The Vienna Elementary School community – colleagues, parents and students – turned out on May 19 to say goodbye to retiring teachers Terry Love and Linda Camanco and to wish them well. Photo by Donna Manz.
Staff, students and parents of the Vienna Elementary School [VES] community came together on May 19 to say goodbye to two long-time VES teachers retiring this year. Terry Love, media specialist and head librarian, and Linda Camacho, fifth grade teacher, are leaving with a combined tenure of 44 years.
The library was packed with colleagues and families, and peers paid tribute to them during the retirement celebration party. Love and Camacho posed for photographs with students and parents.
“The key things that come to mind about both of them are their relationships with students, staff and the community,” said VES principal John Carmichael. “Their caring attitude, their wealth of knowledge and their passion for teaching stand out.”
“The whole tenure here has been memorable,” said Love, who started his career with VES in 1997. “The students are fantastic. On top of that, the parents are so helpful working with the school and the students.
“I like the local community.”
Love is looking forward to traveling and enjoying his grandchildren. First travel plans of retirement call for a long European vacation.
Like Love, Camacho intends to travel more. She’s got golf in her plans, as well. “I was glad to be here when they renovated the school,” said Camacho, who taught at VES for 27 years. “Just having such a supportive place to work was really important.”
Two engraved stones are to be placed in the school’s courtyard to honor Love and Camacho.
Carmichael called Love and Camacho “lifelong teachers.”
“They modeled what a true educator is.