For 30 years, Debbie Hall has been working with students, 28 of which were at Grandview Elementary.

Hall, a second grade teacher at Grandview, began her career at Santa Fe Middle School in Newton.

While working as a para, she went to night school to get her teaching degree and was hired in El Dorado in 1980.

“I found that what I was doing was more social work,” she explained. “And I found I really like working with kids.

“I knew as a teacher, I could have kids in my classroom six to 6 1/2 hours and give them love, support and guidance.”

She taught 11 years of third grade, one year of second and third combined and now has taught 17 years in second grade.

“They’re excited about learning, and yet, they’re learning independent skills,” Hall said. “I love watching the light come on when a child finally understands something.”

She also feels it is important to develop a relationship with each student and get to know them where they feel comfortable and respect each other.

“You always wonder if you make a difference in children’s lives,” she said.

She found out that she had impacted lives through one of her former student’s letters.
Anne Hargrove wrote her a letter in 2000 when she began her first semester of student teaching.

The letter talked of Hall’s influence on her in the second grade and how Hall never gave up on her.

“The two years of influence you had over me will affect my life forever,” she wrote.
Hall also stays in contact with her students. She keeps a file on every class and sends them a graduation letter with something they wrote in class, as well as a class picture.
“I’ve always enjoyed doing that,” she said.

She also keeps scrapbooks of all of her classes to remember her students.
She has created several memories over the years.

One in particular happened in 2002 after spring break.

“I came back to work after going through chemo and radiation,” she said. “I told my students they were on ‘wig alert’ when I was on recess duty. I knew with our lovely Kansas winds it was a big possibility it could happen so I might as well warn the students so they wouldn’t be shocked if it did happen.

“The first day back I had them all sit back at the rug with me and I showed them what I looked like without my wig. We talked about cancer and I showed a short video that was geared for children. The children were very kind and understanding and they helped me get through this difficult time.”

For her show and tell every Friday until school was out she would remove her wig and lay her head on a ruler to see if it had grown any. 

“I believe it might have grown 1 to 2 cm,” Hall said. “At one show and tell we discussed what color I should be when my hair grew back. I wasn’t ready to stay the gray color my hair grew back in. One suggestion was I should color it purple since I loved K-State...Nice thought, but I nixed that idea.”

Another memory that goes along with this happened at recess.

“One recess I had a first grader following me around the playground,” she said. “No matter where I went she was right by my side. I thought maybe she needed something so I knelt down and asked her if she needed some help. She replied, ‘Nope, I’m just waitin’ for your wig to fly off so I can go get it for you.’  I thanked her for being so helpful, and told her she could go play and I would let her know if I needed her.”

Hall also has enjoyed her co-workers.

“The teacher who was my long-term sub seven years ago was Amy Barnes and she is now my half time co-worker,” she said. “It has been a joy working with Amy and she will be replacing me after this year.

“I have been very blessed through the years to have wonderful co-workers.”
She said the staff all supports each other.

There have been a number of changes at Grandview since Hall has been there as well.

“I was thrilled when we got air conditioning,” she said.

She also saw the use of computers and technology take hold in classrooms, like the other retirees this year.

“What kids learn now is so much more advanced than 28 years ago,” she said.

“Teaching is a wonderful profession. This has been my family and home for 28 years.”

After she retires, Hall plans to spend more time with her new grandson and possibly work in a paraprofessional situation.

“I knew in my heart it was time,” she said. “I’ve loved teaching at Grandview.”