Dave Ebersole started to count the years in his head then realized the math was starting to get tricky.

He marveled at the accomplishments of the five Coupeville School District employees before him who have dedicated so much of themselves to education. The five, who are all retiring at the end of this school year, were recognized by the school board Monday night.

“These people are leaders in their positions,” said Ebersole, principal at Coupeville Elementary, “and I got to work with them all.

“They have all played a big role in my career here at Coupeville and some of them were teachers of my children and played a part in their lives here as well.”

Heading into retirement are teachers Sandy Moore, Diane Skaley and Patsi Waller, paraeducator Callie Harvey and school secretary Anne Weaver.

Combined, they worked 132 years into their profession. Weaver, Ebersole’s secretary at the elementary school, tops them all with 38 years.

Moore, a high school English teacher, is retiring after 30 years. Waller and Skaley, presently elementary school teachers, put in 22 and 15 years, respectively.

Harvey tallied 27 years.

“You’re leaving a big hole in the district,” said school board member Christie Sears. “That’s just a big talent drain sitting right before us. You’ve all given a lot of years. You will be missed.”

“It’s not a hole, it’s a crater,” Ebersole said.

School board president Kathleen Anderson praised the employees for putting their “heart and soul” into Coupeville schools.

For Weaver, it’s a bittersweet end to a career she said has flown by. All 38 years were spent in Coupeville, the past 25 at the elementary school.

“I finally decided this year is it,” Weaver said.

“I love my job. I’m tired of getting up in the morning.”