School is out for the summer, but some Austin Public School teachers and staff graduated along with the seniors this year.

About 17 teachers and staff retired this May, leaving behind years of memories, friends and colleagues, and new staff who will work to fill their shoes and make their own impression. For Kathleen Huffman, a sixth-grade teacher at I.J. Holton Intermediate School, leaving behind 41 years of good memories with the district will be tough, but she’s ready to relax.

“I have taught for 41 years, so I think that’s long enough,” she said. “And I’m just ready.”

Huffman has similar plans as many retirees — she hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren, do some traveling, read and relax, and do what she feels like. Yet Huffman is leaving many coworkers, friends and students behind who she will miss dearly.

“Just every year watching a group of students become more confident and mature, and knowing that you have played maybe a small part in that. I think I’ll miss that,” she said.

Huffman isn’t the only one with a bittersweet feeling about retirement. Third-grade teacher Ann Sundal at Southgate Elementary School is retiring after 34 years in the Austin district, and 38 years teaching.

“I have loved what I have done and I have loved the kids, and I haven’t wanted to stop,” Sundal said. “So it’s been really emotional for me.”

Sundal, who recently turned 60, said it has gotten more difficult to do some of the activities with the students, such as get down on the floor to teach or help them. After much deliberation and prayer, she said the day she handed in her resignation her first grandchild was born, so it was a sign of affirmation for her.

Yet Sundal isn’t leaving completely, as she is doing a “soft retirement.” This means she will still be able to come back and substitute if she wants.

“I really appreciate this school district,” Sundal said. “It’s been a phenomenal one to work in.”

She was grateful for Principal Edwina Harder, along with other administration and colleagues, who have made her time with the district a good experience. She has enjoyed watching the students grow while in her class, and seeing the productive people they’ve become after school. She said one student she taught came back and now works at Southgate, also.

Sundal is excited to spend more time with her grandson, as well as learn new things such as photography and taking some community classes — things that occur during the day that she hasn’t been able to do before. Although she is excited, it’s also a little scary.

“It’s kind of a scary thing to think this has been my life and this has been my identity so now what am I going do,” she said.

Yet she is excited about where the future will take her. She hopes incoming teachers will have a good experience in the district like she did, and won’t be afraid to ask for help. She said her faith has been a big part of what has gotten her through these years.

“I think that I have counted on my faith a lot to get me through, to give me the strength and courage to get me through each day,” she said. “And I know everybody doesn’t share the same faith, but I think you need to have a sense a pride with what you do and work hard, and if you work hard you’ll really reap from what you sow.”

There is one big piece of her career she will miss though — the students.

“I’m definitely going to miss these precious little human beings that every day amaze me,” she said. “And I think they have taught me as much if not more about life.”

“I will definitely miss the hugs too, because I got a lot of hugs,” she added with a laugh. “We had a really strong sense of community here.”

2014-2015 teachers and staff who are retiring at the end of this year

Teachers

•Marcia Siegel, kindergarten teacher – 13 years

•Ann Sundal, third-grade teacher at Southgate Elementary – 34 years

•Kathleen Huffman, sixth-grade teacher at I.J. Holton – 41 years

•Patricia Anderson, intervention teacher at Neveln Elementary – 29 years

•Debra Linnes, orchestra teacher at Ellis – 24 years

•Mary Knutson, adult basic education teacher at Community Learning Center – 12 years

Staff

Cindy Bellrichard, AHS administrative assistant – 24 years

•Debra Iverson, I.J. Holton administrative assistant – 30 years

•Trudy Heimermann, food and nutrition services – 16 years

•Wendy Larson, enrollment services – 34 years

•David Nieland, custodian – 31 years

•Debra Swanson, media assistant – 17 years

•Dave Thorpe, custodian – 28 years

•Connie Stegemann, food and nutrition services – 23 years

•Deb Johnson, special education paraprofessional at Ellis – 35 years

•Kathleen Hanson – custodian at Ellis – 9 years

•Carmel Taylor, energy service coordinator – 11 years