Mount Vernon honored two retirees and staff celebrating years of achievement Friday, May 30, at the conclusion of the school year.

Ann Wattleworth, was retiring after 33 years of work as a paraeducator for special education, 18 years at the Mount Vernon School District.

Ammie Trumpold said she was glad to have had a lifelong friendship with Wattleworth, having student taught at the district years ago and returning recently.

“Laughing with Ann was easy to do every day,” Trumpold said. “We’re going to carry that on with a ‘dress like Ann day’ in the future school districts. No one will match her fashion sense or her big heart.”

Wattleworth graduated from Mount Vernon High School, and after marrying her husband, they moved out of Mount Vernon. She taught at Rapid City, South Dakota and Papillion, Neb.

The family was brought back to Mount Vernon roughly 18 years ago. She joined the district as a special education paraeducator at that time.

She thanked the district for 18 years of being a paraeducator for the district, and helping her raise her grandson through the district, leaving with the advice she gave him – “go out into the world and make the world a better place. Smile, be kind to everyone. You never know where that kindness is needed.”

Wattleworth plans to travel and spend more time with her soon to be 90-year old mom Marj Whitley, who was there to honor her daughter retiring from the district Friday.

“It’s not the number of years we work, but the number of lives we touch,” Wattleworth wrote in her parting words. “I grew up with a severely disabled sister who didn’t walk or talk. She taught our family a lot in the life and love for the special education children came from the love and special life with Carla I loved my 33 years of working with special education children. They have touched my life in so many different ways.”

Mount Vernon staff member Lisa Cannon also retired after 37 years, but didn’t want to make a big deal out of her retirement.

At the ceremony, she said “Even though I wasn’t originally from here, Mount Vernon has always treated me as one of it’s own, which is why I stayed here so long.”

Superintendent Matt Leeman reflected on the year of teaching with his charge to teachers at the beginning of the school year – to be the one person one student looks forward to seeing every day.

He recounted a conversation he had with his 7-year-old son who had moved to this district this year about how the school year went.

“He said that kindergarten at Clear Creek-Amana, that year went by so slow,” Leeman said. “But first grade flew by. And he thanked me for one of the best school years he’s ever had.”

School board president Rick Elliott said he is lucky to be a part of a school board and community that values education like Mount Vernon.

Jessica Bartelt with the Mount Vernon Education Association thanked the school board and administration for their support of teachers as well.

“We’re able to be a safe and happy place for our students because of that support we have,” Bartelt said.