Twelve Spencer school representatives have chosen to take an early-retirement option offered by district officials this year. Together, Joe Enderlin, Penny Goedicke, Jan Johnson, Jo Ann Merrill, Pat Morisch, Macrina Tesch, Betty Brennan, Becky Dettmer, Noreen Meyer, Mick Ketchum, Maggie Nicks and Alan Pierce represent 301 years of service within the school district.

A retirement recognition coffee recognizing all 12 will be held from 3:45 - 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 in conference room B of the school district's central office, 23 E. Seventh St.

Today, Spencer High School (SHS) social studies teacher Joe Enderlin, Fairview custodian Penny Goedicke, Lincoln reading teacher Jan Johnson, Fairview Elementary teacher Jo Ann Merrill and Spencer Food Service Director Pat Morisch will be highlighted. Wednesday, librarian Macrina Tesch, Johnson teacher associate Betty Brennan, Lincoln Elementary teacher Becky Dettmer and Fairview Elementary teacher Noreen Meyer will be highlighted. Those who have served in the local school district less than 20 years include: Spencer Middle School English teacher Mick Ketchum, who started in 1990; nurse Maggie Nicks, who began in 1992; and SHS physical education instructor Alan Pierce, who has served the district since 1997.

Joe Enderlin

Enderlin, who grew up on a farm and graduated from Fonda High School, has spent the past 36 years working as a SHS instructor. After earning a bachelor's degree in social science, with an emphasis in economics and sociology at State College of Iowa, now the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Enderlin taught in the Gladbrook Community School district, as well as the State Experimental School in the Starmont Community School District in Strawberry Point.

Over his years in Spencer, Enderlin has instructed a variety of social science courses to students of different ages.

"My role as a teacher changed every day as I adapted my teaching strategy to the differing ability and personality of each individual student. No two hours of the school day were alike," Enderlin commented. "Students have become more involved in time spent with class discussions, working on projects, group activities and using a wealth of video materials."

Technology within the classroom is the largest change he's experienced during his 42-year tenure as a teacher, including computers, Internet access and e-mail.

"Students have at their fingertips more information available than possible previously. Parents may also request and receive information from their student's teachers in a more timely manner via the use of e-mail and the school's Web page," Enderlin said.

During his approaching retirement, Enderlin said he's looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Carolyn, their children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. In addition to continuing as a part-time substitute teacher, he also looks forward to being able to do some additional reading, attending various cultural events, watching college football, fishing and hunting.

Penny Goedicke

Goedicke began working for the Spencer school district in January 1975. After working as a custodian at the former Reynolds Elementary for 1 1/2 years, she moved to the former Jefferson Elementary for one-half year before moving to Fairview Elementary, where she has worked for the last three decades.

During her 33 1/2 years as an employee of the Spencer school district, Goedicke has watched two generations of students progress through the district's elementary buildings.

"Things are moving at a much faster pace now for the students and staff," she said. "And the district's square footage has gotten much greater."

Goedicke's plans following this school year include traveling, spending more time with her husband, David, and their sons, putting in a rock garden, spending time with friends and "street rodding" with the 1929 Model A Ford she and her husband built from the ground up.

Jan Johnson

Johnson, who graduated from UNI, was employed by another school district for one year before starting her teaching career with the Spencer Community School District in 1976. While in Spencer, she has served as a first grade teacher or held a Title I Reading position at Reynolds, Sacred Heart, Jefferson or Lincoln elementaries.

"Initially, my primary responsibility was to provide supplemental reading support for children. But several years ago, Spencer schools revamped its reading curriculum," she recalled. "Consequently, my role changed as well, and I am currently responsible for several small reading groups, word studies and reading interventions. In addition, I also coordinate and participate in reading assessments that are conducted throughout the year."

During her retirement, Johnson looks forward to having more time and flexibility to schedule and enjoy various activities. Travel, gardening, spending time at the YMCA and volunteering are all part of her future plans.

"HGTV has also inspired me to start a lot of projects around our home," she noted.

Jo Ann Merrill

This Clay County native, who attended South Clay Community School and Northwestern College, has been part of the Spencer Community School District for all of her 31-year teaching career. After student teaching and interning with Dee Chamberlain at the former Jefferson School in 1976, Merrill was hired as an associate teacher in the fall of 1976 and then as a full-time instructor in 1977.

"My first assignment was in second grade at the old Lincoln School," she recalled. "Over the years, I have taught all grade levels except kindergarten. Most of my time was spent in the upper elementary grades. Since 1986, I have been teaching fourth grade at Fairview Elementary School."

Merrill, who describes herself as "being a ham" both in and out of the classroom, said the best part of teaching for her has always been working with other staff members and students.

"Each student brings a special quality to the class," Merrill said, "and finding that gift was always a priority, whether it was in academics, the arts, athletics, invention or strong leadership skills. Building success and learning around something important to the students helped to make their time in school enjoyable and meaningful. I hope when they left my classroom, my students had come to appreciate the joy of learning."

"There have been so many changes in 31 years," she continued. "Technology has become a part of the school day, fewer textbooks are used, and there is much more assessment of student progress. Many more hours have to be spent in record keeping and curriculum development. Despite the changes, I tried to keep the focus during the school day on the students and their needs."

Following the 2007-08 school year, Merrill said she's looking forward to spending more time with her family, working in her flower beds, mowing the lawn and walking.

"It will be wonderful to have more time to visit with friends, read books and try some new recipes," she added. "I know I will be returning to Fairview to visit with my many friends on staff there."

Pat Morisch

Morisch, who was hired as a dishwasher in 1980, began substituting shortly after. Her role within the district changed over the next several years to include the titles of main dish cook and Assistant Food Service Director. Morisch worked closely with Sharon Slaymaker until her retirement in 2005, when she officially became Spencer's Food Service Director.

In regard to the changes she's experienced within the district over the past 28 years, Morisch said, "There are now so many choices for lunch at the upper levels. The days of one meal have been replaced with four choices, like baked potatoes, submarine sandwiches, nachos, taco in a bag and many more. Even Spencer Middle School now offers a salad bar."

Morisch plans to spend more time with her husband, Ed, their two children, Mike Morisch and Cheryl Jackson, both of Spencer, and their four grandchildren: Evan, Sarah, Kelsey and Coleman.

"Once I recover from the exhaustion of 28 years at work, I hope to find time to volunteer in my daughter's classroom or my youngest grandson's preschool," Morisch said.