Bell Rings on 145 Years

By January Wetzel, The Tribune, Seymour, Ind.

Jun. 7–How do you say goodbye to a career nearly 40 years in the making?

“You look forward to the things to come,” Mary Garrison said.

For the past 38 years, Garrison has helped shape the lives of many children in Seymour, teaching at three different area elementary schools. Her decision to retire last month was bittersweet for her, her students and fellow teachers.

“I will miss everyone, but I have so many wonderful, happy memories of my years here,” Garrison said.

Recently, Garrison and seven others retiring from Seymour Community Schools were recognized and honored for a combined 145 years of service to the district. Also retiring this year were James T. Bowman, head custodian at Seymour High School; Carolyn Krieger, an instructional assistant; Linda Rumph, a kindergarten aide; Ann Harlow-Burgess, a special education teacher; Mary Ann Grelle, a school cook; Bob Schmielau, superintendent; and Art Juergens, teacher and coach.

Mary Garrison

Garrison started her teaching career in 1970 and taught second-grade at Cortland Elementary School for two years. From there she moved to Emerson Elementary School to teach a special education class. Four years later, that class was moved to Margaret R. Brown Elementary School, and so was Garrison.

“I continued teaching the special needs students until the end of the 1993-94 school year,” she said. “Beginning the following year, I started teaching the fifth-grade at Brown and have been there ever since.”

Garrison said working for Seymour Community Schools was a privilege.

“I’ve appreciated the support and leadership of all my administrators,” she said of the six different principals and five superintendents she worked for. “Seymour is very fortunate to have top notch school leadership.”

Brown Principal Kathy Ross praised Garrison for being a “leader and mentor to other teachers.”

“We’re not ready for you to retire,” Ross said. “We will miss the wonderful gifts she gives our kids everyday. She has a natural ability to have high expectations but knows when to back off.”

With all the extra time on her hands, one might think they would get bored, but not Garrison.

“I’m not an idle person, so I know whatever retirement brings, I’ll be busy,” she said. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband and just enjoying our life together. Hopefully, there will be more time to do the things I enjoy but have never had much time to do.”

James T. Bowman

As head custodian, James T. Bowman made sure Seymour High School looked its best for 16 years.

Keeping an entire school clean and in good shape may not appeal to some people, but Bowman said he loved his job because of the people he worked with and around, especially the students.

“I have seen some students away from the school and they have been very friendly and courteous,” he said. “All the people I worked for and with helped make the past 16 years a great experience and enjoyable time.”

SHS Principal Greg Prange spoke highly of Bowman.

“He is a man of many many talents and many words,” Prange said. “He is sorely missed.”

Bowman said he plans to spend his retirement doing a different kind of work.

“Working in my orchard and garden, doing some woodworking projects, keeping my mowers and tractors in good running order and trying to get done all the things my wife has for me to do,” he said of his plans.

But that wasn’t all.

“And last but not least, travel,” he added.

Carolyn Krieger

While working part-time at the old Jackson Park Cinema, Carolyn Krieger ran into former Seymour-Jackson Elementary School Principal Dave Thompson.

Thinking she might be interested in a position at the school, she asked him about it.

“I asked if he had any positions for the fall that needed to be filled,” she said. “And the rest, as they say, is history.”

That first year, Krieger worked as a prime-time aide, and the following year she worked in the school’s developmental preschool class, where she would stay for 11 years. She was then moved from the preschool to work as a special education assistant for kindergarten through fifth-grade.

Jackson Principal Marti Colglazier said the school will miss Krieger.

“She goes above and beyond the call of duty for our special needs children,” Colglazier said. “We appreciate your talent and gifts.”

Krieger served Seymour Community Schools for a total of 16 years, but she said she knew it was time to retire.

“I have loved my job, but it is time to move on to the next adventure in my journey,” she said. “I’ll miss the kids and staff a lot, though I’m sure I’ll be back to visit. They say the people you work around rubs off on you; well, the kids have rubbed off on me. The last 16 years have gone by so fast, and I have a new chapter to move on to. I hope time will slow down for me now.”

She plans to spend more time with her family, including husband Nick Krieger, who retired from Seymour Community Schools last year; her two grown children, Kristi Banister and Eric Krieger; and her two grandchildren, Nathaniel, 6, and Drew, 3.

Linda Rumph

When Linda Rumph accepted a job as a tutor at Seymour-Redding Elementary School, she never dreamed it would lead to a 35-year career in education.

“Thirty-five years ago I took my youngest child to kindergarten at Redding,” she said. “When I returned home the phone was ringing and it was the principal asking if I would be interested in a job tutoring students needing extra help. I accepted, never expecting to be with the school system 35 years later.”

She has worked at all grade levels, providing one-on-one instruction and helping out in the classroom. Most recently she worked with kindergarten students.

Although she started at Redding, she moved to Brown this year because of a need for an additional aide.

“I was upset at first because I wanted to finish at Redding since I had been there for so many years and my kids had gone to Redding,” she said. “I felt like I knew the teachers and what they expected.”

