HUNTINGTON -- In her 30-plus years of teaching Spanish, French and English, Joan Cartmill has seen thousands faces come and go.

Now, in her last year before retirement, the Huntington High School educator is being praised by current and former students, as well as colleagues, for her impact on the community.

"Joan Cartmill ... has been my Spanish teacher for the past three years, and in that time, I have witnessed qualities in her that I deem equitable to the title of teacher of the month," wrote Joel Patrick Gue, a junior at Huntington High.

Cartmill, honored with The Herald-Dispatch October Teacher of the Month Award, said she is pleased and happy to have inspired so many during her tenure.

Of her 39 years, Cartmill has spent 31 at Huntington High, dating back to the old school on 8th Street. She estimates she's taught more than 4,000 students and is proud to say that some went on to become teachers.

"It's rewarding to watch kids learn and make great progress," she said. "I have had several students become French or Spanish teachers, and it's nice that you may have had a part in it."

Cartmill's journey started in Beckley, growing up in a family rich with educators. After high school, she started college at Marshall, earning degrees in French and Spanish, and later acquiring one in English.

She started subbing around the area -- South Point, St. Joe, Wayne County, Cabell County. In 1979, she took a full-time position at Huntington High.

With all those years comes numerous stories. One year, she was given half a senior English class. It was the first time she had taught it.

Then, there were the numerous overseas summer trips to Spain and Europe, exposing her students not just to the language but also to the culture.

"You definitely look at the culture, art and food," she said. "I try to make (class) a positive experience. You can't always say that happens, but you try."

When asked about how she'll feel on the last day of school, Cartmill teared up, saying she hadn't really thought about walking out of the school for last time as a full-time teacher. But she said she plans to substitute.

"I don't think I could leave for good," Cartmill said. "I'd miss the kids too much."

But she also said that it was time to step away.

"I just think I"m ready to not have homework," she said. "I've been doing homework all my life."

Cartmill and her husband, James, have two daughters, Jennifer Day and Susan Beckett. Day is a media specialist at Huntington High, while Beckett teaches kindergarten at Meadows Elementary. They also have a grandson, 8-year-old Grant Beckett.

Cartmill enjoys reading, going to the YMCA and, until two years ago, she was a tap dancer. She was both a student and instructor at Nancy's School of Dance in Huntington. She also enjoys gardening.

Toril Lavender/For The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High school language teacher Joan Cartmill has been a teacher at the school for more than 30 years and is retiring after this year.

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