The Austin Education Association recognized retiring teachers Wednesday afternoon at a party in the Austin High School cafeteria.

Kathy Huffman, a sixth grade teacher at Ellis Middle School, gave a Powerpoint presentation of candid photos and anecdotes as well as each teacher's history of service to the district.

Gerry Rustad is one of the teachers that is retiring this year. She taught first grade for 17 years at Southgate and Banfield Elementary Schools and substitute taught for 11 years in between. She thought the presentation was well done.

"They were popping up all over the place with cameras the last couple days, so I knew something was up," she said.

She said teaching the first graders has been very rewarding.

"I have just loved most all of it," she said. "First-graders learn so much in one year. They're like little sponges."

She has mixed feelings about retirement.

"It's going to be nice having time to relax and read, but I really will miss it," Rustad said.

Pat Langlie has been teaching since 1973 and has been in Austin since 1980. She started off teaching special education students, then spent 15 years working at the Learning Center. She has been back with the special education department this last year. She said she'll miss the students most of all.

"I love them. They keep me young," she said. "That's a big fear, now that I don't have contact with high school-aged kids anymore, that I'll age more rapidly."

Langlie plans to spend her retirement traveling in her mobile home. She already has a trip to the Rocky Mountains planned.

She said the power point show and the rest of the program was special.

"I think they really did a good job," she said. "It's just another example of how teachers work in whatever they do."

At the end of the program, each teacher was given a present.

Huffman said she was proud to help give something back to people that have helped mentor her throughout the years. She said it is important to recognize outstanding careers in education.

"I just feel so strongly, in an era of budget cuts and stuff happening, that we need to celebrate each other," she said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com