RUMFORD — Betty Latham has tried to make learning fun for the children she teaches. It’s been a rewarding career that she will miss when she retires in June, she said.

“I like working one-on-one or in small groups,” she said. “You can feel the struggle and when the light goes on, it’s a joy and relief for both of us.”

Instead of flash cards to instill a new word, she plays games that do the same thing, but with more excitement and joy.

Teaching those who need extra help is something she has done as a special education teacher for 19 years at every age level from kindergarten through grade 12, and as a literacy teacher for kindergarten to grade 2 for the past nine years.

She earned her literacy certification after serving as a special education teacher in the former SAD 43 when she realized how much of her time was spent with reading.

“I realized I was teaching reading to those who were struggling 90 percent of the day,” the 59-year-old Weld resident said.

For the past few years, she has split her time between K-2 youngsters at both Rumford and Meroby elementary schools.

“Often teaching requires a lot of repetition so I try to find ways to make it fun,” she said.

During her 27-year career, and with her certificates in special education, elementary education and literacy, she has taught every age group, as well as a few graduate level teaching courses.

One of the events that has stuck with her is the success a group of high school special needs boys achieved at the old Mexico High School. They wanted to learn to cook, so she and the boys wrote a grant that resulted in the kitchen that is now used by the Mexico Recreation Department.

They learned to make shopping lists, how to find the costs for the meals they sold to teachers, and other reading and math skills.

As a child growing up in Waterville, she said she was inspired to go into the education field by her aunt who taught special education.

“I was fascinated by her classroom,” Latham said.

When mid-June and her last day arrives she knows she’ll be upset. She’ll greatly miss all the children and friends she has made over the years. But, there will be a sense of freedom.

“My husband, a pilot, retired one-and-a-half years ago. Now, we’ll have the time and freedom to do things that come up,” she said. “There’s so much out there. My bucket list includes seeing all the national parks and watching the Red Sox play in every stadium.”

But first, the couple plans to drive to Florida to see both of their sons and several grandchildren, then stop at points of interest along the way coming back.

She wants to hike in Maine in the fall, her favorite season, work in her flower garden, and linger over coffee while sitting on the swing on her porch.

Latham graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a bachelor of science degree. In special education, and from the University of Maine with a master of science  in literacy.

Between she and her husband, they have six adult children and seven grandchildren scattered all over the country.

“I’m excited about having that feeling of freedom, but I’m starting to visualize what that last day will be like,” she said as tears welled in her eyes.

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