Aurora Whiting, a special education teaching assistant in our high school, retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year and was kind enough to reflect on her time here in Avon. 

Here’s what she had to say! 

Q: When were you first hired at Avon? 

A: August 2015.

Q: Why did you decide to apply and take a job here?

A: It was close to home and not a big school district.

Q: Has your role changed since you were first hired?

A: I started in the middle school, then gradually ended up in the high school. 

Q: What has changed during your time here?

A: Cell phones are everywhere! Lack of conversations!

Q: What’s stayed the same?

A: The greatest teachers. The greatest students.

Q: What do you view as some of your chief accomplishments?

A: Coming from an elementary background, working in the middle school, then working in the high school. Each grade level is unique and challenging on its own. Being able to transition through all the grades.

Q: Do you have any regrets?

A: My only regret is that I didn't come to Avon sooner!

Q: What will you take away from your time here? 

A: I have made great friends, many great memories, which include the good, the bad and the ugly - LOL! The greatest thing I learned is that sometimes it’s OK not to be OK (here’s where my friends come in).

Q: What advice would you give to a first-year teaching assistant? 

A: Everything takes time and practice. Tomorrow is a new day. Go find a great lunch buddy!

Q: What advice would you give to graduating seniors who will soon be tasked with making key decisions about what career they want to pursue?

A: There are those that know exactly what they want to do since kindergarten - go for it! There are those that are not sure, then just start. The road you travel is what you make it. Remember to look around, take in the sights. There will be all sorts of decisions to make along the way, so take those rest stops and reflect. You’ll get there!

Q: Do you have a message to your colleagues who are NOT retiring this year? 

A: For those who are not retiring this year, there are three categories of those waiting to retire. 

• The young: Many more decades until retirement. Hang in there, make the most of it. Go on vacations to experience what retirement will feel like... someday!

• The almost there: Handful of years until retirement. You can do this, start making your retirement vision board (befriend a retiree to help). Make sure to hang it up so you can see it, so everyone can see it!

• The I-can-smell-retirement: Retiring next year. Too late for a retirement vision board now, just get a countdown calendar and feel like a high school senior. Give a new meaning to senioritis!