By Dani Tietz
The definition of family is often wide and deep.
They are the people we spend the day-to-day with, the ones with whom we share our aspirations, the ones who cheer us on and help us solve problems. Families are the ones we share meals with, laugh and cry with, make plans with, and grow with.
For Kathy Izard, after 35 years on staff, the Prairieview-Ogden School District has become family.
“Since our school has only five classrooms, it is more like a family,” she said. “Everyone knows everyone very well!”
In the time Izard has been with the district, it has changed and grown. She started when the school was called Prairieview Stars, as a teacher at the Stanton Center and Royal Elementary School. From there, she took on the role of a fourth-grade teacher for 16 years before moving to second grade for 18 years.
“I was very fortunate to spend my entire career in the same school,” Izard said. “I have had the opportunity to teach the children of my former students, which is very special.”
Bringing the world to life for children has always been Izard’s focus.
“I honestly can’t remember a time I didn’t want to be a teacher,” she said. “My younger sister still tells stories about all the times I made her play school. I think we started when I was six and she was only three!”
Perhaps it was seeing her little sister’s progress that sparked an interest in the profession. It’s what kept her in an elementary school setting throughout her career.
“It is very rewarding to watch each class move through grades K-4 and see how much they have grown both socially and academically,” she said. “It is a wonderful age to work with.
“Elementary students are not afraid to try new things. They love to try to become more independent. They also say the funniest things. Our conversations during the day are one of the things I will miss the most.”
She’ll also miss the projects her students completed.
As a fourth-grade teacher, Izard took her class to Springfield and New Salem.
“We would make a model New Salem village when we came back out of milk cartons. I think I can still remember who lived in each cabin and how many milk cartons it took to make it,” she said.
But the second-grade students wrote autobiographies.
“The students were always so excited to learn about themselves and share it with their classmates.”
Izard took a few moments to remember those students as the 2022-23 school year came to a close.
“As I was getting ready to retire, I went through all of my yearbooks, remembering each class,” she said. “Each one had their own personality and dynamic. All of their accomplishments, both in the classroom and beyond, have made me very proud.”
Now, in retirement, Izard plans to continue to focus on her children. Her daughter will get married in Oct. 2023 and her son in June 2024.
“So, I am going to be learning about weddings!” she said.
