11 Teachers and Staff, 280 Years of Service, Honored by District 304

Colleagues, family and friends gathered Thursday at Geneva Middle School North to honor 11 teachers and staff members who are retiring at the end of the school year. All told, the Retiree Class of 2011 spent a total of 280 years serving School District 304, said Superintendent Kent Mutchler.

“A heck of a lot of people in this community benefit from what you do here,” said Board of Education President Mary Stith. “Know that you made an impact here and that we’ll miss you.”

Rather than try to condense 280 years of life, work and memories into something smaller than War and Peace, I asked each retiree just four questions:

• How long have you worked in education and in the district?
• What will you miss most about the job?
• What will you miss least?
• Where do you expect to be when the 2011-12 school year starts in August?

David Burk, business education teacher, Geneva High School

• Years in District 304 and in education: 27/31
• What he’ll miss most: “The kids, especially when I’m reaching them and I can see it in their eyes.”
• What he’ll miss least: “Bells. I don’t know what I’m going to do in retirement, though I hope to do volunteer work, but it’s not going to have any bells (marking the class periods.)”
• Where he’ll be Aug. 24: “In New England. I’ve always wanted to see New England in the fall.”

Rick Chmura, custodian, Geneva Middle School North

• Years in District 304 and in education: 2 ½ /6 ½
• What he’ll miss most: “The kids. I only see them a few minutes each day, but I’ve made lots of friends.”
• What he’ll miss least: “Cleaning toilets.”
• Where he’ll be Aug. 24: “In my log home in Blue Ridge, GA, working with kids at the community center there. At least I hope that’s where I’ll be.”

 Gayle Findlay, guidance counselor, Geneva High School

• Years in District 304 and in education: 17/39
• What she’ll miss most: “Working with the people here, though I’m going to stay involved with people in retirement.”
• What she’ll miss least: “Getting up at 5:30 in the morning.”
• Where she’ll be Aug. 24: “Hosting a luncheon for my retired friends.”

Linda McCulloch, special education teacher, Geneva High School

• Years in District 304 and in education: 27/35
• What she’ll miss most: “The staff, the kids and the teamwork. I have an incredible group of people to work with here.”
• What she’ll miss least: “The stress. I take my job very seriously, and it’s time to let go.”
• Where she’ll be Aug. 24: “Either having lunch with retired friends or on a golf course.”

Tom Ricketts, security, Geneva High School

• Years in District 304 and in education: 43/43
• What he'll miss most: "The kids, particularly the elementary school kids."
• What he'll miss least: "All the paperwork."
• Where he'll be Aug. 24: "Sitting at home doing nothing special."

 Carole Rotter, librarian, Geneva Middle School South

• Years in District 304 and in education: 33/34
• What she’ll miss most: “The kids, the people I work with and the annual staff bags tourney.”
• What she’ll miss least: “Getting up early every morning.”
• Where she’ll be Aug. 24: A group of us retirees are going to have lunch at the Baker Hotel.”

Linda Snoply, language arts teacher, Geneva Middle School North

• Years in District 304 and in education:  21/35
• What she’ll miss most: “I’ll miss being in my classroom with the door closed, teaching.”
• What she’ll miss least: “State standards and all the standardized testing.”
• Where she’ll be Aug. 24: “Greece. My husband and I are both part Greek, but we’ve never been there.”

 Jan Weigand, first grade teacher, Harrison Street Elementary School

• Years in District 304 and in education: 37/38
• What she’ll miss most: “The family atmosphere. The students, parents and staff are always there to support one another.”
• What she’ll miss least: “Recess duty on rainy days.”
• Where she’ll be Aug. 24: “Coming home from Alaska.”

Retirees Chuck Hutt, Jon Schaus and John Vani could not attend Thursday’s reception. I hope to catch up with them May 9, when the Board of Education formally honors the Retiree Class of 2011.