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Gorrie Elementary to honor retiring teacher Thursday

Photo by Krystal Eagan

Over the past 39 years, Gorrie Elementary teacher, Dr. Lori Weiss, has taught hundreds of students. A May 28 reception will honor the retiring teacher who has been in education for a total of 49 years.

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By SARAH FECHTER

Special to the Tribune

Published: May 27, 2009

HYDE PARK NORTH - For 49 years, retiring Gorrie Elementary School teacher Lori Weiss has taught hundreds of students to read and to jump rope. On Thursday there will be a reception at the school in Weiss' honor.

"Not only does Lori Weiss teach children to read and write and do arithmetic, but to think and feel and know they can do whatever they believe they can do," said Debbie Anderson, a former student of Weiss', now assistant principal at Mitchell Elementary.

Weiss says her mother, who also was a teacher, inspired her. Weiss knew from the time she was in kindergarten that she wanted to be a teacher. She began her career in 1960 but took several years off when her own children were young. She taught first- through eighth-graders, gifted pupils and college students.

After retirement, Weiss plans to share her passion for teaching by working with teaching interns at the University of Tampa.

The retirement reception honoring Weiss will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Gorrie Elementary media center. Current and former students, parents, colleagues and friends are invited to attend.

Sarah Fechter is a grandparent of three Gorrie Elementary School students, Grace, Laura and Holly Wells, all of whom had Weiss as a first-grade teacher. She is a guest columnist for the South and Central Tampa News & Tribune.

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