After six years, art teacher Nancy Kampmeier is saying goodbye to the "young artists" at Atwater Elementary School.

"On my first day at Atwater, I entered with great enthusiasm for this job, this great school and the amazing people inside," she said in an email to the elementary school. "On my last day .... I can honestly say that I feel the same way but with one change. There are some family matters that need a great deal of my energy and attention."

Kampmeier's last day was Friday. She is among staff members to have resignation requests approved by the district since the start of the school year, including library media specialist Susan Hersh and Shorewood Intermediate School social studies teacher Mariclare Kanaley.

"I promised my young friends that I would come back sometime and see how they continue to grow," Kampmeier said. "I thanked them for trying their best and for being the coolest kids ever."