Retired Tomah teacher Leila Tiber received the highest honor the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association offers Oct. 25, when she was awarded the WREA Centennial Pin and Certificate.

Tiber’s son and daughter-in-law were present when Barbara Sullivan, president of the Monroe County Area Retired Educators Association, did the presentation. Also present were fellow MCAREA members Aleda Moseley and Darlene Parkinson. Tiber has been a MCAREA member for 36 years.

Tiber, who turned 100 years old in September, graduated from Tomah High School in 1935 and had attended Tomah Teacher Training in “the attic” of the old Tomah High School. She started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse at Mound View in 1936. She continued at the Benjaminville and North Tomah Schools before marrying in June of 1939.

After raising her children, Leila returned to teaching in January 1955 at Tunnel City, where she taught grades 4-8. Before retiring in June 1982, she also taught at Valley View, Wyeville, Tomah Junior High, Camp Douglas and Oakdale Schools. While at Wyeville School she also served as principal. She received her bachelor of education degree in June 1963 from La Crosse State University.

WREA is an organization “dedicated to protecting the Wisconsin Retirement System and preserving public education.” It consists of retired educators and others interested in education. The purpose of this organization is to promote the interests, rights, and welfare of retired educators of the Monroe County area.