Celebrating Retiring Teachers

Every year, as May starts leading the way into June, I attend several retirement parties for educators who are finally exiting the profession with a sense of celebration and accomplishment. With each party I go to, the vibe and setting change accordingly. Sometimes we recognize 30-plus years of service to education at a bar during happy hour, sometimes a restaurant space is rented out for a more formal sit-down occasion, and now and then, send-offs are still conducted in a virtual space. Retirement parties are an important tradition to recognize what is often a significant chunk of a person’s life, so we should do our best to make sure that everyone does their absolute best by the individual being honored.  

Create Ideal Conditions for Attendance

Many celebrations are held away from school grounds, and for understandable reasons. It can be hard to unwind and feel the imminent stirrings of freedom from cinder block walls if a retirement party is held at school. However, when we think about having as many people present as possible, a school building might be the best location; it’s familiar to everyone, and a lot of potential attendees will already be there, especially if the event is held after school. With the appropriate decorations, food and forethought, any space can become inviting, especially one that will soon become nostalgic.

Even if holding a celebration at school is not in the cards, there are other ways to be thoughtful and ensure that more people can be there. Planning ahead goes a long way, so hosts should ask everyone to hold the date at least four weeks out, if not more. Ask colleagues who are close to the retiree about people who should be invited that may not be as obvious, such as former teachers who no longer work at the school or friends from other walks of life. Also, think about accessibility and logistics that make any event easier to attend, such as ramp or parking access.

Keep Celebrations In Person

As tempting as it can be to have a huge retirement bash on Zoom, online parties usually come up a little short. During the pandemic, there was no option but to say goodbye to a treasured colleague through boxes on a screen, waving and sharing memories. Now, unless everyone involved lives nowhere near one another (not the usual case within a school community), moving a party to an online space is a little cold. The primary reason people still opt to do anything virtually is convenience, and that goes double for an event that requires optimal attendance. However, it might behoove us all to consider whether quantity is better than quality in this case. Do all those faces on a screen really matter if the celebration itself feels impersonal, or would it be better to have fewer people in person with a more robust program? If I were the one retiring, I have a feeling that it would be more satisfying to be in a room with my friends and colleagues, and it would also be a lot of fun, whereas a virtual party would feel like a meeting.

Pick Speakers Selectively

We’ve all been there, whether we are at a wedding or a retirement party: someone unexpected gets up to speak, rambles on for a while, and perhaps even says some awkward things. Speeches are a natural part of any retirement party program, but there is not enough time to let everyone say a few words (or more), nor should there be. When it comes to speeches, less is more. The best way to make sure the most ideal speakers are on the lineup is to ask the person who is retiring about who they feel should be selected. Otherwise, we will be engaging in needless guesswork. Furthermore, the structure of the event itself should be tight and clear enough that random people do not go up to the microphone. If there is a consistent flow of events, ideally laid out in a program, then a free-for-all will be less likely to occur. 

Get Students (Past and Present) Involved

Impact in education is measured by student growth, and nothing is more meaningful than having kids attend a celebration and share stories about how the person who is retiring has changed their lives. Personally, I have maintained connections with many students over the years, most of whom are well into adulthood, and I know it would be incredibly meaningful to have some of them in attendance at my retirement celebration. Therefore, including both current and former students really makes a difference, and we can get some of those “blast from the past” names from people who know the retiree well, such as a family member or close colleague of many years’ standing.

Create a Memento 

Parties go by quickly, but careers are full of memories and accomplishments. When the celebration is over, having a tangible memento provides a treasure that can be cherished for years to come. For one of my closest teaching colleagues, I purchased a beautiful, blank notebook and spent months collecting notes from as many people as I could to fill the pages. People included not just written messages, but also items like photos that represented important memories with the person being honored. Along similar lines, attendees could also sign a guest book at the event itself, sign a poster, or give a heartfelt gift (perhaps something inscribed) to ensure that the celebration ends on a sweet, lasting note.

A career in education is a worthy accomplishment that necessitates meaningful recognition. When we gather in the coming weeks to bid adieu to colleagues and friends that we will truly miss, let’s make sure we communicate exactly how valuable they are, and how they have made such a significant impact on the lives of teachers and students alike. 

Written by Miriam Plotinsky, Education World Contributing Writer

Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where she has taught and led for more than 20 years. She is the author of several education books (both out and forthcoming) with W.W. Norton, ASCD and Solution Tree. She is also a National Board-Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She can be reached at www.miriamplotinsky.com.

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