After 45 Years In Same Classroom, Teacher Bids Farewell

(CBS) -- After 45 years in the same classroom, a southwest suburban Catholic school teacher has retired.

"We will miss Miss Crowley," says an unprompted 2nd grader standing in line to head to the St. Damian School end-of-the-year prayer service.

66-year old Rose Ann Crowley has taught at the Catholic school in southwest suburban Oak Forest for 45 years.

All of those were in the same classroom, Room 107.

But, Crowley says it's time for her to go. She goes, though, with "mixed feelings. I'm going to miss the kids and my co-workers but it's also time to move on to something a little more relaxing."

Crowley was hired at St. Damian on Labor Day 1971. She says there was a glut of teachers 45 years ago and that made it tough to find a job. She was hired two days before classes started.

St. Damian pastor, Fr. Joe Noonan, praises Crowley for being a model and mentor for younger teachers.

"Possibly the biggest compliment you can give is those who have graduated often ask about different teachers and her name is always among the first names asked about," he says.

Crowley says "I've had kids come back doctors, nurses, lawyers, Hollywood agents. It's amazing to see them come back." She says she remembers most of her students—after they tell her their names. Their looks have changed too much from 2nd grade for her to remember them when they become adults.

44-year old Jennifer Skurzewski thinks it's "cool" both she and her daughter were taught by Rose Ann Crowley.

"I remember she was really nice. I loved school so. And then, she was a good teacher. She was fun. She was real fair," Skurzewski says.

Lori Ward, the administrative assistant at the school, says her four children attended St. Damian and the only time she requested they be placed in a particular class was when they were going into 2nd grade. "That was the only teacher, Rose Ann Crowley, that I wanted my children to have," says Ward.

Ward says that, during recess, when most teachers everywhere take a break and kids run around blowing off steam, Crowley would be out there playing with them.

Crowley says she's seen teachers, principals and pastors come and go, "and I'm still here," she says. She says she "had no idea it would be this kind of a ride."

After taking time off for the summer, Crowley says she intends to get active again, likely volunteering.

Fr. Noonan says he suspects he's not seen the last of Rose Ann Crowley in the school. He believes she'll come back now and again to help out.

Another longtime teacher at St. Damian, Ann Marie Eagan, says "I've worked with her for 40 years and she's one of the best."