The Clear Creek Amana Community School District will say "see you later" to some outstanding staff as they retire this year. We have staff with upwards of 34 years of service with the district. Their hard work and dedication to our students, families and staff will not be forgotten. 

Congratulations and enjoy your retirement!

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
Some of the funny things the little kids say! I wish I would have written them down and wrote a book.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The staff and students. They're the best!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Traveling to visit family in Tennessee and watch my grandsons participate in their activities.

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
There are too many to choose from, but all my great memories are of the many people that I have worked with and the hilarious things students say to you.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The friends I have made and working with kids!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Enjoy 12 months of summer!

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
My Friends...Lots

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Friends!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Enjoy family and not driving in the winter.

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
Seeing the growth of our district from 1990 till now. At that time, Clear Creek needed a partner to remain a "viable" district according to rule changes in the Legislature. Joining with Amana got that accomplished and we have never looked back!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The kids, no question.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Maybe not getting up at 5 am every weekday will be a place to start...!

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
I love the joy when the 'light bulb' goes off and a student realizes they can do it! It may be knowing a letter sound, spelling a word, reading a whole book or knowing their multiplication facts! Learning is so fun and so exciting! I will treasure all the 'light bulb' memories!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I will greatly miss the wonderful people. Our fantastic staff and students are like a family.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
From retirement to repurposing! More time for family is number one! But also volunteering at the Free Lunch program, planting & harvesting in the Lettuce Feed Others garden, our local public library, plus camping, canoeing, traveling, biking.....the list goes on and on!!

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
Taking students on trips and staff dress-up days for homecoming and stuff.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
My co-workers and joking around with students.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Relaxing, having time to read for fun, free time and traveling when it's not the busy time.

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
The best days were those when we could dress up and be silly! I loved being able to celebrate Halloween, Homecoming Spirit Days and Pajama Days. My favorite was the100th Day of School and seeing students' expressions and hearing their comments when we dressed up as 100-year-old grandmas! 

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I'll miss so much about CCA, but I'll especially miss the connections with students and their families. As a kindergarten teacher, I enjoyed helping children and their home adults get acclimated to school for the first time. It's rewarding to watch students grow up, go on to middle school, high school and beyond. 

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
I'm excited about continuing training as a yoga instructor! I'm certified to teach children, and will be attending a two-week retreat on Cape Cod in September to receive 200 hours of training to teach adults. 

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
One of my favorite memories while working at CCA is when I taught 3rd grade at CCE and we had an overnight sleepover experience. Our theme was Tall Tales!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
My team and all the friends I’ve made over the years. Also, working with so many wonderful kids.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Sleeping in and traveling.

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
One of my first memories with CCE was my student teaching with Linda Potter in first grade. After that, I began subbing for Geegee Zimmerman and Mary Bontrager and hoping that I would have my own classroom someday; and this dream came true when I was hired by Ray Strobbe for the third grade position where I stayed all 34 years teaching in a portable and eventually inside the building.! I am thankful that I have had Leanne Amelon & Mary Odle as my third grade partners working together and we are still trying to find Desiree:) It was great watching my kids grow up attending CCA and now my own grandsons are in CCE. There are so many fond memories of students I had had the pleasure working with and their families in elementary & coaching CCAMS volleyball and basketball that I shall treasure a lifetime. 

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Clear Creek Elementary has been my home away from home. Staff and students are part of my extended family. I shall miss seeing the kiddos' eyes lighting up when learning something new or just having some fun! Listening to the variety of stories the kiddos share has been sooo rewarding.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, doing some landscaping in my yard, kayaking, reading, and just unwinding some after my retirement. I might even visit Mount Rushmore! 

Note:  Diane Mossman opted out of the retirement spotlights

Favorite Memory While Working at CCA?
The joy from sharing with families through the Sponsor A Family Program.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The students and staff. The students keep us young and always provide a lot of fun.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Being able to travel at any time of the year.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
I love making music everyday and I love watching students perform. What fun it has been collecting all those memories over the years!!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I will miss the smiles, hugs, kind words, and lots of music making!!!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
I am looking forward to doing things on a whim!

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Having been here for over 30 years it is difficult to list one thing. I do know that it has been a privilege getting to know so many students and staff over the years. I really enjoy talking with CCA grads and learning about their lives after high school, as well as the fond memories of staff members, past and present, that I have had the opportunity to work with.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I will definitely miss being around the students on a daily basis. I know that most parents of teenagers would probably say that their kids make them feel old, but with me it is just the opposite.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Throwing away my alarm clock.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Designing and planting a butterfly garden at NBE as part of a student led PBL project.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I’ll miss student jokes and humor.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
I’m looking forward to unstructured time, more time and no timelines.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Before our district merged in 1995, both administration offices were moved to a little old white house next to CC Elem. The floors were so crooked in one room, that if you lifted your feet you would roll across the room. It was packed with office files and desks, and we only had paths to get around. We loved the expressions/comments from people that came to see us.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Working with the staff every day.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Gardening

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Well this memory is not a favorite but I will always remember being in the 1998 storm at CCE.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The students and staff for sure!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Working in my flower garden.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Taking 8th graders to Chicago field trips.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Being around young people and having them make me smile and laugh.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Getting my big flower bed back into shape. Traveling to see the Giant Redwoods of CA.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
So many! I have really enjoyed all of the Talent/Variety Shows that CCE has had. It has been great fun and entertaining to watch all the individuals and classes perform. So much talent!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I will miss the staff! The people at CCE are more than coworkers and students, they are family!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Spending time with my family-especially my grandson, Griffin.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Alice Training where staff got so involved they jumped out windows. Seeing students outside of school and them wondering how the “cooker” got out of the kitchen.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
The staff. I’ve met some really good people over the years. Watching the students grow from year to year.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Taking care of my grandson.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
The time a young man dropped his birthday cake on the floor and ruined it. I went to Wal Mart and took one to him to share with his friends and the look on his face was priceless. And the young lady that came out late on her first day of kindergarten and I said good morning grandma. She was grandma from that day forward and she called me grandpa until she graduated.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Obviously the kids. They made the job fun.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Poker and fishing.

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
Working with the Kindergarten class my first year and seeing all these kiddos grow up and become such nice kids!

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
Just all the fun at CCE! All the great teachers and staff that work here. I will miss the cute smiles of the kiddos here and hugs and "Hello Ms. Sue". Life is too short - enjoy all the moments!!

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Taking care of my flowers and yard!!! Spending a day with my new Grandson Cooper and getting to know him! Going away for a month in the winter with Richard. Spending more time with Lois Rugger (my mom-in-law). Sorry so many things I want to do!

Favorite memory while working at CCA?
I was proud to be able to help all of the teachers with projects to make their job easier.

What is something you'll miss at CCA?
I will miss the teachers and my coworkers. And it was exciting to meet each new class of students.

What is one thing you're looking forward to doing when you retire?
Help out with my 4 grandchildren and be able to spend time outdoors on the farm.