After 13 years of teaching, English teacher Gretchen Beckhorn planned to leave. The decision has been hard to make, but Beckhorn thought she could move on to her other interests.

Before teaching high school students, Beckhorn used to work as English as Second Language (ESL) teacher for adult immigrants who have more of an immediate need of English for better work and improving lives. She planned to spend only two or three years here, she stayed for a decade more and could not imagine how much she would miss the school. “It’s odd to see my students’ wedding pictures,” Beckhorn said, “That’s how long I have been here.”

“One thing I love the most about Masters is the creative freedom that teachers have,” Beckhorn said. This allows her to choose certain books for her students and teach set of skills according to their abilities.

As an ESL teacher, she understands and acknowledges every achievement by the international students. She has two classes with many first year international students, which contributes to building a strong relationship. Beckhorn said, “International students are very different. I feel like I have a more important role in International students than day students.” Every year she starts school with some students complaining about being placed in ESL, but she always see them grow up mastering English and getting more mature throughout the years.

Beckhorn said, “Leaving the kids behind would be the hardest thing of all.” As much as she wants to know the route that her students take, every year she would lose some connections.

In the long thirteen years that now seems like a flash to her, Beckhorn said she found many amazing people to be around with.

After leaving, Beckhorn plans to get back at teaching adults and get reconnected with her former students. She said, “I’d love to keep in touch, to know what my students are doing in and after college.”

“I have never kept a job that long. This place feels like home,” she paused for a second and then added, “We’re all graduating”