As is the case each spring, local school districts are losing some of their most experienced and talented teachers and staff members to retirement.

In Champaign, 24 teachers, eight support staff and two administrators are retiring. In Urbana, there are 18 teachers, 10 support staff and three administrators retiring.

They collectively represent hundreds of years of experience with children. A few of those educators shared some memories and thoughts about education as they ended their school years.

Name: Sally Burgett

Job title: Kindergarten teacher at South Side Elementary School, Champaign. (The last teacher in the district to teach at Lottie Switzer School, now Judah Christian.)

Number of years in the district: 35

You no doubt have many special memories from your years of teaching. Can you mention one that stands out for you?

I have so many special memories that have touched my heart in the last 35 years. It is hard to choose just one memory. I have been blessed to work with so many children full of life and curiosity and their families. It is my hope through my teaching that I have taught lifelong lessons. I work very hard with children for them to become responsible for themselves. It has been great fun becoming their partner in learning. I view every child as an individual and take them from where they enter kindergarten and move them forward through the year with high expectations.

After 35 years, it has been very rewarding working with families and many siblings from the same family. I have also had a parent as a student many years ago and now have had her three children.

What is one major change in either education or your school district during your career? I do not think there has been a major change. I feel I have changed the way I look at children and my teaching. My teaching has changed to child-based learning instead of teacher-driven learning as I was trained to do in my early years. We must allow children time to explore and make connections. You would be amazed how much you can learn from a five-year-old. As a teacher, I have also learned that leading by example is very powerful.

What are your plans for retirement?

Right now I do not have any plans for retirement. I hope to take more time for myself and my family. I have thought about volunteering where I can read to children. Reading to children is one of my favorite times of the school day. I also hope to volunteer in my daughters' classrooms in Champaign schools. My daughter Abby Crull teaches music at Booker T. Washington, and my other daughter Katelyn Shamhart teaches first grade at Bottenfield. It has been very rewarding teaching with them in the Champaign school district. A mom could not be prouder or ask for anything better.