NEW MEADOWS, Idaho — Many Idaho teachers are retiring this year after decades of teaching and many of them say it can be bittersweet.
Just ask Meadows Valley School music teacher Jeff Parnett. He is retiring this year after over forty years of teaching music and band.
"41 years. I have mixed emotions, I do need leave, but I'll miss the kids," Parnett said.
Parnett had quite the surprise at his final concert this month. Something happened that he said he won't soon forget.
One of his former students and now a fellow Meadows Valley School teacher, Terri Smith, put an incredible surprise together. She gathered over fifty of his former students together to celebrate his retirement.
"We kept Jeff preoccupied trying to get the concert started, as we tiptoed through the cafeteria," Smith said. "When we were given the signal, we went in the auditorium."
They all filed in through the auditorium doors playing kazoos! Parnett said he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Fifty of my former students walked through the door. I tried to hold my emotions back, but by then it was too much. It left me speechless," Parnett said.
He hugged each and every one of the students and said it was hard to hold back the tears.
"It was amazing," he said. "I talk a lot in class, I love to tell stories to the kids, but this left me speechless. Everyone was really happy about that," said Parnett with a smile. "It meant a lot; you don't know if you affect lives when you teach. I guess I do."
Mr. Parnett will be missed, but what a legacy he leaves at Meadows Valley School. He has a message for his community there.
"Carry on, life goes on," Parnett said. "Keep doing it. We have someone to take over the program next year, so music will continue on in New Meadows, and that makes me very, very happy. So, just carry on and do your best."
Parnett may be retiring from teaching, but he won't be retiring from playing music. He told us he is also in a local band. He says he will spend the summer playing gigs, and doing the things other retired people do.
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