It’s a line that Barbara Ballard has used for years.

However, with her time winding down on her career as an English teacher at Coupeville High School, the line, like her, will soon be retired.

“The bulk of my time, I’ve taught juniors and seniors,” Ballard said. “I like to say they have to get past me in order to graduate.”

Standing 5-foot-4, Ballard realizes she’s hardly an opposing figure, yet enjoys the light-hearted claim she boasts to students.

Ballard, 63, admits she’s going to miss their company after spending 30 years as an educator, the past 23 in Coupeville.

“The community in Coupeville makes teaching in Coupeville such a joy,” she said.

Ballard is the second longtime high school teacher from Coupeville that will be retiring this month.

She and Spanish teacher Paul Mendes were recognized by school board members at their regular monthly meeting last week. Mendes is finishing a 34-year teaching career. The former Seattle Sounder also coached soccer for 33 years, eight of them at Coupeville.

“Paul and Barbara are probably two of the finest individuals I’ve worked with,” said Duane Baumann, the high school’s assistant principal. “The students love them. They’ve had high standards. The students stepped up to their standards. They were tremendous in the school and we will miss them very, very much.”

Ballard also was considered adjunct faculty for the University of Washington. She taught a UW English course at Coupeville that gave advanced students five college credits.

“It provided a substantial academic rigor to those students,” Ballard said. “They really got a taste of what university level work was like.”

Coupeville’s Class of 2016 will graduate June 3. The ceremony starts at 6 p.m.

“I’ve been telling the seniors I’m graduating with them,” Ballard said.