Beloved Art Teacher Saying Goodbye After 17 Years
Laurie Kirk to become teacher of teachers after time in the classroom comes to an end.
By Sydney Teves
Laurie Kirk to become teacher of teachers after time in the classroom comes to an end.
By Sydney Teves
After 17 years of working at Pioneer, and 33 years of teaching in total, art teacher Laurie Kirk is leaving Pioneer to begin the next part of her career.
As a way to unwind and take a step back, Kirk is going to become a Consulting Teacher for San José Unified School District and will support and help new teachers in their first few years. Annie Tobin, the current sculpture teacher, will be taking over Kirk’s spot and her own spot will be filled by a new teacher.
“I'm close to retiring, so a few more years and I'll be done all together so I thought it would be a nice capstone to my career to become more of a teacher of teachers and then move into that as a transition,” said Kirk.
Emily Goguen, 11, has been in Kirk’s class for two years and plans to return next year. They were especially happy when she found out that Kirk remembered them from the online year and from the lessons Kirk taught her about trusting the process and about how artwork helps to express emotions.
“I’ve had a lot of teachers who had a big impact on me and left, but I know that they are doing better and so will Kirk,” said Goguen.
Tobin, who has been at Pioneer for 10 years, has worked with Kirk for each of those years and is sad for Kirk’s departure, but with their close friendship outside of school, they will still get to see each other.
“I'm really super happy for her to be making the move because I think she deserves it and I think it's a good way for her to kind of break up things a little bit to try something new,” said Tobin.
Since Tobin taught art at Gilroy High School before they came to Pioneer, she felt it was a perfect fit for her since they missed drawing and painting.
“I am so excited because Tobin has 17 years of teaching draw, paint and design under her belt. She's been doing it a long time so it's a really wonderful transition to have her come in and just keep the program going, so I'm really delighted,” said Kirk.
Another student who has been in Kirk’s class for two years is junior Madilynn-Grace Reis. Although she is sad to continue her art journey next year without Kirk, she is happy that Kirk is doing what is best for herself.
“She's helped me get my grades up in other classes and I really appreciate that. It’s sad but I think it's a good opportunity for her and she seems like she's really happy about it,” said Reis.
Even though she sees the departure as a perfect way to transition into her retirement, Kirk also sees it as a bittersweet ending.
“It's been a beautiful place to work at and when I started here, I kept pinching myself at how lucky I was, at how amazing our students are,” said Kirk. “Pioneer Mustangs are unique. They're generally respectful and kind, and I will miss that, but I'm ready for a new challenge. I feel like I need to just challenge myself in a different way.”
As Kirk’s time in the classroom comes to an end, Tobin will miss her colleague who grew to be a close friend over the last 10 years.
“Change is scary, but she's strong and courageous and I know that she's going to excel no matter what she's doing,” said Tobin. “I think the essence of Laurie Kirk is just irreplaceable. I don't know what it will be like, it's going to be just a little less colorful without her.”
As a way to unwind and take a step back, Kirk is going to become a Consulting Teacher for San José Unified School District and will support and help new teachers in their first few years. Annie Tobin, the current sculpture teacher, will be taking over Kirk’s spot and her own spot will be filled by a new teacher.
“I'm close to retiring, so a few more years and I'll be done all together so I thought it would be a nice capstone to my career to become more of a teacher of teachers and then move into that as a transition,” said Kirk.
Emily Goguen, 11, has been in Kirk’s class for two years and plans to return next year. They were especially happy when she found out that Kirk remembered them from the online year and from the lessons Kirk taught her about trusting the process and about how artwork helps to express emotions.
“I’ve had a lot of teachers who had a big impact on me and left, but I know that they are doing better and so will Kirk,” said Goguen.
Tobin, who has been at Pioneer for 10 years, has worked with Kirk for each of those years and is sad for Kirk’s departure, but with their close friendship outside of school, they will still get to see each other.
“I'm really super happy for her to be making the move because I think she deserves it and I think it's a good way for her to kind of break up things a little bit to try something new,” said Tobin.
Since Tobin taught art at Gilroy High School before they came to Pioneer, she felt it was a perfect fit for her since they missed drawing and painting.
“I am so excited because Tobin has 17 years of teaching draw, paint and design under her belt. She's been doing it a long time so it's a really wonderful transition to have her come in and just keep the program going, so I'm really delighted,” said Kirk.
Another student who has been in Kirk’s class for two years is junior Madilynn-Grace Reis. Although she is sad to continue her art journey next year without Kirk, she is happy that Kirk is doing what is best for herself.
“She's helped me get my grades up in other classes and I really appreciate that. It’s sad but I think it's a good opportunity for her and she seems like she's really happy about it,” said Reis.
Even though she sees the departure as a perfect way to transition into her retirement, Kirk also sees it as a bittersweet ending.
“It's been a beautiful place to work at and when I started here, I kept pinching myself at how lucky I was, at how amazing our students are,” said Kirk. “Pioneer Mustangs are unique. They're generally respectful and kind, and I will miss that, but I'm ready for a new challenge. I feel like I need to just challenge myself in a different way.”
As Kirk’s time in the classroom comes to an end, Tobin will miss her colleague who grew to be a close friend over the last 10 years.
“Change is scary, but she's strong and courageous and I know that she's going to excel no matter what she's doing,” said Tobin. “I think the essence of Laurie Kirk is just irreplaceable. I don't know what it will be like, it's going to be just a little less colorful without her.”