Six-year-old Nii-o Kwakye loves his teacher Miss Pam because her favorite color is green.

Noah Partridge’s affection for Miss Pam has more to do with her assistance during playground conflicts. “She always helps us figure out stuff during arguments,” he said.

For someone who works with kindergartners every day, the only job-performance reviews that count come from 5- and 6-year- olds. And it appears that 67-year-old Pamela Farrell - or “Miss Pam”, as she’s known to Haisley Elementary School students and staff - has received the highest ratings.

Yet come September, there will be a noticeable absence at Haisley. Farrell retired this month after 20 years of service to Ann Arbor Public Schools and Community Education and Recreation.

“Of all the jobs in AAPS, this is the best job,” Farrell said. “It’s just so much fun interacting with the kids. It’s so great to watch them grow and blossom.”

Farrell graduated in 1988 from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in elementary education with a concentration in science.

“In 1988 there were no teaching jobs in southeast Michigan,” Farrell said. Because of that, she took the job with Community Education and Recreation working in the kindergartner-care and aftercare programs and directed numerous summer camps as well.

Farrell was the childcare coordinator at Haisley when she retired earlier this month. As a part of the Extended Day Opportunity, an enrichment program for kindergartners in the afternoon, she worked with kindergarten teacher Elana Levine. Farrell also ran the aftercare program for the rest of the students once the school day was over.

Levine, who worked with Farrell for four years, said the pair was a well-oiled machine.

“Over the years (our relationship) has blossomed,” said Levine, who described Farrell as “more than a partner, she’s a friend. And perhaps a bit of a surrogate mom.”

Farrell, who has no grandchildren of her own, was very involved with her students at Haisley. She coordinated playdates and even babysat for students. She called these her “fun times.”

“Pam takes initiative to do the little things that make such a huge difference,” Levine said. “She just cares so much about these children.”

During the H1N1 flu scare, Farrell took the time to wipe down pencils, scissors, keyboards and virtually everything else little hands touched with anti-bacterial wipes every week.

Vickie Malcolm, coordinator of school-age childcare and Farrell’s supervisor, agreed. “Pam is just so dedicated to the kids,” she said. “I can’t say enough about her contributions … I cannot replace Pam Farrell.”

One of Farrell’s favorite aspects of her job was creating crafts with the children. The projects ranged from belts made out of recycled watchbands to melted crayon candles. Farrell said that she had every student make crafts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and winter holidays.

Max Segawa, a fifth-grader, still has his watchband belt. “It was definitely my favorite project,” he said.

“She always brings awesome art stuff, games, and projects,” said Max Tomilo, a fourth-grader in the aftercare program.

Farrell acknowledged that she spent her own money, but added that she’s “very frugal. I go to the Scrapbox and A2 Recycle all the time to get supplies.”

Farrell isn’t just fond of craft time. She often plays right alongside the students. One of her favorite memories was a day she decided to make the students pirate hats and eye patches and pretend the playground equipment was a pirate ship complete with a plank.

Often times students come back to see her. Jenny Clancy, a 13-year-old Forsythe Middle School student, returned the day of her retirement party just to see her and say hello. Levine said this is a regular occurrence.

“Pam is everyone’s grandma,” Levine said. “Students flock to her and are excited to show her their accomplishments, or their new shoes, or even their boo-boo’s.”

Farrell admitted that her approaching retirement has been an emotional rollercoaster. Her daughters and best friend encouraged her to finally retire - and already, she has big plans.

She is taking a quilting class and plans to take an Alaskan cruise in August. Perhaps the most unusual of her retirement plans involves an impending purchase of a kayak. Farrell is a member of the boating group Women Rule the Waves and is looking forward to several Great Lakes trips.

“There are things in this world that I would like to do. I want to go on an archeological dig. They make those for old people, you know,” she said with a laugh.

At the end of one school day during Farrell’s last week at work earlier this month, Tyler Wolke, a kindergartner in Farrell’s Extended Day Opportunity program, hugged her tightly and said, “I’m gonna miss you, Miss Pam.”

Farrell hugged him back and whispered, “I’ll miss you too. But I’ll come back and eat lunch with you guys next year. I need to hear about how you’re doing.”

Wendy Ochoa is a journalism student at Washtenaw Community College where she writes for the Washtenaw Voice and an summer intern on the Community Team. She is also an English teacher at Plymouth High School. E-mail her with news and events in Ann Arbor's west side.