Colorado Elementary School teacher Marty Williams (left), Holton Middle School custodian Gary Kelly (center) and Holton High School English teacher Joni White are all retiring this year from Holton USD 336. (Photo by Kelly Breckunitch)

Williams, White, Kelly retire from Holton school district

 

Two long-time Holton teachers and one Holton Middle School staff member are retiring from the district at the close of the school year.

Marty Williams

Marty Williams is leaving Holton USD 336 after working at Colorado Elementary School since 1976. She was born and raised in rural Soldier and graduated from Jackson Heights High School. She received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Kansas State University.

“I started my first job at the age of 22, right out of college, teaching second grade at Colorado,” she said. “I remember being advised that if asked during an interview why you wanted to teacher, not to say because you love kids. I’m sure I didn’t say that during my interview, but now, after teaching 38 years, I will say I taught because I loved the kids. They were the reason I spent endless hours trying to find ways to reach some who struggled or those that didn’t really enjoy school in general. My goal was never for awards, accolades or advancement for myself but to encourage each student to reach their potential academically and feel successful in life.”

During her first year at Colorado, Williams taught 24 students in half a mobile unit with no air conditioning.

“I remember taking them outside under a shade tree a few times in the afternoon that fall because it was too hot inside that small mobile room,” she said.

She continued teaching second grade for 26 years before leaving the classroom setting and serving as the Title I developmental reading teacher to kindergarten through second grade students. She has served in that role for the last 12 years.

“I’ve witnessed some big changes over the years, the building addition in 1986, the addition of the breakfast program, a lot of additional required testing, technology and lot of growth in the number of students,” she said. “When I started, we had three classes of each grade level and now we have five, and we have about the same amount of space. Thank goodness we’ll soon have a new building with room.”

She said she’ll miss her peers and the students during her retirement.

“Teaching is often a job with few professional perks – luxurious offices, workspaces and supplies, conferences at beachfront resorts or bonus checks – but when a parent looks you in the eye and tells you what a difference you’ve made in their children’s life, a student later in life sends fond memories of being in your classroom or a child hands you their best crayon-drawn picture, it all seems worth it.”

Williams, and her husband, Henry, live in rural Soldier and will celebrate 40 years of marriage this week. They have two adult sons, Tyler and his wife, Jena, and Reid. In her retirement, she plans to “enjoy at least one fall without going to school.”

“Outside of the year I took off because of my son’s August birth, I have been starting school every fall since I was six years old,” she said. “Time for a vacation.”

Joni White

Holton High School English teacher Joni White is retiring this year after serving in the school for 24 years.

White grew up in Iowa and graduated from a small school, Adair-Casey High School. She moved to Holton with her family when she was 18 and ultimately graduated from Washburn University with a degree in English education.

“I first received a paralegal degree, then decided that I would return to college to get a teaching degree,” White said. “I wanted to be a teacher since I was a child. I have always loved to read and write, so English was my subject of choice. I’m also certified to teach science and social studies but have only taught English.”

White did her student teaching at Holton High School with Karen Ford and Karen Stous, and she has worked at HHS ever since, teaching freshman English, American literature and journalism. She served as the yearbook sponsor for several years.

“I’m athletically-challenged and felt I shouldn’t attempt athletic coaching as it would be a disservice to all,” White said. “While in high school myself, I signed up for track one spring, but quickly realized we would be expected to run everyday during practice, so I gave up that dream.”

She said Holton was her first choice when seeking teaching jobs.

“I live in Holton and my children attended school here,” she said. “Also, I love the old historic high school building and the fact that my dad, Keith Gilliland, graduated from HHS in 1955. My husband Dennis (Class of 1976), daughter Nanci Kennedy (Class of 2005), son-in-law Jacob Kennedy (Class of 2001), son Kennedy (Class of 2012) and his girlfriend Cassidy Merriman (Class of 2014) also all graduated from HHS.”

She said that the school district has faced a variety of challenges during her employment.

“Within the schools, the biggest change is technology and the way we conduct research, produce documents and projects,” she said. “In society, the biggest and most disappointing change is government’s negativity and lack of respect toward public education and teachers. That attitude is disheartening, to say the least.”

White is also a licensed real estate agent and is currently selling real estate for Pagel Realty.

In her retirement, she also plans to spend more time with her family, including her parents, Keith and Connie Gilliland, and her granddaughter, Stella.

“My daughter and son-in-law are expecting their second child in October,” she said. “I look forward to spending more time with my family and will continue to correct their pronunciation and grammar when necessary.”

Gary Kelly

Holton Middle School custodian Gary Kelly is retiring at the end of the school year after working for the district for 24 years.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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