The staff at Pinehurst Elementary is a tight knit one, and when it comes to honoring one of their own, they won’t let anything stand in their way from throwing a big party.

Even that person’s attendance.

The staff at Pinehurst Elementary recently held a special retirement party in Michelle Kilbourne's honor.

Kilbourne retired from education at the end of the previous school year after more than 40 years as an educator.

She earned her teaching degree in 1979 from Eastern Montana University, but actually started teaching prior to that by teaching Religious Education Program classes to seventh-grade students at St. Pius X Parish.

Her relationship with students in the Silver Valley started in 1980 and continued through 2018. During that time, she taught first, third, fourth and sixth grades, as well as Special Education and music.

Her career had her teaching in a number of schools in the district to include Elk Creek, Silver King, Sunnyside, Kellogg Middle School and finally Pinehurst Elementary School.

Kilbourne has been busy in her retirement, so much so that getting her to her own party was pretty difficult, but Groves found a way to make sure that she was there and multiple pictures were taken to prove that she was.

“Michelle had a positive impact on thousands of children during her career as an educator,” Groves said. “Her work is truly appreciated and she will be missed at PES.”

Groves is pretty sure that Michelle Kilbourne will be part of Pinehurst Elementary for a long time to come.