Joyce Borah has always been ready to lend a helping hand whenever she can. And you could say it’s this trait that led her to a 33-year career as director / teacher at the ALC Christian Learning Center Preschool.
“I was home with my own three children,” Borah said. “The preschool needed a teacher in October one year. I agreed to help for two weeks and no more. But when God talks, you listen.”
All three of Borah’s children attended the preschool, which is located in American Lutheran Church. Her youngest was 4 when she stepped in to help 33 years ago.
“My first year my own child was in the class,” she said. “My first preschoolers are 37 years old now.”
Borah has loved working with the CLC Board and children over the years, but it’s time to step aside and take life a little easier, she said. Borah is retiring as director this year. Taking her place will be Sarah Beals Gonzalez.
The American Lutheran Church and CLC Board is planning a retirement party in Borah’s honor from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, in the church fellowship hall.
“I’ll be 65 now, and its time to slow down and enjoy my family more,” she said. “It’s time for someone younger.” Laughing she added, “There are no dull moments in preschool worlds.”
Borah and her husband, Jay, a retired self-employed road contractor, live near Huron. He works part time at Riverside Cemetery. An Avon native, she married her husband in 1978 and they have lived in Huron ever since.
“When I grew up I always wanted to be a teacher,” Borah said. “I grew up with seven brothers and five sisters. I had a lot of siblings to play school with. I thought being a teacher would be great.”
It was a natural fit to step into the life of a preschool teacher.
“I’ve had all very good assistants,” she said. “You couldn’t do the job without the assistants and volunteers, and the good working CLC board and members of American Lutheran Church.
“I will miss everything; I’ve loved it all,” Borah said. “I’ve loved all the children and the families I worked with. God has been good.”
She has taught more than 1,200 children in four classes daily. It’s always fun when former students return to enroll their own children in the preschool they had attended.
“I came across a quote, ‘What’s done is done, and what’s gone is gone.’ One of life’s best lessons is learning how to let go and move on,” Borah said. “Whether they remember us is not important. We are planting seeds and giving them a good foundation.
“We play, we learn, we grow,” she said. “We’re planting seeds about how much Jesus loves each one of us. That is very important. If you love what you do, everything falls into place.”
