Mary Jo Moore, ultimate Pirate, retires after being a member of PCSD family for over 35 years

When one hears the name Mary Jo Moore many adjectives come to mind including enthusiastic and dedicated wife, mother, teacher, community  and church advocate, Pirate supporter and so much more. A Monona native, Mary Jo and her husband, Larry, moved to Postville in 1979 where they have lived ever since. While raising their four boys and beyond, the Moores have been super Pirates. This month, Jo is retiring after giving over 35 years to the Postville Community School District.

Jo began substitute teaching for the district in 1981 and in 1982 she and another young mother shared a special education paraproffessional position. She said, “We helped the teacher by writing lesson plans and helping with the students. It worked out well for a young mom as I worked three days one week and two the next. I very much enjoyed working with the students and it was then that I began my passion for working with high school students.”

With the interests of the students always in the forefront, Jo and several others began a volunteer program in the early 80’s as well. She noted, “In 1983 when Postville had to let a lot of teachers go due to budget cuts, myself and two other stay-at-home moms with teaching degrees organized the volunteer program at Postville schools. We organized trainings and ran the program until there was grant money available and a teacher on staff who was assigned to oversee the volunteers.”

Read the full article in the June 13 edition of the Postville Herald.