad school where she will pursue a Master's Degree.