Darrell Posch may never be able to walk away from his job.

A teacher at Langley Middle School for two-and-a-half decades, Posch tried to retire several years ago. Retirement lasted only a single summer.

He explained why Monday night as he was named this year’s winner of the Dr. Lisa A. Bjork Excellence in Education Award by the South Whidbey Board of Education.

“I had plans to retire, but when I heard the school buses go by my house, I knew I had to get back to the classroom,” Posch said.

He came back as substitute, then re-upped for another stint as a full-time teacher.

“I am probably the district’s first retire-rehire,” he said.

Obviously, there were no hard feelings on either side as board members and LMS Principal Greg Willis honored him for 25 years of teaching on South Whidbey, 35 total years of teaching, and a dedication and commitment to his profession and his students.

Posch, who teaches seventh-grade mathematics and English and sixth-grade social studies, was presented with the Bjork award during the public portion of Monday’s meeting at the South Whidbey Intermediate School.

The annual award was established by the school board to recognize a staff member’s contributions to the students and the education profession. According to LMS Principal Greg Willis, Posch has shown a “deep commitment” to students in the community.

“It is an honor and a privilege to introduce this teacher who has probably influenced the lives of thousands of young people,” Willis said. “He is a successful teacher and asks the same of his students.”

Willis said Posch was a popular fifth-grade teacher before moving to the middle school several years ago. Last year he taught eighth-grade social studies and English.

Even though he could be expected to consider retirement again soon, no one at the meeting wanted to hear such things, least of all his students and their parents.

“When I visited Darrell Posch’s class last year, students and parents were concerned that he was retiring,” said board member Jim Adsley. “It was going to have a major impact on many different lives.”

Posch has taught the children of several school board directors, including those of Helen Price-Johnson. She had a personal message to deliver from her children.

Said Price-Johnson, “My kids sent me here tonight with one message: ‘Darrell, you rock.’ “