As the 2024-25 school year has come to a close, North Central Parke Schools bid farewell to five staff members, each of whom has made significant contributions to the school corporation. Jan Jeffries, Susan Bumgardner, Becky Beil, Patty Stillwell and Dave Clore have announced their retirement, marking the end of an era of dedicated service.
Jeffries has been a teacher for 41 years with 36 of them being at NCP Schools. She has taught a wide range of business courses which range from accounting, business law, keyboarding, marketing, shorthand, personal finance and web design for a total of 27 different class options.
While she is looking forward to retirement, she will miss the students who wanted to learn and the teachers who wanted to help their students. She has enjoyed having former students contact her to tell her that they are using the skills that they learned in classes or have a career in an area in which she taught them. She has also enjoyed watching the students grow and learn especially since she had students that ranged from sixth grade to seniors. As Jan looks forward to retirement, she plans to savor each day, taking life one step at a time.
“Time goes too fast,” Jeffries said. “I don’t know how I got to this point because it seems like I just started teaching.”
While she will miss the daily interactions and the dynamic environment of the classroom, she is ready to embrace new adventures and experiences.
Bumgardner has also been teaching for 41 years with six of them as the preschool teacher at Rockville Christian Church before coming to Rockville Elementary School. In addition to preschool, she has taught third grade for 10 years, kindergarten for 14 years and has been a Title 1 teacher and building coordinator for 10 years.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching children and being a part of their lives. My position has also allowed me to be creative when planning events, directing shows, and decorating the building,” Bumgardner said.
She is going to miss the RES staff who have been truly the best, according to Susan. Along with her husband, Brad, she plans to travel to visit their children and grandchildren. They will also be managing their properties and working on various projects.
Starting at Turkey Run Elementary in 2000, Beil has been an art teacher at all levels for 25 years. She began her teaching career in 1986.
“I have enjoyed working in all levels of art education,” Beil said. “It has been amazing to see students grow from kindergarten to high school and through graduation. The relationships that were built and continue into their adulthood has been a blessing.”
She will miss being able to encourage students to grow and change in their art and in the lives as well as the people upon her retirement.
As of right now, she doesn’t have any specific plans for her retirement.
“I am praying for guidance in where the Lord is leading me and my husband,” Beil said. “We want to serve Him in some way.”
As she leaves her education career, she has enjoyed being a part of the artistic growth of the students. Artistic expression is a key element of children’s development.
And in the words of the dolphins, “So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
She notes: “So long, and thanks for all the fish” is a humorous idiom used to say goodbye, acknowledging the positive experiences received during the time spent. This comes from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” a fantasy where dolphins used the phrase as they left Earth just before it was destroyed.
Clore has been an important member of the custodial staff for 28 years mostly recently working at Rockville Elementary and Parke Heritage High School.
Traveling with his wife, spending time with his grandchildren and remodeling his house are Clore’s retirement plans.
Stillwell has 33 years of service having started working at Rockville Elementary in 1986. Her husband had just started the police academy, so she began working part time and later went to full-time hours.
“My plans are to clean my house from top to bottom, work in her yard and travel,” Stillwell said. “I have enjoyed working with everyone and I will miss them.”
