As demonstrated by our membership, life does exist beyond the classroom! Indeed, retired members continue to make professional contributions as they broaden their personal horizons. Unfettered by the four walls of the classroom, retirees find new ways to reach out to others, demonstrating their capacity for lifelong learning and service. In this issue, we spotlight two such retirees who are continuing to grow and achieve beyond their years of official service to the profession of education.
Jeanne Crews, MO 84, officially retired after teaching 42 years in St. Louis public schools. She remains actively involved in education, though, by teaching a Children's Literature class at St. Charles Community College twice a week.
As a member of Kiwanis, she is active in the RIF Program for economically disadvantaged children. Through this program, she recruits senior citizens and high school and college students to read to children after school on a monthly basis. Jeanne handles the Outstanding Student Award Program, which presents a bond and certificate to deserving youngsters.
She leads the Terrific Kids Program, which rotates monthly through ten elementary schools. Five students are selected by each school to receive a certificate, free meal, book, ruler, pen, and pencil as a merit award.
Jeanne is on the committee of the I Care Conference for all preschool teachers. Without salary or compensation, speakers present workshops for credit on Saturday mornings. She also serves on the retirement committee for retired educators and is past president.
In addition to participating in water aerobics twice a week, Jeanne is a professional storyteller who belongs to Gateway Story Tellers in St. Louis, the state association of Mo-Tell Story Tellers, and River Winds in Illinois. Jeanne attends storytelling festivals in a variety of locations and has been instrumental in organizing such events for many years.
She recently summed up her retirement activities in one sentence, "Everything I do is for kids!" It is the summary of her life, as well.
Kathy Weber, IL 84, asked herself, "Where do you go to teach when you have retired from a classroom? What do you do with all that great stuff you brought home? How do you get over missing those lit up eyes, the oohs & aahs and the smiles that you saw everyday for 38 years?" With her teaching team, she found a great place that has answered those questions.
They all still do something in the field of education: subbing, volunteering at the hospital, serving as a docent at the Stephenson House. But these retired teachers still had a longing. So they put an application together for a Dino Night for parents and siblings at St. Louis Children's
