As the school year comes to a close and students are excited for summer break, Marleen Ehrlich-Johnson has an extra special reason to celebrate: she’s retiring! After 32 years in the Washington Island School District, and 37 years in education altogether, Ehrlich-Johnson is closing the book on teaching, but not on learning.

Ehrlich-Johnson has spent the last several years teaching 3rd and 4th grade English and Language Arts. Prior, she devoted 20 years within one classroom covering all subjects for other grades on Washington Island. Before moving to Door County, she taught in Fredonia, Wisconsin and at Edwards Airforce Base in California. Deciding to become an educator was an easy decision for her and as it turned out, it blossomed into a lifelong career.

“My mother was a teacher and she would sit and read with us and show us ways to solve problems to get our homework done and teach us strategies to figure it out,” said Ehrlich-Johnson, “I just fell in love with that and always wanted to help kids figure out how they learn best.”

Retirement will provide a change of pace for Ehrlich-Johnson, who says she will now take the time to enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, but of course, she will still miss the classroom. She joked with students about missing her globe, snapping a photo with it as a keepsake. But most of all, she will miss seeing students gain confidence through learning and opportunities like performing in plays and musicals. 

“There’s so many wonderful memories,” she added, “getting to know them and just becoming part of their lives, it’s like getting them to realize, ‘I got this,’ and seeing them grow.”

A celebration party was held on Friday, May 30th at Nelson’s Hall on Washington Island to honor and thank Ehrlich-Johnson for her dedication to education and to wish her a happy retirement. 

Photo courtesy of Marleen Ehrlich-Johnson