Smiles, hugs and tears were the order of the day as Kingsbury Elementary School faculty, staff and students on Wednesday honored retiring teacher Diane Lewis and principal Charles Walters.

Thursday, June 01, 2000

Smiles, hugs and tears were the order of the day as Kingsbury Elementary School faculty, staff and students on Wednesday honored retiring teacher Diane Lewis and principal Charles Walters.

Walters, who has been an educator for more than three decades, has served as principal at Kingsbury for the past eight years.

Mrs. Lewis’ entire teaching career was spent working with Walters. She began work in the classroom as a learning disabilities teacher and most recently taught third grade.

Two flowering purple plum trees were planted in the pair’s honor, and special dedication markers were placed at the base of the trees to commemorate their many years of service to area students.

The trees were purchased by third-grade student G.W. Wise, and the school’s PTO and student body coordinated the dedication markers as well as Wednesday’s ceremony.

Walters said he will miss the students as he and his wife move on to a new career as travel hosts.

"I will miss not being in the mainstream," he added.

"One of the best ­ and worst ­ parts of my job is doing lunch duties," Walters said with a laugh. "It takes one and a half hours every day from my schedule, but it lets me interact with the children."

He called the advent of computers in the classroom among teaching’s biggest changes during his tenure in academics.

"It used to be that methods and ideas were cyclical," Walters explained. "It was a pendulum effect. Now, there is no pendulum because of the computer."

He said the biggest need in education today is increased parental involvement and participation in preschool and early school activities.

"Parental involvement is key in helping develop children’s skills," he said.

Walters praised the outstanding dedication Mrs. Lewis consistently demonstrated during her years in Ironton classrooms.

"She liked children, and she liked to do things with them," he said.

Mrs. Lewis’ husband, Don, often assisted her with classroom activities as he is a retired educator.

"He served as her volunteer aide, and together, they did a lot of hands-on activities with the children."