THE longest-serving teacher at Penola Primary School has retired after almost half a century in the role.
With almost five decades of teaching under her belt, teacher Cathy Heyn recollected her time at the historical primary school.
“I came into this school as a bright-eyed 21 year old,” Ms Heyn recalled.
“That was back in 1976.”
Ms Heyn has taught in almost every classroom and every year level during her time at the school, saying the friendly students and wonderful work space is a large reason she continued her career at the small school.
Ms Heyn said she was privileged to have spent so much time at the school and noted some significant changes in teaching styles and bureaucratic requirements.
“Teaching has become a lot more strict in how you teach and what you teach, as well as the amount of testing,” she said.
“That is probably one of the things I do not enjoy as much because I love working with the kids and not having to test them all the time.”
Ms Heyn said the focus on professional development was also something which was not around when she first started.
“We also did not have things such as non-contact time in which we had people taking over and you basically came in and taught from 8am until 3.15pm.
“Now teachers get around two and a half hours a week of marking, testing and other things like that.”
During her career, Ms Heyn has seen a multitude of changes including the bricks and mortar of school facilities, as well as an extensive change in staff.
“I have seen staff and principals pass through the school within the past four and a half decades,” she said.
“Some of them I still keep in contact with and I also keep in contact with some of the students as well.”
Ms Heyn fondly remembers exciting and humorous stories she has accumulated during her long career history.
Ms Heyn said typical student behaviour was also cause for entertainment, including one student who finished her sentences.
“I pulled her aside one day and told her I needed to talk to her about it,” she said.
“When I asked her what we should do about it, the student told me she would finish them quietly for me.
“That student attended my wedding.”
Ms Heyn said watching her students grow into wonderful adults and teaching generations of family members was a significant highlight.
“When I first started some of the students were teenagers,” she said.
“I have kept in contact with some of them who are in their 50’s.
“I have also taught some of their children and even grandchildren which is a perk of teaching in the same school for so long.”
Ms Heyn plans to travel more in her retirement, including overseas trips.
“It has been an incredible career,” she said.
“But after my travels I will be coming back to do some relief teaching in the meantime.”
Before heading overseas Penola Primary School staff and students will say farewell to the long-serving and dedicated teacher and thank her for her work over the years.
