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Longtime preschool teacher retires

CAITLIN ROW
summit daily news
Summit Daily/Caitlin RowAfter 20 years of service at Lake Dillon Preschool, teacher Hildegard Riege is retiring. Families and staff, past and present, are invited to visit with Riege Thursday at her good-bye party from 6-8 p.m. at the school.
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DILLON – After 20 years of service at Lake Dillon Preschool, teacher Hildegard Riege is ready to say good-bye – with a retirement party! Families and staff, past and present, are invited to visit with Riege Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the school.

“She keeps the place afloat through all the changes,” said Lake Dillon Preschool assistant director Tessa Coleman. “She’s been here through lots of directors. She’ll be back to volunteer.”

A constant presence throughout the years – surviving numerous staff changes and kids now grown (a few of Riege’s early charges are finished with college) – the longtime preschool teacher says she’s ready to retire, spend more time with her family and recreate in beautiful Summit County.



“I like to go for walks and I’ll go to the (Silverthorne) rec center now,” she said.

Originally from the Czech Republic, Riege met her late husband while he was stationed in Germany with the United States Air Force and moved to Denver with him in 1955. After spending most of her life in the Mile High City, she moved to Dillon 22 years ago to be closer to her daughter’s family, including two grandchildren.



Throughout her time at Lake Dillon Preschool, Riege said she started as a floater, became a lead teacher with the 1-year-olds, helped out with all different age groups, and then until June 3 (her last day) she worked as a breaker, filling in during the middle of the day.

“I love the children, of course,” Riege said of her 20-year career.

And the children love her too – they run around her with smiling faces and hug her, saying they’ll miss her.

Don’t worry, she’ll be back.

Caitlin Row can be reached

at (970) 668-4633 or at

crow@summitdaily.com.


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