Moving on Gibney gets ready for new a challenge
Ann Gibney, who is retiring at the end of the school year after more than 30 years at Central as a faculty member, is the new Elkader Chamber Coordinator.
By Pam Reinig
Register Editor
Ann Gibney is ready to finish one chapter and begin another.
A teacher for more than three decades, Anny will retire at the end of the school year. And soon after she says her final good-byes, she’ll start a new job as Elkader Chamber Coordinator.
The decision to pursue the Chamber position came several weeks after Ann announced her retirement.
“I saw the advertisement in the paper and I thought ‘I can do that,’” Ann said. “I love Elkader, and I know I’m going to enjoy promoting it. People may not realize that without the school and a strong business community, we wouldn’t have such a vibrant community. I’m excited for the opportunity to share that message with everyone.”
When Ann retires from Central, she’ll not only be leaving her only place of employment behind she’ll also be leaving a place that’s been her home-away-from-home since she was a child. An Elkader native, Ann attended Central from kindergarten through high school. She took a four-year break from the place while earning her education degree at Mount Mercy University (then Mount Mercy College). Her tenure at Central has been spent teaching every elementary grade, except fourth. Most recently, she has been an instruction coach working with Central teachers to make them better educators.
“I’ve seen many changes since I started as a student,” Ann said, “Kindergarten was held in the education wing at Peace Church. As third graders, we attended classes in a building across from the St. Joseph rectory. Fourth grade was in a portable classroom, and sixth through eighth was in Volga.”
Central has also been a second home for Ann and Dave’s four children. Their daughters, May Ann, Janelle and Renee, are Central graduates. Their son Aaron is a junior.
Ann’s career in education was inspired by her fourth grade teacher, Anna Mae Cheeseman, who taught at Central for 30 years. “She was fun and creative, and she told me I was her favorite student,” Ann said. “Of course, she said that to everyone student she had but she did make us all feel special.”
Ann’s not sure when she’ll officially begin her Chamber duties. She is under contract with Central until the school year ends. She anticipates she’ll jump into her new job right soon after Central staff wraps up their final day.
“I have a lot of ideas and I can’t wait to get started,” she said with characteristic enthusiasm.
The Chamber board can’t wait for her to get started, either.
“We are very excited to welcome Ann as Chamber Coordinator,” said Curtis Ruhser who was part of the selection team. “Ann knows the community and she’s excited to work with the Chamber Board to promote it.”
Ann succeeds Christa Fosse who recently left for another opportunity.
