The end of every year brings the retirement of teachers from the district, which is undeniably bittersweet. This year Brenda Chokey will be retiring from Bloomington South. 

Chokey has been working as a special education aide for the past seven years and has been in the school system for 14 years. She started working here as an aide for a student with a disability who she had worked with since middle school, and after he graduated, she continued working at South. 

When asked what she thought about South she said, “I love it, I love it. I love the staff. I love the students. They’re so outgoing and friendly.” When asked what she would miss most about working here she said “The kids, the students, oh and the other staff members. It’s a fun place to work.” 

While it is sad that she is leaving us it’s also exciting to see where she’ll go now. According to her, she plans to spend her time traveling the world. Before leaving, however, she gave words of advice for students who want to become teachers or school staff. “Be patient,” she counsels, “you do need a lot of patience.”

According to her friend and fellow employee Rick Sipes who has been working with Chokey since before they worked in any school system, “It’s been a real pleasure to work with her.”