Glenbow Elementary School is saying farewell to three retiring teachers.

Dianne Brooks, Julie Stover, and Karen Edwards have a combined 102 years teaching experience, and will conclude their careers at the end of the month.

Ms. Brooks teaches Grade 1 and has been at Glenbow for 14 of the 31 years she has taught, she says education has changed vastly over time.

"I believe in 31 years I have learned something new every single year of my career," she says. "It is a profession where you are constantly evolving."

She explains the way Glenbow School teaches students will be something she'll never forget.

"What's been most memorable is the character education piece that has been here. There has been lots of work with virtues and character education, a safe, and caring focus. What I love about that it just makes good people out of the children."

Brooks adds she's proud of her career, and excited to see what else the world holds for her.

Ms. Stover teaches Grade 1 as well, she has taught in Alberta for 35 years, and 3 in Ontario.

She says the thing she'll miss most at Glenbow is the people.

"I think the kids, and the people in the building," she says. "The collaboration between colleagues. I've learned so much, even from our young people."

Stover believes over her career technology has been the biggest game changer is the classroom, as cellphones and internet were not around when she started.

Teaching has been rewarding for Stover, she adds retiring is a big change in her life.

"I'm going to miss the people in the building particularly, and how to stay connected, I get to spend more time with grandkids, but I'm little apprehensive too, it's finding a new normal."

Ms. Edwards has been teaching for 36 years, 33 of which have been at Glenbow, she says the landscape of the classroom is very different now than it was before.

"Students work together now, and they sit in pods," she explains. "When I first started teaching they were in rows, you didn't speak to each other as much. In interview situations the teacher would tell the parent, and now the child is part of it."

One of her most memorable moments at Glenbow Elementary School happened just this week, at the Brett Binder Walk and Run.

"He was a former student who passed away from Cancer at 19, who loved to do the walk and run, so we renamed that seven years ago. This week, on Monday his father came for the first time ever and talked to us about trying your hardest, not having to be the best, but just trying."

Edwards shares how exciting it has been to be an integral part in a child's education.

"It is one of the most challenging and tiring grades there is, but its also the most rewarding. We're teaching the kids how to read, how to learn, it's just really exciting to see them come in and have them not be able to read, and at the end of the year they're reading and just loving learning."

She adds that not getting up for school in September will be a shock for her, but she's ready to see another part of life.

All three of these seasoned teachers have taught former students' children, and will leave a positive mark on Cochrane after educating so many members of the community.