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When classes ended at North Forestville Elementary for the summer, Novella Dunlap, a first-grade teacher, helped her students pack their backpacks and ushered them toward the door.

The last day of classes can be bittersweet for teachers — especially for Dunlap, 62, who is retiring after a 41-year career at North Forestville.

Dunlap said she is ready to move on from a career that began in 1968, but she said it was a difficult decision. Other teachers were so used to her being there that nobody believed her when she told them she was retiring, she said.

"This has been my life," Dunlap said of North Forestville. "They say my car only knows how to go here."

Students in Dunlap's class were making cards for her on the last day of school June 18. They said they like her because of all she has taught them.

"I think she's the best teacher," said India McCain, 7, a District Heights resident. "She's a nice person."

India's mother, Benora McCain, 26, said she had cousins who were in Dunlap's class when she went to North Forestville. McCain, who is now a teacher, said Dunlap inspired her to pursue her career.

"Every now and then you just see those people that really know their job, and just get a joy out of it," said McCain, adding that many parents are themselves former pupils of Dunlap's. "She always encouraged students to be the best [they] can be."

At a surprise retirement party June 17, students lined up to hug Dunlap and sang for her. India said it was an emotional experience.

"We was all crying," she said. "I love her very much."

Dunlap said she has seen a lot over her career. New additions have made the building bigger, and new technology and standardized tests have been introduced that she said changed the way she teaches. Dunlap, who was one of the first black teachers at North Forestville, said she also witnessed the school's desegregation in the 1970s.

She said she does not remember any fights or other problems during desegregation. Dunlap said she did not distinguish between her all-white classes and her integrated classes.

"They were basically students," she said. "That's the way I looked at them."

Teachers, parents and students described Dunlap as being tough but fair. Dunlap said she proudly remembers a time when two girls were running loudly down the hall, then stopped when they saw her.

"They was busting down the hall," she said. "This little girl says, ‘You'd better stop — [Ms. Dunlap] don't play.'"

Toward the end of Dunlap's last class, students were putting the finishing touches on homemade oversized cards. Jaydiin Maye, 7, of District Heights, presented his card: "Dear Ms. Dunlap — I will miss you because you are such a great friend. Friends forever."

As the students prepared to leave, Dunlap was telling students not to put their chairs on top of their desks because she had to stack them in a corner after they left.

But on their way out the door, the students stopped to hug her one at a time. Dunlap closed her eyes as she hugged each child.

"All right," she said. "Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze."

After the students left, Dunlap said her retirement had not sunk in yet. But her voice choked occasionally when she talked about her plans for the future — she said she might start tutoring college students in reading.

"I think next week it's going to hit me, and I'll be very sad," she said. "The kids have kept me young. I mean, I can't see myself doing anything else."

E-mail Greg Holzheimer at gholzheimer@gazette.net.