The generous spirit of Penny Ireland for her community and education continues even after her death. As a Christiansburg citizen, Ireland spent her entire life as a student and then a teacher in Christiansburg schools. Ireland’s legacy is being continued through the Montgomery County Retired Educators Association to encourage more high school graduates to become teachers.
Ireland was born June 29, 1950 and died of cancer on January 23, 2015. She attended Christiansburg schools throughout her school years and was a Christiansburg High School 1968 graduate.
Retired Christiansburg Middle School principal Richard Ballengee knew Ireland as a student.
“She was a delightful student with a variety of interests,” Ballengee said. “It was a pleasure to be her principal. She began working as a teacher when CMS on College Street was opened.”
Ireland attended Virginia Teach and received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade language arts and social studies at CMS for 30 years. During her teaching career, Ireland served as the department head for social studies, helped sponsor the newspaper and yearbook, ran the school supply store, and served as social director for many activities there.
Ballengee believed Ireland’s mother, Dr. Mabel McKee, was a good role model motivating Ireland to become a teacher herself. McKee was a teacher in Christiansburg schools during Ireland’s youth and until retiring in 1981 after 42 years.
Ballengee said, “I believe Ireland watched her mother teach and wanted to be that kind of teacher. Ireland was a tremendous teacher who had kids doing things and showing them how to advance. She believed every child could learn without stereotyping. She believed students can succeed if given every opportunity.”
In addition to teaching full time at CMS, she also taught aerobics for sixteen years through New River Community College. Ballengee remembered some NRCC courses, like fitness aerobics, had been taught by Ireland in that CMS building.
Connie (Turner) Bell, an MCREA member who was a fellow CMS teacher and close friend said Ireland enjoyed teaching and brought her love of traveling back into the classroom to share with her students stories, pictures and artifacts. She traveled extensively around the U.S. and abroad. Her students and fellow teachers often noted that Ireland never wore the same outfit twice in a school year. She always had a purse, shoes and jewelry to go with each outfit.
On Ireland’s memorial page from 2015, numerous former students shared memories of their time with this incredible teacher. One post read: “I remember her speaking about her several trips to other places. She was always smiling and happy. And yes, I remember she always had a different outfit, scarf, and jewelry. She was such a classy lady.” Another post read, “Mrs. Ireland, you always had something interesting for 8th grade Social Studies each and every day. One of my most remarkable teachers.”
Ireland was herself a member of the Montgomery County Retired Teachers Association. She bequeathed a generous sum of money for MCRTA to disperse as the members saw fit. A committee was formed in 2018. In September 2018, MCRTA became known as the Montgomery County Retired Educators Association to include all retirees from the educational fields such as bus drivers, school clerical and other staff.
Bell said, “Even though I knew she had plans to leave some money to MCREA, we all were amazed at her generous gift. Penny loved to learn and teach and we all knew she loved her town of Christiansburg and giving back to help was just like her. She was such a dear friend and one that I am so glad to have been with during her last years here on earth.”
Since then, MCREA has made donation in Ireland’s name to the Montgomery County Museum, Smithfield, Plantation, the veterans’ cemetery for wreaths and to a Montgomery County Educators Scholarship at CMS.
This year, MCREA wants to award four $2,500.00 scholarships to Christiansburg High School seniors planning to enter a field in or associated with education such as teaching, counseling, social work, media specialist, etc. in a public school. Recipients of this PENNY MCKEE IRELAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP may request a renewal for a second year if a 2.5 GPA or better has been maintained in college while continuing in the educational degree program. The scholarship application is now available in the CHS Guidance Office.
MCREA also offers yearly two one-time $1,000.00 scholarships to any Montgomery County high school seniors who plan to enroll in a program that will lead to a degree in the field of public education. These applications are available by request from MCPS guidance counselors.
The deadline for these scholarships is March 31, 2019.
Mrs. Penny Ireland was a teacher with the ability to inspire students and fulfill their potential. She, along with MCREA, is continuing to encourage a pathway into public education careers.
Ballengee said, “We sure could use more teachers like Ireland.”
A yearbook description of Penny Ireland’s first year of teaching at CMS in 1973.
Graduate from CHS in 1969.