But Rumph soon found that no matter where she went, she just loved working with kids.

“It was like starting all over again, but after moving to Brown, I have to say it is a wonderful school with a great principal, staff and students.

Brown Principal Kathy Ross said the school felt the same about Rumph.

“She has been such a gift to us,” Ross said. “She had a positive attitude coming in and that was so appreciated, but that’s how Linda is everyday. She’s so gentle and kind to our kindergarteners. She’s a bright spot in our building.”

Ann Harlow-Burgess

Ann Harlow-Burgess has always had a passion for working with special needs students.

After teaching for a year in Columbus, she moved to New Jersey where she taught home economics and high school special education. After that experience, she spent 10 years teaching children age 3 and younger in a private school for special education.

For the past nine years she has been a special education teacher at SHS.

“Ann has done a very good job with our special education students,” Principal Greg Prange said. “She has a genuine concern for kids and a passion for what she does.”

“Looking back at the many years I have taught, I have enjoyed all levels of teaching,” she said. “I truly love working with students and getting to know them.”

She says she plans to spend her retirement with her family, including her husband, Charlie, their seven children and 15 grandchildren.

“Together, Charlie and I enjoy auctions and antiquing,” she said.

Mary Ann Grelle

Mary Ann Grelle spent 33 years as a cook, feeding the students of Seymour schools. Most recently she worked at Seymour Middle School.

Bonnie Burbrink, director of food services, said Grelle was more than just a great cook, she was a great baker, and a great person.

“If you were lucky enough to have her baked goods then you know what a god job she did,” Burbrink said. “She just decided it was time to go, but we have enjoyed her while she was here.”

Grelle said she enjoys riding her bicycle and walking outdoors and is looking forward to retirement.

Although she won’t be working as a school cook anymore, Burbrink said she expected Grelle to stay busy.

“I see her quite often still,” Burbrink said. “She rides her bike past my office at least twice a day. Maybe work wasn’t the right thing for her anymore, but she hasn’t slowed down.”

Robert Schmielau

Simply put, the best part of being superintendent of Seymour Community Schools is “being with kids in one way or another,” Superintendent Robert Schmielau said.

After spending 42 years in education with the last seven as superintendent in Seymour, Schmielau said he knew it was time to retire.

“When you know, you know,” he said. “When the time comes, the time comes. The reality is it took me a while to decide, but once I decided, I have not had one heartbeat where I didn’t believe that I made the right decision, or at least the right decision for me.”

School board president Martha McIntire said she has appreciated all Schmielau has done for the corporation and will miss his leadership.

“He has a true love of education, especially for younger students,” she said. “He enjoys reading to them and I know he will miss that. The board appreciates all the work he has done.”

Working in education, both in the classroom and as an administrator has been a “blessing,” Schmielau said. “Being with kids in one way or another from teaching a kid how to shoot a free throw to sitting in on a senior government class has been the best part of my job,” he added. “I have the chance to see some great teaching when I visit classrooms. One of my greatest joys in Seymour has been to read to kindergarten and first-graders. They have a way of showing me what’s important.”

Schmielau said he plans to remain in Seymour and spend more time with his family, including his wife of 42 years, Arlene, their two children, Kim and Kurt, and granddaughter, Harriet.

“Seymour has meant a lot to us. This has been a very good place to be,” he said. “Arlene and I plan to stay here after retirement and stay active in our church and the community.”

Art Juergens

Anyone who had teacher Art Juergens in class or worked with him will have a story to tell, that’s because he himself liked to share stories.

He started his teaching career at Batesville High School in 1970 and remained there for nearly 10 years.

While at SHS, Juergens taught health, government, U.S. history, civics, physical education and driver’s education.

Principal Greg Prange said it was hard to hold back the tears when Juergens told him he was retiring.

“Over the past 27 or 28 years, we’ve been through a lot of good times and a lot of bad times,” Prange said. “I wasn’t looking forward to his retirement. He has the ability to get along with everyone. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Mr. Juergens.”

Even away from Seymour, Juergens has made an impact, Prange said.

“I can travel around the state and everyone knows him,” Prange added. “It’s a testimonial to the lives he has touched over the years. My kids love him and I’m glad he is sticking around Seymour. Thirty-seven years is a long time and you have touched a lot of lives, not only kids but adults too.”

But teaching wasn’t Juergens only interest. He also was a wrestling, football and baseball coach.

He credits former SHS athletic director John Britton for influencing him to come to Seymour.

“It has been a privilege to be a part of the Seymour Community Schools system,” he said. “What I will miss most are the students, my fellow teachers and the staff who have been so great to work with over my 37 years of teaching.”

Even after retirement, Juergens plans to stay involved with the school system. He was elected to the school board last month.

He also plans to spend more time with his family, including his wife, Judy; children, Aimee Lovegrove, Jared Juergens and Lauren Juergens; and grandchildren, Rachel, Cy and Harper.

“We also plan to do some traveling, reading, walking and just enjoying life to the fullest,” he said.

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