A long time Portage la Prairie School Division teacher was honoured at Wednesday night's School Board meeting in Portage.

Yellowquill School's Grade 1 teacher Mary Hodge was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for her 36 years of service with the Portage la Prairie School Division.

"I read out a submission from her colleagues and her friends, and that's really important to hear," says board chair Murray McLenehan. "She's such an important part of the division, and she will be missed. But to see her go is good. She deserves it, she's worked very hard, and I love the fact that she said she got to go to school every day, and not work. That's a very key point and reflects on how much the students appreciate her and her colleagues as well."

Hodge taught for 26 years at Victoria School in Portage up until the day it closed 10 years ago. She's spent the last 10 years at Yellowquill school and says it's never been hard for her because she loves teaching and working with kids.

"When they learn to read and learn a new skill, it's really amazing," says Hodge. "In Grade 1 there's a huge jump in how much they've learned from the start of the year until now, it's incredible. It's been easy to stick with it because I always change jobs within the school, so it's never really the same day over again. Every year is different, your students are different, the parents, the curriculum, everything."

Hodge says the kids are definitely the things she's going to miss most, but she's also looking forward to some home time.

"I guess I'm looking forward to some time relaxing, and some gardening. Spend a lot of time with my grandkids, and maybe do some travelling too."

Hodge has been commuting to Portage from MacGregor and adds the one thing she won't miss is the winter drive into town.