The Panther Valley School District will be saying goodbye to longtime teacher Kim Laird at the end of the school year.

The school board on Wednesday night accepted her resignation with regret, as the English-language arts teacher retires after 37½ years in the district.

Board member Renee DeMelfi said that Laird taught all four of her girls, while other board members said she taught them as well.

Last year, Laird was recognized with a LifeChanger award, which recognizes educators who make a difference in students’ lives through excellence, leadership and positive influence.

She was nominated again this year for the National Life Group Foundation’s LifeChanger of the Year, one of more than 600 teachers in the running nationally and one of two in the state.

Patricia Ebbert, junior/senior high school principal, said that Laird has been more than a teacher, she has been a friend and colleague.

“I’m going to really miss her,” she said. “For everything that she’s done for the school, we wish her the best of luck.”

Ebbert said that Laird has promised her to come back and substitute teach, and the district can use substitutes.

“We’re going to miss Kim Laird,” Superintendent Dave McAndrew Jr. said. “She does so much more than just teach. She’s a mentor. She treats these kids like a mother. She spends countless days here until five and six o’clock at night.

“She is going to be tough to replace,” he said. “We will see her here in June for one last time and make sure that we acknowledge her.”