A lasting lesson

Retired teachers in Las Cruces are continuing their impact in classrooms long after they are gone, one book at a time. Through the Las Cruces Association of Educational Retirees, books are donated to local schools in memory of educators who have passed, placing their names back into the spaces where they once taught. 

The program began with a simple idea to recognize educators and ensure their influence carries forward. It started with a small donation of a few hundred dollars and has grown into a lasting effort to honor those who dedicated their lives to teaching.  

“When you see the product of your efforts, and they’re very successful, it means everything,” said Paula Stuart, president of the association. 

When a retired educator dies, members work to identify the schools where they taught and connect with librarians to select books that fit students’ needs. The goal is to make each donation both meaningful and useful. 

That process can lead to unexpected moments. 

During a recent visit to a school in Gadsden, members arrived to present a memorial book and were met by the principal, who turned out to be a former student of one of the educators being honored. The recognition was immediate, a full-circle moment connecting past and present inside the same school walls.  

Experiences like that reflect the broader impact behind the program.  

After longtime educator Dick Shriver passed away, multiple people contributed, resulting in several books being donated in his honor. The response mirrored the reach of his career, from students to fellow educators, and highlighted the ongoing effort required to sustain the program.  

That effort includes maintaining consistent funding.  

Dean Lively, who helped develop the program, has worked to ensure financial support remains in place. Even as pressures increased, he advocated for preserving the memorial fund so that the program can continue without interruption. 

“It shows that we are concerned about students reading materials—good materials,” Lively said. 

That focus remains important as classrooms continue shifting toward digital tools, reinforcing that learning does not depend on technology alone. The program goes beyond remembrance, ensuring the work of educators continues to shape future generations in the same classrooms they once served.