Grade 6 teacher retires after successful career

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
After a successful career that included a provincial excellence in teaching award, Judy-Florence is bidding a fond farewell.
The Grade 6 teacher at West Meadow Elementary School taught had her last class last week before she officially retired.
Moser earned a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of education with great distinction from the University of Lethbridge before she started teaching at W.A. Day School in Fort Macleod in 1995.
She was a substitute teacher the next year then started at Stavely school before embarking on a nine-year career at the Little Bow Hutterian Brethren Colony School.
It was there that she earned a provincial excellence in teaching award in 2001.
Later, she moved to West Meadow where she has been teaching Grade 6 the past 14 years.
Her outstanding memories include all the different children she taught.
“What they have achieved (to) get ready for the high school,” she said.
Moser also paid tribute to all the colleagues she worked with over the years.
“It’s such a good family of staff at West Meadow,” she said.
Moser also advised the student leadership group at the school for 11 years.
“I saw the potential,” she explained. “The potential of these kids to be the leaders of the future was pretty amazing to see.”
Moser remembered how the children stepped up and excelled doing the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the school.
“If you don’t put limits on kids, it’s amazing what they can accomplish,” she said.
There are also highlights that stand out for Moser.
“Getting to see the kids once they’re done school,” she said. “(And) hearing some of the things they learned in Grade 6.”
Moving forward into retirement, Moser does not have a lot of definite plans.
“Teaching has basically been my life since I’ve been in it,” she said.
Now, she will have the opportunity to explore whatever she likes.
She’ll get to spend time with her family, and her dogs.
She may do some travelling when the world opens up from the health restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Basically do what I want to do when I can do it,” Moser said.
She is also leaving with fond memories of her last class of students.
“This has been the nicest group of kids,” Moser said.
She points to having 16 students in her class, which shows the value of small class sizes.
“You can get to every kid,” Moser said, adding she liked the challenge of reaching all children.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to work with these young minds and prepare them for the future,” she said. “Claresholm is an amazing place to raise a family.”