As Fayette County schools come to a close this week, Joyce Larson ends more than 30 years of educating young children across the country and overseas.

She left a teaching job in the late 1970s to marry a young Army lieutenant. Despite 15 moves in 30 years, Joyce managed to remain an educator, teaching in Virginia, Alabama, Germany, and Rhode Island.

Joyce remained engaged in teaching even while raising our two daughters, by managing a preschool in our Army quarters and later serving as director of the Quantico Marine Base Preschool.

During our 11 years in Peachtree City, she taught at Kedron Elementary, helped launch Cleveland Elementary, and has served in EIP at Fayette Intermediate for the past several years.

Her reward: Countless thanks from parents of former students who always remark on the positive impact she made on their children.

Ironically, Joyce is not leaving teaching due to another military move, or retirement, but rather as a result of the economic downturn and release of teachers in the county.

So on behalf of hundreds, if not thousands, of her former students, her two daughters and myself, I just want everyone to know how proud we are of her and thank her for her service.

Scott Larson

Peachtree City, Ga.