Lombard principal sailing into retirement

Forget Sandra Dressler's normal regimented schedule.

Instead, envision the longtime Park View Elementary School principal lounging on a 60-foot boat, watching the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean and having no schedule whatsoever.

That's what she's envisioning.

And she's got only eight more months until that's her reality.

Oh, the joys of impending retirement.

Dressler, 54, who's worked at the Lombard school since 1989, is motor-boating her way into the West Coast at the end of the school year.

She and her husband are moving to San Diego and planning to live on their soon-to-be-purchased 60-foot motorboat.

"I'd like to do a little bit of teaching, then get on a school board," Dressler said.

"But, I may do nothing, I don't know," she added with a chuckle.

Dressler joined Park View in 1989 after starting her career in East Aurora District 131 as a special education teacher, regular education teacher and then a principal.

Leaving the families and friends she's made over the years is going to be the hardest part -- so much so, in fact, that she's planning to be out of town for the start of school next fall.

She'll even be out of state, lest she be tempted to hang around the fringes watching annual traditions like the kindergarten students lining up for the first day of school.

Those families, so far, are making sure Dressler's not forgotten.

They got village approval to name the school driveway in her honor -- much to her surprise, it's now Dressler Drive.

"It caught me off guard," she said.

And on Halloween she was presented with a handmade quilt in the school colors and two school mugs.

"I will miss the school and the kids and the parents; all of that is the sad part of it," Dressler said. "But it's also exciting to think of another piece of my life."