The effect of their departure is expected to impact every Abilene public school, educators say. It will be tough. Abilene High junior Julianne Batts said experienced teachers know how to handle students and deliver knowledge in a way that's easy to digest. They are often more stern than younger teachers, but they also care about their young charges. Some students have expressed a feeling of abandonment by the departure of longtime teachers, said Abilene High principal Royce Curtis.
Different students relate to different people.
Lane's departure is creating a gap at Madison, where she spent her entire career teaching. When she started, a couple of veteran teachers mentored her. They told her what excuses to expect from students who didn't do their homework, and from parents whose children didn't make it to school. Teachers can loosen up when they get to know the students better, Lane said. Cooper High School teacher Melinda Graves was given that advice when she started teaching seven years ago.