Now that this school year is coming to a close, Greeley West English teacher Elizabeth Dent is looking back and reflecting on her 29 years of teaching here at West as she prepares to retire. Dent feels grateful for everyone who has been a part of her time here at West, but she is also ready to move on and is excited for what is coming in the future.
Dent did not always dream of being a teacher despite her mother being one. Having one stand out teacher herself made all the difference for her. Dent explained, “My mom was a teacher, but when I was younger it was never really what I wanted. As I grew older, I had some amazing English teachers, specifically in 7th grade named Mrs. Mildred Hanson. When I graduated I called her and told her how much of an impact she had on me and she told me that she had no idea.”
Looking back on her favorite thing about West she said it was the community. “The community here at West has been everything for me. I learned how to be a better teacher, a better student and a better person because of my colleagues and my students. I have known the most inspiring people and I will miss rising, because I’ve watched other people rise, and watched them be humans. It truly inspires me,” Dent said.
She considered the fifteen year stretch from 2000-2015 as her favorite time here at West. “The staff was really close at that time and the leadership of the faculty brought us together as a collective, and we functioned so well as a collective,” Dent said.
Dent hopes that when students look back on their time with her that she is remembered with “happiness and tenacity” and she hopes that she positively affected every one of her students. She also hopes she has taught something that will benefit them later in life.
Dent will miss the little things from her class the most, inlcuding , “Just standing out in front of the door and talking to them as they enter. “
Dent’s final message to all her students is to, “Find the traits that you respect the most, and the people that you admire the most to help you craft who you want to be.”
Karen (Connolly) French - GWHS Class of 2000 • May 22, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Was literally thinking about her yesterday, and telling a friend about “my high school teacher that was obsessed with Twinkies”!!! You have always been remembered and loved, Mrs. Dent!! Congrats on your retirement!!! (I have my own two kids graduating this year, near Vancouver, WA. Would love to reconnect!)
Shirley Henry-Lowe • May 22, 2025 at 6:06 pm
I was lucky enough to be a colleague of Beth’s and even more importantly, the mother of one of her students. I can say with certainty that the impact she had on my daughter was unbelievable. My daughter‘s self-esteem grew in a positive way because of Beth Dent. Ms Dent taught me so much about being compassionate and caring yet professional and knowledgeable. Greeley West has a vacancy that will never be filled again. Best wishes for a delightful retirement, Beth! You certainly have earned it.