Each May, as we inch towards the final week of the school year, my Facebook page always populates with memories of previous graduating classes from our school as well as pictures of my own children who have now all graduated from Brainerd Baptist School as well as their respective high schools. This week two incredible teachers will wrap up their careers at Brainerd Baptist School. There are certain names that just pop into a mind when someone utters “Brainerd Baptist School”. Two of the names that one would undoubtedly hear if you ran into an old friend and the topic turned to BBS would be Mrs. Ledbetter and Mrs. Starnes. As I was looking through some of those previously mentioned Facebook memories this week, I was fortunate to find pictures of my own children with both Mrs. Ledbetter and Mrs. Starnes. They were all blessed to sit under the teaching of both of these ladies. As parents, there is no better reward than when someone outside of your family invests and loves your children. I can say with certainty that both of these ladies did that with my children as well as hundreds of others over the last several decades.

Earlier today hundreds of former students, parents, former teachers, and family and friends gathered to celebrate the special careers of Mrs. Ledbetter and Mrs. Starnes. Many memories were shared as students told funny stories or simply said “thank you” to these ladies for their love and dedication to their life’s work.

Mrs. Ledbetter is completing her 35th year of service to our school. She began as a PE teacher and then moved to 5th grade Language Arts and Reading. She served in that capacity until this past year when she moved to our Learning Center. Mrs. Ledbetter has had the joy of exposing hundreds of students to some classics in literature like Where the Red Fern Grows, The Boy in Striped Pajamas, The Westing Game, and many others. For many students, this marked the first time in their young lives that they experienced an emotional interaction with books. I spoke with a student at the reception today who remembered crying in class at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows. It is funny the memories that are seared in the minds of young children during elementary school.

Mrs. Starnes is finishing her 22nd year of educating in her own fun, unique, and laid-back style. Mrs. Starnes has taught both 3rd and 4th grades before moving into her role as 4th and 5th grade Science and Social Studies teacher in the last several years. Mrs. Starnes has displayed a way to connect with students, unlike few teachers I have ever known. It didn’t matter if you were new to BBS or had been here since K3, whether you were incredibly outgoing or shy, Mrs. Starnes connected in a way that made each student feel special. They knew that they were important and loved by her. I have often said that in my 17 years at Brainerd Baptist School, I think more former students have come back to visit Mrs. Starnes than any other teacher. My favorite story about Mrs. Starnes illustrates her style, which can sometimes be a little “spontaneous”. Several years ago, she called the school office in panic requesting help. She was worried she was having some sort of medical emergency because it appeared that things were getting “dark”. We rushed up to her classroom only to find that she had her sunglasses on instead of her regular eyeglasses on. Stories like this make us all laugh because we can all see it happening.

It is impossible to measure the impact that each of these ladies has had over the span of their careers and this was clearly evident today as hundreds of people stood in very long lines to congratulate their former teachers. These ladies have been constant professionals at BBS for as long as I can remember. They are the ultimate examples of teachers who love their students, have high standards and hold students accountable for their work and actions, and work well with their other team members. Susan and Beverly will be missed as they move into retirement, and they have certainly set a high bar for the teachers that come behind them.

Immeasurable Impact