Liberty retirees reflect on ups, downs

BY KIM LUTTRELL
Commercial-News

DANVILLE June 21, 2009 09:38 pm

— The following educators retired from Liberty Elementary School this year.
This story is one in a series the Commercial-News will publish recognizing those who have been with Danville District 118 for 20 years or more.
Juanita Rottmann
The thing that Juanita Rottmann has noticed in her 20-plus years of teaching is that more is expected of children today.
“The expectations have changed,” she said. “It is much higher today than when I started teaching; kids are more advanced.”
According to Rottmann, kids are exposed to so much more before they even enter school. She said the exposure comes from many different sources, such as television, videos or just interacting with other children in a day care.
“There is also more testing of children today,” she added.
Rottmann has been teaching first grade at Liberty Elementary School for the past five years.
One thing that still amazes her is how much her students learn in a school year.
“At the end of the year, I look back and realize just how far they have come since starting school in the fall,” Rottmann said. “It really gives you a satisfaction that you have had a part in this learning process.”
Rottmann said it also is a two-way street when it comes to education. “Not only do I teach them, but I am constantly learning something from them.”
Rottmann still enjoys teaching. She said she never thought of doing anything else in life.
“I love the kids, everyone is special to me,” she said.
Her retirement plans include spoiling her granddaughter, traveling to places she hasn’t visited and probably more volunteering at her church.
Elizabeth Veith
According to Elizabeth Veith, the thing she has noticed in her 33 years of teaching is that she is able to spend more time with her students.
“When I started teaching, everything was in 30-minute time slots,” Veith said. “Now we can devote more time to the students.”
Veith is a special education resource teacher at Liberty Elementary School. She also said there is more paperwork involved in teaching now.
“Everything is documented now,” she added. “There just seems to be so much more paperwork involved in teaching now.”
Veith credits Ellen Shaner with helping her out when she started teaching.
“Ellen was the special education teacher at Edison when I started teaching,” she said. “She was such a great help to me.”
Veith’s philosophy in teaching is to look for something special in each child. She also offers this advice to new teachers.
“Enjoy every day, enjoy the kids and learn as much from the teachers around you,” she suggested.
Veith’s retirement plans are to finish building the new home she has started.
Deborah Pruitt
Deborah Pruitt knew from an early age that she would be a teacher.
“I read to first-grade students when I was in sixth grade,” she said. “I knew then that I wanted to be a teacher.”
Pruitt also said Jane Christy, who taught at a nursery school that Pruitt worked at in the summer, was a role model for her.
“I also felt Dona Rae Grisham, who taught first grade in the district, was another role model,” she added.
Pruitt believes there are greater expectations of children today.
“There are more demands on students and teachers,” she said.
“One of things that a teacher has to realize is that students don’t all reach their potential at the same time,” Pruitt said. “A lot of times, it takes a period of time from about September to November to get them on the same level.”
Pruitt taught in kindergarten as well as first and second grades. She finished her career at Liberty Elementary School teaching first grade. Pruitt began her teaching career at Edison Elementary School before moving to Liberty.
Pruitt said if she hadn’t gone into teaching, she would have like to have tried children’s ministries. She has a daughter in Arizona who teaches at a missionary school.
Pruitt plans to write more in retirement. She is a published author with Word Action Publishing, a publisher of Sunday school curriculum and teaching aids.
Her advice to new teachers is to follow the Golden Rule.
“Treat your students the way you would like to be treated,” she said.

LIBERTY RETIREES
-- Name: Juanita Rottmann
Education: Concordia University, bachelor’s degree; Eastern Illinios University, master’s degree
-- Name: Elizabeth Veith
Education: Illinois State University, bachelor’s degree; Eastern Illinois University: master’s degree
-- Name: Deborah Pruitt
Education: Millikin University, bachelor’s degree
Experience: Taught at both Edison and Liberty elementary schools in 1976 before moving permanently to Liberty for the rest of her time in the district.
-- Also retiring from Liberty Elementary School in 2009: Jeannie Thorlton

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