June 8, 2007

Leaving a legacy of love

Kindergarten teacher Carol Radke retires after 35 years

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

There will be a lot of tears around Marshall Lane Elementary School the last day of school. Not only will the classes be breaking up and moving on to the next grade level but the school is losing one of its most popular teachers ever: Kindergarten teacher Carol Radke.

Radke and her “best friend” kindergarten teacher Merle Mund have taught together at Marshall Lane for over 20 years. “She’s like my sister,” said Radke. photos by Samantha Berry

“It’s very bittersweet to leave but I have so many beautiful memories,” said the strawberry blonde Radke. “The thing I’m going to miss the most are the relationships. Working here has been like heaven on earth.”

Radke has been teaching for 35 years, 31 of them at Marshall Lane. “I’ve taught every grade level except 4th grade,” she said. She started teaching kindergarten in 1986 and found it to be a perfect fit.

Parents, students, co-workers and her husband and two children all got together on May 18th to throw Radke a going away party.

“It’s hard to put into words how awesome Carol is,” said parent Becky Jean, who helped to organize the party. “Both of my children had her and she was the epitome of what a kindergarten teacher should be. My son Connor loved to talk about fishing with her. And, my daughter Kelly, who has her for a teacher now writes her a love letter everyday. She’s just a great lady!”

Lori Iventosky-James coordinated the party and got the word out at Rolling Hills Middle School and Westmont High School so even students that now tower over the petite Radke got a chance to come and say goodbye to the popular kindergarten teacher.

Best Friends
One of the things that Radke will miss the most is her best friend next door in Kindergarten room 1: Merle Mund. “She’s like my sister,” said Radke. The two teachers bonded over the angst of raising teenage boys many years ago. Since then they’ve gotten together to celebrate birthdays, go to concerts and to share pictures from their many travels.

Radke and friend and co-worker Mund worked next door to each other for over 20 years.

Although the duo planned on ‘going out together’ Mund has decided to put off retirement for a couple more years. “I’m really going to miss her,” said Mund with a frown, “but we’re going to get together as soon as possible.”

“We have a lot of new teachers,” adds Radke, “so it’s really great that Merle will be able to be a mentor to them.”

Radke and her husband are moving to a Dell Webb Retirement Community near Tracy to relax and take it easy and partake in their favorite hobby: fishing.

But Radke says she is grateful for her many years at Marshall Lane and the memories that she is taking with her. “I planned to have a lot of kids but I only had two,” she said with a grin, “but then when you include all my students, over 1,000, I guess I overshot my goal!”

"Of all the friends I met in kindergarten, Ms. Radke is my favorite one of all!" - Callie Fitch

Radke’s students gathered to say good-bye. photo by Craig Fitch