After dedicating more than three decades to educating young minds, a second-grade teacher decided to leave a lasting impression on her final class by creating something they would cherish forever. Kim Rohlf, who taught at Westwood Elementary School in Ankeny for 35 years, spent her weekends crafting handmade quilts for each of her students before her retirement.
A labor of love tailored to each child
Rather than giving each student the same generic gift, Rohlf personalized every quilt to reflect the unique interests and personality of each child. The quilts featured diverse themes ranging from dinosaurs and sports to holidays and birthdays. Beyond the fabric designs, she also included handwritten personal notes for every student.
“I love teaching and I love quilting so it gives me a little to share my love with them as they leave and I end my chapter of teaching” she said.
Students recognized the thoughtfulness
The children understood the significance of their teacher’s gesture. One student named Gabrielle explained the care that went into each creation.
“Every quilt is made based on our personalities. She would add special details about us and she would make sure that it is very nice.”
An emotional farewell
While Rohlf anticipated her retirement would be routine, the experience proved far more emotional than expected. The heartfelt response from her students made walking away more difficult than she had imagined.
“It’s very heartwarming it makes this harder than I thought it was going to be but I’m excited to start that new chapter in my life. I thought it could just be at the end of the year and walk out the door. They’re making it a little bit harder than that.”
WATCH: Retiring Teacher Surprises Her Students with Personalized Gifts
