Kids usually find a buddy at school. At Flossmoor Hills School, it’s two teachers who found their buddy. Fifth grade teachers Joelle Mulhearn and Denise Roberts-Smith have been classroom buddies for more than 20 years. They retire this year.

Smith said their classrooms are full of 10- and 11-year-olds who are starting to show independence and they are inquisitive.

“You start to see their personalities truly come out, and you help them build that solid foundation,” Smith said. “Now they’re asking questions; now they’re wanting to know ‘How does this happen?’ That’s the wonders, that’s what’s amazing to us.

“You can still mold them a little bit and put them in the right direction, and that’s been fascinating to us. That’s what teaching is all about.” Smith describes it as giving love and getting it back in return.

Their classrooms have been next door to each other, but that’s not where they start their day. They are close friends who text each other jokes and fun videos before they leave the house to help put them in a positive mood. And they admit they laugh – a lot. But they believe school should be fun.

“You have to be flexible. You’ve got to be patient. There are things a kid will say or do and you’re like ‘Are you kidding me?’ They say they’re not and I tell them, ‘Well you should be!” Mulhearn said.

Smith and Mulhearn are two of the three fifth grade teachers at Flossmoor Hills. The three coordinate lessons and plan activities together. They give their students real-life examples of how the lesson applies to their world.

Smith recalled a lesson on percentages. She had the students pretend they were at a restaurant. When the bill came, they had to figure out the percent of the tax on the bill and what percent to tip the waiter. She said the kids got it.

“We want them to learn forever. Everything is not boring, it’s not horrible. It’s fun,” Smith said.

Mulhearn said they try to reinforce the importance of college or learning a trade. They talk about daily living and show how to pay expenses, such as rent, a car payment and phone costs. They compare covering costs on minimum wage versus a high wage earner with a college degree.

“We helped them with the why we need to stay in school. Those connections are powerful for the kids, and we’re honest with them,” Mulhearn said.

Their fellow teachers have asked how they maintain their classroom discipline. Both say there’s no secret formula. They set rules and expectations on day one and make students understand those are the classroom expectations. Their policy is not to raise their voices but to speak directly to the student. Smith said she asks a troubled student if his action is the way he wants to be known. That usually leads to reflection.

“All the kids are good at heart,” Smith said. “You have to find that and highlight that. We know how to find that good in you and pull it out.”

Mulhearn and Smith say they always wanted to teach, and both recall elementary school teachers who made an impression on them. Before coming to Flossmoor Hills, they had teaching jobs both near and far.

They both live in the Homewood-Flossmoor area and often run into former students as adults. They love hearing of their successes and what they remember about their fifth-grade class.

Mulhearn said, “That’s our (teacher) evaluation to us.” She believes it’s better than any evaluation from an administrator.

Together they set the year they’d retire. After their long careers, it will be strange not to be together, but they will remain friends through phone calls, visits and online Zoom sessions.