After 37 years in the education field, the vice-principal of Portage la Prairie's Yellowquill School's retiring at the end of this month.

Rob Thornton began his career with three years in Berens River, another three in Grand Rapids, 13 at Oakville School, and 18 at Yellowquill.

He's seen many changes in that time, but says the constant is the kids.

"I just love working with kids, and seeing them grow and learn," he says, "I just had three or four students come back from high school to wish me well. They're telling me about their plans for university, and one has started their own business. And to see them go, and be ready to enter the world after grade 12, it just doesn't get any better than that."

Thornton says he decided to become a teacher in grade 9.

"I saw the enjoyment that they had doing it, and I thought 'I want to do that'," he says, "I saw teachers like Dennis Shindle, Don Asham, Ron Muesch. So in grade 9 I'd made up my mind, and I planned it, and I've never regretted it. I've never said 'I should have done something else, different'. This was the path for me, and it's been a joyful path."

He points to working with student councils as a significant highlight outside the classroom.

"And seeing our future leaders in action at the grade 8 level, grade 7 level," he says, "Kids can make it happen. Lately, I've seen it in our social justice activities -- really meaningful to work with presidents, and vice-presidents, and sports reps, and so on, and just watch these kids take off, and get things done in a very meaningful way."

Once he's retired, Thornton hopes to spend time at the lake, and with friends and family, as well as do some travelling, and perhaps some substitute teaching as well.