Aurora school honors, says goodbye to a teacher who has been there more than 50 years

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A teacher in Aurora is retiring in a couple of weeks after 54 years at the same school. On Friday, she was honored by the school and the city of Aurora.

“She’s now on grandkids of her original students,” says Tonya Forbes, principal of Holy Angels School in Aurora. Laura Waegner, 79, has taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies at the school since 1970.

Forbes says Waegner is a friend and mentor and says that what makes Waegner such a good teacher is that she never stops learning and is always one of the first to embrace technology.

Forbes also says the students look at her as their grandmother.

“When we went through COVID, we were still here and those kids, like, they didn’t have to wear the masks inside the classroom but when they went to her class, they would all put the masks on because they didn’t want her to get sick.”

During a celebration that followed Mass at Holy Angels Church,  Mayor Richard Irvin presented Waegner with flowers, balloons and a proclamation declaring Friday Laura Waegner Day in Aurora.

He also said the street outside the school will be named Laura Waegner Way. A ceremony to rename the street will take place at the beginning of the next school year.

Ann Classen has taught at Holy Angels for 24 years and had Waegner as her teacher in 1977.

“Laura has given so much to us as a mentor, as a colleague, as a friend, as a follower of our faith. It’s just been inspirational to have her see us follow her footsteps.”

Although Waegner is retiring from Holy Angels, she says she plans to continue to use her talents with immigrants.

“What I’m planning to do is volunteer with the Dominican Literacy Center and work with adults who want to become citizens.”

Looking over her career, Waegner says she really enjoyed the students she taught and declared herself, “blessed.”

As for the differences in teaching in 1970, when she started at Holy Angels, and now, Waegner says besides all the technology, “the kids today have a more difficult time. There’s more peer pressure.”

Waegner’s younger sisters from California, Virginia and Washington state joined in the celebration of her career.

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