The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - The Day- ton school district will say farewell to three very spe- cial ladies at the close of this school year. Elemen- tary school principal Katie Leid, first grade teacher Julie Howard, and school secre- tary Dallas Dickinson are all set to retire.

Combined, these women have well over fifty years experience in education, and for them the decision to begin a new chapter in their lives is bittersweet.

Leid, who was born in Walla Walla and raised in Waitsburg, has served as principal for the past nine years in Dayton. She received a Boeing Teacher in Residence Credential from Washington State Univer- sity, and she says she has lived pretty much all round the United States; including Michigan and Massachu- setts. At one time, she even taught in The Netherlands at the American School of Hague.

Howard has taught kin- dergarten, first, second, third and fifth grades over a pe- riod of 26 years. She worked one year at Waitsburg and subbed in other area schools, but has spent the majority of her time in Dayton. She says, "I have always thought I have the best job in the world, and I have been very thankful of that. I'll miss see- ing the kids."

Dickinson began working in the Dayton school district in the 1990-1991 school year. She says she started as a volunteer in the computer lab in the early days of computers, and she got her foot in the door by putting on work- shops about how to open Microsoft Word documents. Since then, the changes in technology have been inter- esting to witness. She notes how funny it seems when little kids come to the office to use the regular phone and they don't have a clue what a dial-tone is.

Dickinson has enjoyed seeing so many variations of families over the years, and she is impressed by all of the support. "I will miss work- ing as a team with every- one," she says, "we laugh a lot, and the kids are so cute."

Recently, some of the kids got a chance to thank the women for all their hard work and dedication. At the last elementary school concert, the kids sang a very touching version of "You Make Me Smile" as a com- plete surprise to the ladies.

"Every day is different," says Leid. "I've loved it. It's not even a job-it has been such a wonderful part of my life."

All three women have expressed their desire to stay involved with the school district as volunteers, but they are excited, of course, to spend more time with family. Howard plans to visit her children and grandchildren more often, Dickinson looks forward to biking and kayaking around the Northwest, and Leid plans to head back to the Netherlands for a boat and bike tour in the near future.

As a tribute to these la- dies, and to Maintenance Supervisor John Hutchens, who is also retiring, a goingaway party will be held June 5 from 3:15 to 5 p.m. in the elementary multi-purpose room. It is open to anyone that would like to come and say goodbye.