If these walls could talk, they’d probably blush.
The hallways of Windemere Community Learning Center were lined with student artwork on a recent Saturday — many of them wishing the PreK-5th grade school a happy centennial.
That’s a lot of candles.
At the birthday party, former students — now adults — introduced their children to their grade school teachers in-between bites of cake and ice cream in the cafeteria.
“Do you remember me?”
“You’re all grown up!”
“Of course I remember you! How could I forget you?”
The grade school was originally built in 1924, demolished in 2008 and rebuilt in 2011.
The jewel of Akron is its people. They’re vibrant and resilient. Flawed, yet thoughtful and nurturing. And all of them come with compelling stories. That’s why we launched “Akron in 330.” This series offers a glimpse into everyday folks’ journeys across our many neighborhoods — 330 words at a time. Know someone we should consider? Tell us here.
“There’s so many people that are connected to this school, all the different generations,” said current principal Megan Lee-Wilfong, whose children previously attended the school. “It’s just so exciting to be able to bring us together and celebrate 100 years.”
Generations of families and faculty built long-lasting relationships at Windemere, located in Akron’s Ellet neighborhood.
Former student Ashley Krul (1995 to 2001) remembers a school fundraiser that resulted in a limo ride to a nearby McDonalds and a teacher who celebrated every time the Cleveland Browns won NFL games. Also, in the fifth grade, Krul volunteered as a lunch monitor.
“We would help the kindergarteners with opening up things, taking their trash out,” she said. “And we would watch them when we were outside.”
Most of Partica Durkin’s memories are from the old building. Particularly, a garden. Teachers decorated the area with round tables and chairs, visible from her first-floor principal’s office.
Former teacher Ellen Luebbering remembers exquisite cabinetry in her classroom. “It had so much character, the woodwork in it,” said Lubebbring, now retired.
Luebbering (second grade teacher), Karen Prayner (first grade teacher) and Melody Didyk (second grade teacher) relish their journeys from co-workers to friends.
Brayden McVay was recently named the Elementary School Building Scholar of the Year for Windemere CLC. And Melody Didyk was named one of the 2025 Building Teachers of the Year in the Ellet Cluster.