In the lobby of the Kyrene School District central office sits a bell that has marked generations of beginnings and endings in Kyrene schools. For nearly 140 years, the historic bell has been part of the district’s story. The bell once hung over the original one-room Kyrene schoolhouse, founded in 1888 at McClintock and Warner roads. In 1920, the bell moved with the school to Kyrene and Warner roads, where it was used for decades to call students to class. Today, the bell holds a different purpose.

Each retiring Kyrene employee is invited to ring the bell as a symbolic recognition of their years of service to students, schools and the community. The tradition has become a meaningful moment for generations of Kyrene employees, and a single ring can be heard throughout the entire district office administration building.

“Ringing the bell when retiring is a distinctly Kyrene tradition,” said Jo Shurman, Kyrene’s Director of Professional Growth & Development, who is retiring this year after 27 years with the district. “Some people make a big event out of it by inviting friends, family and the whole district office to watch and celebrate. Other people do it without an audience and those working at their desk hear it and know someone has retired. In either format, the bell symbolizes the end of a Kyrene career and the beginning of another chapter.”

The bell itself was preserved decades ago thanks to the efforts of former Kyrene Director of Facilities and Transportation Wayne Converse. As the original school building was being demolished, Converse insisted the bell be saved. The bell was later bronzed and ultimately placed in the district office lobby, where it remains today, and it has become a symbol of both the district’s history and its enduring sense of community.

For Superintendent Laura Toenjes, the tradition reflects the lasting impact of generations of Kyrene educators and employees.

“Each retiree who rings the bell adds their chapter to Kyrene’s story and to the district’s legacy of excellence,” Toenjes said. “The bell is a symbol of Kyrene’s long history and rich traditions, but more importantly, it represents the people who have dedicated their careers to serving students and families.

And that includes Shurman, who plans to ring the bell on her last day with Kyrene.

“As I’m retiring from Kyrene after 27 years, I’ll ring the bell knowing that I’ve made a difference to Kyrene’s community, but more importantly, Kyrene has changed me,” Shurman said. “This will be the audible reminder for me, and perhaps others, that Jo has left the building.”

Every Kyrene retiree receives a commemorative plaque featuring a photo of the bell and the story of its significance, courtesy of the Kyrene Foundation.