Ann Eklund retires after 39 years
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

JANNHENDRY/Acorn Newspapers JOB WELL DONE- Ann Eklund, left, gets a farewell hug from District Superintendent Dr. Sandra Smyster as she prepares to retire after 39 years in education.

When Ann Eklund, director of elementary education for the Las Virgenes Unified School District, launched her career in 1969, the district was growing so fast that elementary school students shifted from school to school as if playing musical chairs.

Fast forward 39 years later, and Eklund is ready to retire from a district that she helped shape and in return shaped her career, goals and life.

"Mrs. Eklund is a thoughtful, careful and insightful leader," said Sandra Smyser, district superintendent. "We have benefitted so much from her work and her care in each area that she has supervised."

After a one-year stint as a teacher in Bakersfield, Eklund accepted a job as a kindergarten teacher at Yerba Buena Elementary School in Agoura- the city didn't incorporate into Agoura Hills until 1982. Eklund moved to Lupin Hill Elementary in Calabasas as a third grade teacher, but was actually working as a teacher for a new school under construction- Sumac Elementary School in Agoura.

"The area was growing so much that they had portables at Lupin Hill," said Eklund, who lives in Thousand Oaks with her husband Chuck Eklund, the former director of secondary education for the Conejo Valley Unified School District .

At one point, half of the Yerba Buena students were assigned to the yet-to-be-built Sumac, so they were housed at Lupin. The school was so crowded that double sessions were conducted- Sumac school hours were from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Eklund said. Students were housed in portables for four years during the Sumac construction. To add to the chaos and confusion, Sumac was called Willow, but reverted back to Sumac once Willow Elementary School was under construction.

Celebrating holidays such as Halloween during double sessions was fun, but a bit scary, Eklund said. When the clocks rolled back in the fall, Eklund would usher children onto the bus as it was getting dark. The "Halloween" bus filled with costumed children was a bit surreal to Eklund, but the children had a blast.

Eklund eventually went back to teach at Yerba Buena, but she first was hired as the coordinator of a nutrition project while she was earning her administrative credential. During the 1982-83 school year, Eklund taught a split third- and fourth-grade class at White Oak Elementary in Westlake Village, and was also the teacher-in-charge at the school. The following year, she was hired as principal of the new Sumac school. Four years later she was back at Yerba Buena as principal.

Eklund moved to the Simi Valley Unified School District for 13 years, serving as principal at four schools, and working at Simi's district office.

In 2002 Eklund headed home to Las Virgenes where she accepted her current position, director of elementary education.

During her stint Eklund has been the administrator reponsible for extended day kindergarten classes, consistent elementary school report cards, summer school for kindergarten students, the dynamic Step Up To Writing program, and was even behind the district's popular outdoor education program.

"I couldn't have asked for a better life, or better profession," Eklund said.

"Ann Eklund has worked with diligence and dedication to create an incredible elementary education leadership team," said Terilyn Finders, school board president for Las Virgenes Unified School District.

Following her husband's retirement last year, Eklund decided to explore her own retirement options. Eklund decided she was ready sooner rather than later.

"I thought it would be several years before I'd retire, but I discovered it was time," Eklund said.

Eklund and her husband are looking for some new adventures, as yet to be determined, but undoubtedly involving travel since they both have a passion for hitting the road away from the Conejo Valley now and then, an area they've called home for more than 30 years.

As much as Eklund looks forward to traveling, pursuing hobbies and spending time with her family, she is wistful about the job she will leave behind. She expects to miss the daytoday camaraderie with coworkers who've become dear friends.

"I won't miss having to get up every morning," Eklund said about the upside of early retirement. "I'm looking forward to flexibility in my time."