North Dakota United honors retiring members for their service to students and public
By Kelly Hagen
NDU Communications
As the school year winds down, students across the state are finishing up one grade level and progressing on to the next steps in their lives. This same sentiment rings true for teachers and school support staff, as well as university professors and staff members. Most are moving on to the next year of their professional careers. Some are moving on to the next step of their lives in retirement.
“North Dakota United salutes all of our members who are retiring,” said Nick Archuleta, President of North Dakota United. “Your combined service to thousands of students statewide, across the many years you’ve spent in the classroom, have literally changed the course of history. You have changed lives for the better. You have positively impacted thousands of lives. You have protected and cared for our state’s most valuable resource: our young people. The future is bright because of what you have done and we cannot thank you enough.”
Retirement socials were held across the state by our largest education local associations. The Fargo Education Association honored 24 retirees at a social held at the Baymont Inn & Suites on April 12. Combined, their teachers had given 480 total years of service to education. West Fargo Education Association celebrated 14 retiring teachers with a social at Liberty Middle School on May 17. Williston Education Association toasted their retiring members at a social held at Lucy Lu’s on May 5. And Bismarck Education Association held a social at Legacy High School on May 17, in honor of their retiring members.
WFEA surveyed their retiring members about their thoughts about their union, why they joined and why it was important to them to be part of a strong professional association. You can read the responses they received back from their members by clicking here. One quote that stood out was this one: “Without WFEA, I don’t think we could have made the gains in salary that we have over the years. Looking back at 1997, I was making $25,000 a year. With a family to raise, this was insufficient. Over the next 5–7 years, however, WFEA negotiated what I would consider living wages for the hard-working professionals in our district. I would have never thought I would retire at the salary I’m at (masters + 30). Thank you, WFEA!”
In addition, NDU would like to share a note of appreciation to Bill Klimpel and Stephen Hayton from Minot State University. Both are retiring this year, and they both served on the Board of Directors for NDU and our predecessor, North Dakota Public Employees Association. Check out this link to read about the MSU Employee Recognition and Retirement Event, at which our members were celebrated.
Congratulations to every public educator and public employee who is entering into retirement. You’ve earned the appreciation and accolades from every student and every citizen of our great state!
(To view more photos from retirement socials held in West Fargo, Williston and Bismarck, visit our Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ndunited .)
