It takes a big heart to shape the lives of little people. That sentiment perfectly sums up Sue Roy, who retired last week, after almost 28 years as a kindergarten teacher.
The phrase was engraved on a vase she received as a retirement gift from her ''family'' at Terrace Kindergarten in Alexandra.
Her colleagues, pupils, past pupils and kindergarten families can all vouch for how apt the saying is.
Central Otago Kindergarten Association board member and Terrace kindy mother Kate Donaldson said speakers at Mrs Roy's recent farewell all echoed the same message: ''Sue is the most inspiring, loving, fun and dedicated teacher.''
''It was evident that Sue leaves footprints on hearts forever, as the farewell was attended by parents of children who attended the kindergarten over 20 years ago.''
Mrs Donaldson said it was easy to spot where Mrs Roy was teaching.
''Often all you would see is a crowd of children with Sue somewhere in the middle making learning fun. Her endless energy and ability to light up the whole room will be missed by the children and parents at the Terrace Kindergarten.''
She took the time to get to know each child and family in the kindergarten, Mrs Donaldson said.
''Sue was summed up by one parent who said: `Sue made me feel like my job as a parent was the most important job in the world and, more importantly, I was doing a good job at it.
"At the same time, she had the ability to make my child feel that they were the most important child in the room.''
Mrs Roy (63) said she was ''born to be a kindy teacher''.
''I loved the children, their families, all the friendships and relationships. I never had one moment where I questioned whether this was the right vocation for me. Being a kindy teacher is a real nurturing position and you have to love people.
''What I found exhilarating was that every day was a different day and you never knew how it would unfold with these little people.''
With the exception of two years at Wakari Kindergarten in Dunedin after completing her training in 1967-68 and a year at Alexandra Kindergarten, her career has been spent at the Terrace.
Mrs Roy spent a while as a full-time mother to daughter Anna and son Jamie before returning to the workforce - ''that was a real revolution for me, as I never thought I'd be a working mum''.
Her children would often cringe on dress-up days at kindy, as their mother would drop them off at school, wearing a costume in keeping with the theme. The cliche was true and time had flown by and she remained as passionate about her chosen career as the day she started, she said.
''It is the little people with the small shoes, big hearts, tons of energy, never short of conversation and heaps of affection that allowed me to give 100% to my teaching. They surprise me each day and, in exchange, they really do deserve the very best in learning experiences.''
The only drawback to the job was the paperwork, she said and that was the one thing she would not miss.
Mrs Roy has not counted how many children she has taught over the years but is proud of her involvement in their early learning.
''I love catching up with them and seeing what they're doing now. When they see me out and about, they stop and give me a hug.''
With her career spanning almost three decades, she is now teaching the children of some of her former kindy pupils.
When she started teaching in Alexandra, there were two kindergartens and one child-care centre. Now there are eight early childhood centres based in the town, including the two kindergartens.
Mrs Roy says the time is right to change tack and spend more time with husband Rob and her family, which now includes a granddaughter, and to pick up some of the activities that have been ''sidelined'' in favour of her work, such as gardening and travelling.
''I've reflected on my decision over the last few months and it is the right decision for me to move on now.''
And, just like countless other ''graduates'' from kindy who are heading off to new challenges in the next stage of their life, Mrs Roy was given a special hat especially made for her ''graduation''.
''That's one more thing I'll treasure, just like the 4-year-olds treasure theirs.''
