For John Boles, Cris Rector, and Stacey Beavin, the halls of Salem Community High School have been more than just a workplace. They’ve been a second home, a proving ground, a place where lessons go beyond the textbooks.

After decades of dedication, these three educators are saying goodbye—not just to their offices and classrooms, but to the thousands of students whose lives they’ve touched.

And while their time in education may be coming to a close, the echoes of their work will linger in every fist bump in the hallway, every student who found their calling, and every moment where a tough conversation turned into a breakthrough.

More Than a Career—A Calling

For Cris Rector, who has worked with students needing extra support, the moments of impact weren’t always loud or obvious. They were in the quiet exchanges, the small victories, the way students would light up when they finally grasped something they struggled with.

"There are days that can be really rough," she admits, "but all in all, the students show their love. They want hugs, they want to come up to my desk just to tell me things. You can tell that they really care."

And she’s cared just as much in return.

For Stacey Beavin, who has helped students launch careers, discover passions, and push beyond what they thought possible, the realization of her impact came years after the fact.

"It’s funny how often you don’t even realize the difference you’re making in the moment," she says. "Then years later, a student will come up to you and say, ‘You were my favorite teacher,’ and you think—really? I thought you couldn’t stand me!"

Sometimes, it was the students who gave teachers a hard time that ended up appreciating them the most.

"I had a student who got in trouble in another class and ended up in my homeroom," Stacey recalls. "One day, he called a teacher ‘toots’ and got in big trouble for it. Then, of course, he started calling me that every day. I had to tell my freshmen the next year—‘That was a special nickname for one student. You don’t get to call me that!’"

That student was the first in his family to graduate from high school! That kind of bond that encourages and inspires, built over years, is what she’ll miss the most.

The Heart of a Leader

For John Boles, leading a school wasn’t about policy or discipline—it was about people.

"It was instilled in me a long time ago that you do whatever you can to make a young person’s day a little brighter," he says. "You have no idea what grizzly bears in life they’re facing outside of school. If we can chase one of those away—even just for a little while—that’s worth everything."

It’s that philosophy of presence and care that has made him beloved by students—not just as a principal, but as a person.

"I never thought of this as just a school," John adds. "I thought of this as a place where I was lucky enough to work with incredible people. I’ve been blessed."

The Weight of Leaving

Retirement is exciting, but it also comes with the weight of saying goodbye.

For John, the hardest part will be not standing in the hallway every morning, seeing the students and getting those little interactions that have meant so much.

"I saw you in the hall this morning," I say to John. "I saw how you interacted, how much they respect you, and I thought—man, what a special thing this is." On my drive back home, I wondered to myself, how many terabytes of these special memories John must have archived in his mind, and just what a fortunate thing that is; what a trio this is, to have been able to be a part of so many young peoples’ lives. John was right, I thought, ‘blessed’ is the word.

For Stacey, it will be the daily connections, the problem-solving, and the simple joy of seeing students thrive.

And for Cris? The hugs. The students who come up just to talk, to share their world with her.

What Comes Next?

When asked about their retirement plans, their answers range from traveling to spending more time with family to maybe getting a little too familiar with Menards' aisles.

"My boys joke that I’m going to get myself a blue vest and start working at Menards," John laughs.

"I hope to spend some time traveling, and, of course, just spending more time with friends and family. My parents are getting older, and I’m sure I’ll be spending more time with them," Cris says.

Stacey sensibly offers, “I think I’ll just take a few months and do nothing first. Then we’ll see." “Not that it matters, but I’m our County Fair Pageant Director, which gives me the chance to work with young women, helping them in leadership positions, you know. So, for me, that’s a good fit!”

But whether they’re in a classroom, a hardware store, a cruise ship, a pageant stage, or somewhere in between, their impact is already written—in the lives they’ve shaped, the lessons they’ve taught, and the legacy they leave behind.

And if Salem Community High School has been lucky to have them, well—they’d be the first to say they were the lucky ones.