Placerita Junior High School officials organized a farewell concert held Tuesday evening for one of their longtime music teachers, Kathryn Spula, who is set to retire at the end of the 2019 Spring semester.

“Thank you for joining me and for sharing this evening with the outstanding music ensembles that represent our music department and Placerita Junior High School,” said Spula during the event.

The concert at the Hart High School auditorium held a packed house of past and present students, faculty and community members who were there to hear the halls filled with music and recognize the work that Spula provided during her time at Placerita Junior High.

“There have been an incredible amount of people working on putting this whole thing together,” said Principal John Turner. “This is a night that we have all been waiting on.”

During the concert, multiple musical groups from the school performed, including one by a group of past and present students of the Placerita Junior High School Chorus, directed by Spula.

The song was an altered version of “Good News! (Chariot’s A-Comin’),” which instead played as “retirement’s a-comin.’”

In between performances, multiple students also took the stage to thank Spula.

“We can never begin to express how much you’ve done for us, whether we’re new students or old students and in-between,” said one student of Spula. “Thank you so much.”

Spula was a teacher for 37 years, and served 33 years as director of music for Placerita Junior High School, according to officials.

She is set to retire at the end of the Spring semester, officials added.

During her time at the school, Spula was recognized multiple times as “Teacher of the Year” in 1989, 1996 and 2000, officials said.

She also received The Certificate of Merit Award for “Recognition of Distinguished Performance in Undergraduate Teaching Experiences” (1980); The Masonic Lodge Award for “Recognition of Outstanding Achievement and Meritorious Service to Public Education (1989); The Bravo Award (1990); and the SCV Optimist Club Award (2008).

Spula will be remembered for leadership and commitment to musical excellence, according to school officials.

“You’ve made these past few years of my life the best they could ever be,” said a student of Spula. “And I know that all of the people who’ve had you as a teacher could say the same.”

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