Veteran Cosgriff teachers retire

Intermountain Catholic

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Linda Paoletti (center) and Nedda Oswald visit with a student during their retirement party on May 30 in the J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School library. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — At one point in her career, Linda Paoletti remembers, she asked for an electric typewriter to help her maintain the school library's card catalog. Nedda Oswald has taught art under four principals, each of whom brought unique talents to the job. Now the two veteran educators, who have been at J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School for 30 years and 15 years, respectively, are retiring.

A constant stream of parents, students and former students offering farewells and well-wishes filled the school library during the going-away party for Paoletti and Oswald. Each teacher was given a framed photograph of herself with students; guests wrote on the frames. Among the comments were: "The library will never be the same. We will miss you more than you know" and "Thank you for all of your time and for sharing your love of art."

Paoletti has been a model of commitment and pride in her work, said Betsy Hunt, Cosgriff's principal. "Mrs. Paoletti has kept her library like her castle. It's been a place of refuge for students, for teachers.... Whenever I come into the library I notice that parents are volunteering. They want to work with her, they want to work for her, they feel that this is a place where they are needed and she makes them also feel very welcome to work in the library."

With the students, Paoletti is "magical," Hunt said. "She always has something they can hardly wait to hear about or read."

Ellen Peifer, who graduated from Cosgriff in 2001, returned for the farewell party. The library was "an oasis against elementary and middle school drama," she said. "I was in here all the time. [Paoletti] was wonderful."

The courses at Cosgriff are structured so that every class regularly visits the library, where Paoletti teaches for about 20 minutes, then the children are free to check out books. "I read to them as often as I can, more to the little ones than the older ones because then we have to get into research and media literacy and all that, but I still read to every grade," said Paoletti, who holds a degree in English education and a school library certificate. "A new book will come in and I'll pass it around ... and ask if they want me to read a chapter."

Of her 30 years of memories, what she will remember the most is "just the kids," she said. "They're so funny. ... They're honest. They say what they're thinking. They make me laugh."

She also will miss the other faculty members and the parents, she said. "This is just like a second home. It's like a family. It is a family because I'm teaching the grandkids of my friends now. I taught their kids when my kids were in school and now I'm teaching their grandkids. I's fun to see people and say, ?I know who you are.'"

Oswald "is a true artist," Hunt said, adding that when she creates something to use as a demonstration, "it is so perfect and true to form that the students say ?Mrs. Oswald, did you really do that? Did you draw that? Did you paint that?' ... She seems to bring out and develop true talent with our students. If they have an artistic side to them, she finds it; she finds it every time."

Barbara Schmiett, a parent, said Oswald reinforced and heightened her children's interest in art. "She's inspired them and made it fun. I have this great collection of clay thumb pots that I will cherish forever."

In addition, Oswald worked with Schmiett and other parents on art projects for the school fundraisers. "She's been a great help ... in helping bring it together," Schmiett said.

Oswald started her teaching career in Idaho, where she taught high school. After moving to Utah, she taught 7th and 8th grades at Saint Olaf School for a few years, then transferred to Cosgriff, where she has taught art to grades 1-8.

"The younger kids come with no preconceived notions, their little heads are just an open book," said Oswald, who has a degree in art education. "It's been really fun because then I can keep rolling with it each year, adding on and building up their skills and understanding and interest in the arts."

She has too many memories to chose a favorite, she said, although she has appreciated "the sense of community that this school has always had. The way the parents pitch in at this school is awesome."

In retirement, neglected hobbies await. Paoletti plans to take an art class, go back to playing the piano and volunteer. Oswald aims to concentrate on her art, but also intends to teach some community classes, and both women want to spend more time with their grandchildren, they said.