After a total of 26 years of service, the School District of Waukesha, along with Waukesha West, is saying goodbye to Linda Monson. She taught both Chemistry and Biology at West for a total of five years, although her roots started elsewhere.

            “Central Middle School offered me a full time middle school science position in 1985,” Monson said. “I began here in Waukesha because…my twin sons were in kindergarten at Rose Glen.”

            Although she had hoped to get a high school teaching position right away, she found that she fell in love with the middle school atmosphere. When it came to West, she noticed an immediate difference.

            “You immediately notice the maturity level, and I loved that change. You can just engage kids in ways that are completely different,” Monson explained.

            The change in both grade levels and curriculum was something that took some time to get used to, although Monson was up for the task of becoming a bit of a student. In order to start her first year out strongly, she turned to other teachers in the science wing for help. Sitting in classes, asking questions, and accepting the advice of veteran West teachers was key to making the first year successful.

            “I realized that I couldn’t be afraid to ask for help, and I couldn't be afraid to accept it either,” she said.

 All of her hard work paid off, which was the reason why her first year is one of her favorite memories at West. James Krippendorf, senior, was in Monson’s first Biology class at West, and benefitted from her hard prep work.

            “She was really enthusiastic about teaching, and you could tell that she really wanted her students to do well,” he said.

            Now that she is retiring, however, West will be losing not only a great and hard working teacher, but so much more. Listed under her current position are titles such as “administrator”, “aide”, and even “custodian”. Perhaps what will be most missed, however, will be the cheerful and caring person that genuinely cares for the student population at West. As someone who personally has experienced Monson’s friendship for multiple years, the way in which she gets to know students on a very personal level is both refreshing and appreciated as students spend their time at West.

            As much as Monson enjoyed teaching, she said that it was her time to go.

            “[Teaching] has been an exhausting pleasure,” she said. “Keeping up with the workload in and out of the classroom isn’t getting any easier. I am extremely grateful for this retirement.”

            To spend her newfound time, Monson plans on traveling, as well as taking trips to Upper Michigan in order to spend time with her first grandson. Also, she said, she would like to use the time to get more fit, as well as catch up on her reading and horseback riding.

            In a year where there are many memorable teachers retiring, Monson’s legacy won’t be outshined by others. While her time here was short compared to other veterans who had opened the school, her impact was still extensive. The halls at West will feel a little more empty without Monson to inquire a student about how their day was, or to make a joke to make a students’ day go by just a little faster. She will most certainly be missed.