Three teachers retired earlier this school year, and six more will retire in May/June. That makes nine teacher retirees for 2008-09 - about 10 percent of the total teaching staff that started this school year.

2008-09 marks a spike in retirement-age teachers over last school year, but a comparable number to the school year before. There were four teacher retirees in 2007-08 and seven in 2006-07.

Since Jackie Bruns became principal three years ago, she has seen 14 elementary teachers retire - a third of the total elementary teaching staff.

"Seasoned" teachers make a difference in the classroom, according to Bruns. "They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that is only learned by being in the trenches."

Some of the retirees have spent the majority of their careers at PR-B.

Family and Consumer Science teacher Dorothy Rollins retired in November 2008 in her 37th year of teaching - her entire career spent at PR-B.

Elementary Title-Reading teacher Sue Julien retired in December of 2008 after 31 years in PR-B.

Fifth-grade teacher Brad Winn retired in March after logging 30 years at PR-B with four years in prior districts.

In May and June a handful of other longtime teachers will retire.

Kindergarten teacher Deb Winn will retire at the end of the school year after 27 years with PR-B.

Sixth-grade teacher Tom Medved will retire with 34 years.

Randy Robb, high school science teacher, was hired by the district in 1992 and previously taught 14 years in the Motley School District, two years with the Staples School District and two years in the paired district of Staples-Motley.

Elementary art teacher Wayne Shilson retires at the end of the school year; he was hired in 2000.

Nancy Johnson retires, May 15, after 30 years with PR-B - with Early Childhood Family Education and as an elementary teacher.

John Puleo, elementary special education teacher, will retire at the end of the school year after 32 school years at PR-B.

Bruns added that it is exciting to hire energetic new young teachers with fresh ideas - but that it can also be a daunting change.

"I feel fortunate in knowing that my current staff will step forward to mentor our new teachers and help them assimilate into the PR-B community," according to Bruns.