Blochlinger closes book on teaching career
Anne Blochlinger is in her 33rd year of teaching in the East Holmes Local School District. She teaches fourth grade at Mt. Hope Elementary and is retiring at the end of this school year.
After 33 years of shaping young minds, Anne Blochlinger is closing her final chapter as a fourth grade teacher at Mt. Hope Elementary School.
Blochlinger is retiring at the end of this school year, having dedicated her entire career to the East Holmes Local School District. A Hiland High School and Goshen College graduate, she began teaching in the district soon after completing her education — and never left.
“I am retiring this year, so this will be the first year in 50 years that I will not be going back to school,” Blochlinger said.
Her passion for teaching was inspired early on by her father James Mast, who was a teacher and later principal of Berlin Elementary School.
“He had a huge influence on me as I began my career,” she said.
Throughout her decades in the classroom, Blochlinger said one of the most rewarding surprises was how close she grew to each group of students.
“I never dreamed that every year my classes would become like family,” she said. “When you spend 180 days together, it is hard to pass them onto the next grade.”
Field trips provided many memorable moments including one unexpected encounter at The Farm at Walnut Creek.
“While on the wagon ride feeding the llamas, a llama pulled off one of my first-grader’s mittens,” she said. “The llama walked away chewing on a striped mitten.”
Blochlinger said the most challenging part of teaching has been meeting the academic needs of each student, but helping them grow has been the most rewarding.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, camping and boating — pursuits she’ll now have more time to enjoy in retirement.
“Teacher Spotlight” is a feature on a local teacher.