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Continued from page 6 Throughout the school year, Childers snaps photos of her students doing different activities at school — grandparents’ day, working on the computer, completing a special assignment. She gives the books to her students at the end of the school year, requesting they bring them back in the fourth grade for a lunch date. “I told these kids, when you get to fourth grade, you come have lunch with Mrs. Cohen,” Childers says. “Next year I think I might come back to school and have lunch with the fourth-graders.” Cohen said she “absolutely” plans to continue Childers’ traditions of hugs, memory books and lunches with the fourth-graders. “I’ve learned so much from her. She’s fi gured out what works and what doesn’t,” Cohen says. “She’s done it for 23 years, why change it?” Childers’ retirement Twenty-three years is a long time to spend in a kindergarten classroom. And 21 years is a long time to be in room 204 in Espy Elementary School. “Kindergarten is crazy but perfect because you can sing and they don’t know or care if you’re any good,” Childers says laughing. “Your art — no matter how bad it is, they always think it’s good.” Childers started as a kindergarten teacher in 1994 at Thomas. Two years later, she moved to the kindergarten classroom — No. 204 — at Espy Elementary, and she never left. “It’s going to be different for me, but it’s going to be great because Dalton is here,” Childers says. “I’ve taught by Ms. Nichols for 18 years. They’re going to have a good team next year. This is coming home for Dalton.” Cohen’s home Cohen spent her elementary years in Espy, spending the 2000-01 school year as a kindergartner with Childers. The school, she says, feels like home. Plus, her mom, Shannon Stewart, is the art teacher in the building. “I’m super excited to see her in her element. She was born to do this,” Stewart says about her 500325s Continued on page 10 Now Smoke-Free! N. L. A. Cafe “The Best Breakfast in Town” 500330b • Home cooked meals • Specials every day • Homemade pies • Take-out orders 417-725-3510 533 W. Tracker Road, Nixa, MO at Elite Storage Summer 2017 THE NEST NIXA PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAGAZINE 9


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