The end of the school year is a whirlwind of activity. Students are finishing projects and papers, and studying for and taking tests. They also are participating in sports, concerts and year-end club meetings, and starting summer activities. Administrators are holding meetings, presenting budgets and trying to consolidate. Lunch staff are cleaning out the cafeteria pantries, balancing the books and deep-cleaning the kitchen.

Custodial staff are maintaining their usual schedule while planning for repairs and major work to be done over the summer. Secretaries are typing up purchase orders in anticipation of budgets being passed, making sure attendance rosters and reports are sent to the state and looking forward to a quiet summer at school when they can get work done. Teachers are administering and correcting tests, completing paperwork for that all-important “permanent record” for each student, closing up their classrooms and looking forward to what they will do next school year.

That’s the case for most educators. However, there are a few – about 500 each year in the state of Maine – for whom the end of the school year also means the end of a career. They are the teachers who are retiring. It’s a strange experience for these educators who have lived for decades according to the rhythms of the school year calendar. They still have professional responsibilities to carry out, yet they also start thinking, “This is the last butterfly unit I’ll teach,” or “this is my last concert,” or “next year, I’ll tweak this lesson. Oh, wait, I won’t be here next year.” The “See you next years” to students turn into “Goodbyes.”

Most educators never truly know how they’ve affected students. A daily smile from a bus driver, encouragement from a lunch lady to try the veggies, a principal who doesn’t give up no matter how often a class is skipped, a teacher who provides moral and academic support as a tough assignment is completed, often mean far more to students than the education staff ever realize.

Once in a while an educator gets to see or hear of how a particular word or deed influenced a student.

A socially challenged former student e-mails a high school English teacher to say, “Thanks” because he was able to test out of freshman English in college at 10 weeks. The former student credits the former teacher for the success. A young woman graduating from college writes her mom and says, “If you see Mrs. [X], please tell her I made it.”

Thank-yous come in many forms. The Asa C. Adams PTO held an open house last Thursday to honor two educators for their years of service. A former student of retiree Sue Gauthier heard about the event. He wanted to say thank you to his kindergarten teacher. So Brian Nadeau, a local musician, volunteered to play during the open house. A truly gracious thank-you.

I have the privilege of working with two educators who are retiring this year. Sue O’Roak, the principal of the Adams school, has been a teacher and an administrator for 35 years. Suzanne Gauthier began teaching in Orono 41 years ago. Both women share a common bottom line: It’s all about the kids. Talking with either of them will allow the listener to hear the pure passion they each have for loving each child and providing the best education that’s available.

Educators accumulate much of their teaching materials using their personal financial resources. These materials are passed on, given away, sold, donated or left behind. The wisdom and influence of these educators is also passed on, given away, sold, donated, left behind and remembered.

When I pack up my classroom in June or unpack it in August, I remember many educators who are no longer teaching. Their names are on books, folders, files and posters – Raymond, Bain, Noyes, Stinson, Blair, Hampel, Jordan, Wilson, Kenney, Glenn, Dow and others.

Many of my materials are labeled with the name Carlson. That’s my mom. I’m always amazed at the motivation educators have to continually hone their craft. The August before my mom retired, she and I were shopping in a teacher store. Mom held up two books on using computers in the classrooms. She asked me which one I recommended for her. Mom bought one of the books and used it that year with her students. She retired the next June after 43 years in the classroom.

Take the time to remember a teacher today. Take the time to find out if one of your former teachers, lunch ladies, custodians, administrators or secretaries is retiring. Take the time to say, “Thank you.” Just like they have made a difference in our lives, a simple thank-you from a former student will make a difference in a retired educator’s heart.

Which person in the school system made the most difference in your life? Which colleague do you remember most? Why? Let’s continue this conversation. E-mail me at conversationswithateacher@gmail.com.