English teacher retires from TAMS

By Jennah Meek

After thirty-four years, English teacher, Miss Kitty Johnston is retiring.

“As you get older retirement is always in the back of your mind. It’s just a matter of knowing when is the right time to go. I hope I have made the right decision,” she stated.

After this year Johnston plans doing the “three Rs” which are relax, read, and reflect.

Johnston says “When the novelty wears off, I would like to get a stress free part -time job or do some volunteer work. I definitely need something to do to keep me on my schedule.”

Johnston grew up in a small town of Grampian and her family moved to Curwensville when she was twelve or thirteen years old. She went to Penn Grampian Elementary and Curwensville Area High School and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“Education has changed since I was a student. Technology has changed and continues to change the ways the students learn,” she said.

Johnston taught at Brookville Area High School for a year before teaching at Tyrone Area.

She taught ninth grade for a year and spent thirty-three years teaching seventh grade English at Tyrone. Her former English teacher inspired her to become a teacher.

She came to Tyrone because she knew there were three available positions in the English department. Tyrone was also looking for a girls’ basketball coach. After getting hired here, Johnston coached the girls basketball team for seven years.

According to Johnston, the benefits of teaching are “knowing that you have the ability to touch so many lives in a positive manner.”

After teaching thirty three years at Tyrone Area Middle School Johnston states “I taught your dad, mom, you [Jennah Meek] and your brother [Hunter Meek].”

Junior, Corey Snyder says “Well, I feel that it is sad that she is retiring because I always thought she was a great lady. I would see her in the hallways and she would always say hi. She will be missed.”

Mr. Loth a TAHS 7th grade team member says “She is very easy to talk with. I will think of her whenever I see someone with a mountain dew as she loves to drink them.”

Another 7th grade team member, Mrs. DelBaggio says “We eat lunch together each day in my room. We usually go to the teacher reading book club to discuss the book of the month.”

Whitney Houston inspired Johnston through her song “Greatest Love of All” which says, “I believe the children are our future/Teach them well and let them lead the way./Show them all the beauty they possess inside/Give them a sense of pride to make easier…”

Johnston has mixed emotions about retiring and will miss Tyrone and being around the children.