After 35 years of teaching in San Diego, Bird Rock Elementary School teacher LeAnn Kelley concluded that she went to work and spent all day laughing. Kelley describes teaching as “just fun. Every day is different because the children always have something new and interesting to say,” Kelley said. As the seasoned teacher approaches retirement, she says it’ll be difficult not to see children’s faces every day of her life. Friends and family won’t let Kelley leave without a bang, however. They’re throwing her a retirement party on Friday, June 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. and are inviting the public to attend, especially former students who once learned their ABCs with Miss Kelley.Joe Bettles fits the profile of someone that Kelley might want to see after all these years. Kelley inspired and encouraged Bettles to act in his first play, related his mother, Kathy Bettles. Approximately nine years later, drama still intrigues Joe, who is now studying theater at the University of California, Los Angeles.Miss Kelley played her piano every day for the students; she taught them how to read and compute as well as square dancing and American folk songs, according to Patti Nussbaum, whose two sons passed through Miss Kelley’s kindergarten class. She also transferred valuable life lessons through reading Patricia Polacco’s children books, said second-grade teacher Sandy Sidley.Kelley taught that “there’s nothing to stop you from achieving your goals and to always make the right choice,” Sidley said. “Sometimes you may not make the right choice, but you have to learn from your mistakes and life goes on, but always to know that there are choices.” As Kelley fondly speaks of the joy in her classroom, she also laments the current test-oriented system and the continuous “push, push, push” to teach 8-year-olds concepts that are beyond their ability to internalize. “They can vocalize about things, but they’re really not going to understand them until they get older,” Kelley said. The veteran teacher said she is also saddened that today’s youths are growing up much faster and have less time to play and to just be children. Childhood is a journey, not a race, according to Kelley. After 35 years in the system, Kelley reaffirms that teaching is far more difficult than most people understand. Hours are spent at home in preparation, and the 10-week summer break is necessary for mental health, she said.Nonetheless, as Kelley speaks of retirement, she returns to the heart of teaching for her. “I feel like I’ve spent my life nurturing and laughing and singing and loving kids,” Kelley said.Even though Kelley decided to become a teacher at the age of 5 because she “liked to boss people around,” her passion is clearly for children. Upon retirement, she intends to become a child advocate for the court and to volunteer at Children’s Hospital and the Polinsky Children’s Center. Kelley has taught kindergarten and first, second and third grades. She’s spent the past 16 years at Bird Rock Elementary and has also taught in North Clairemont and Mira Mesa. For directions to Kelley’s retirement party, call Patti Nussbaum, (858) 454-9625.