Branchville Principal Jason McKinnon, center, chokes up while giving a retirement speech for secretary Vicki Modzeleski, left, and fifth grade teacher Patricia Nash, right, at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. The board recognized 22 faculty and staff members with more than 416 years of service to the district. —Steve Coulter photo
A librarian, a secretary, a department chairman, a kindergarten teacher, and an elementary school principal are among 22 school employees retiring this year.
“Four hundred sixteen years,” said Superintendent Deborah Low at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. “That’s quite a lot of institutional memory.”
Kind words were spoken throughout the half-hour ceremony and each of the departing staff members received a book dedicated in their memory.
And, in a new twist, the board took to Twitter to write a personalized, 140-character tribute to each of the district’s departing members.
Ridgefield High School had the most retirees, eight of its staff members.
The list include three teachers with 30 years or more of service, including visual and performing arts teacher Joyce Flanagan and science teachers Ercole Spinelli and George Noyce.
“Joyce has conducted over 75 concerts at our school and four at the prestigious Carnegie Hall,” said RHS Principal Stacey Gross. “She’s won awards and has traveled around the world; she is creatively beautiful and will be hard to replace.”
Mr. Spinelli, better known by students as “Spin,” has been the high school’s only Advanced Placement chemistry teacher since his arrival in 1979.
“His categorization of the department’s chemicals was one of his biggest contributions; he came up with the system we still use today,” Dr. Gross said. “We will miss his smile.”
Dr. Noyce, who came to Ridgefield after a distinguished career as a military scientist during the Vietnam War, was remembered for his sense of humor and calm presence.
The other RHS retirees recognized included Larry Friedman, chair of the social studies department and winner of the district’s teacher of the year award in 2012.
Dr. Gross described the 18-year history teacher as “someone who is constantly learning.”
Math teacher Denise Brown, who taught at both RHS and at the alternative high school, retired last summer after 18 years of service.
Spanish teacher Caroline Guerra-Baker, who taught 11 years, also retired early in December.
“Hopefully they’re enjoying themselves wherever they are,” said Dr. Gross.
Also joining the ranks of retirement were Linda Weston, who taught for 29 years as an instructional and supervisory paraprofessional, and Betty Kudla, who worked three years in the administrative office.
“Linda did a bit of everything,” Dr. Gross said. “She got her start in the food services’ department, then became a secretary in the main office before working in the library and then finally ending up as a special education paraprofessional.”
‘A way with words’
Branchville Principal Jason McKinnon, who will be taking over as the assistant superintendent at New Fairfield, spoke first and honored administrative secretary Vicki Modzeleski and fifth grade teacher Patricia Nash, who each have more than 25 years of service.
East Ridge Principal Marty Fiedler spoke next, addressing retirees Susan Gartner and Janet Park.
Ms. Gartner has been a social studies at East Ridge for 19 years and was described as “a very special person who will be greatly missed.”
Ms. Park worked 12 years as a paraprofessional before taking the exam to become a full-time teacher, which she did for nine more years in Ridgefield.
Scotts Ridge Principal Tim Salem shared memories about librarian Geraldine Carley and Spanish teacher Phyllis Hacket, who taught for 14 and 20 years, respectively.
“Gerry has a way with words,” Mr. Salem said. “But what she loves above all else is sharing her love for literature with students.”
Leaving a mark
Scotland had the most retirees of the six elementary schools, including Principal Mark Solomon, who is retiring after 10 years of leading the school.
Mr. Solomon introduced nurse Cecelia Shrekgast, paraprofessional Jerre Gibbins, and kindergarten teacher Maureen Veteri.
Ms. Veteri was described as “a pioneer for Ridgefield Public Schools.”
“She was a leader amongst the teachers when the district decided to go from half-day kindergarten to full day,” Mr. Solomon said. “She was the go-to person for the two new teachers we hired for the transition; without her, I don’t know what would have happened.”
Ms. Low commended Mr. Solomon for instituting Scotland’s “Grandparents Day” and for creating a “happy school reputation.”
“He always works with positive energy,” she said. “He will be remembered in the hearts of hundreds of students and their families…
“Like all of these teachers and staff members, he definitely left his mark.”
Reach for the stars
Farmingville Principal Susan Gately honored second grade teacher Ursula Arcuri and art teacher Beth Cunningham, who taught for 26 and 13 years, respectively.
“Ursula’s motto has always been, ‘It’s always about the children,’” Ms. Gately said. “She’s in her room way before the children arrive and makes sure the room sparkles with these big, beautiful stars.
“The idea is that the students are able to catch the stars by the end of the year, because they’re told they can reach for the stars beginning on day one.”
Veterans Park Principal Lisa Singer spoke last, applauding fifth grade teacher Diane Bertoluzzi and literacy teacher Bette Spielman for going “above and beyond their duties.”
“Diane has always been someone I can count on,” Ms. Singer said. “She’s someone who can lead and someone who I can lean on when I need to; she made the switch from fourth to fifth grade without much hesitation.”
Ridgebury and Barlow Mountain did not have any retirees this year.
At the end of the ceremony, the board gave a gift to Ms. Low, who had announced her retirement in January but decided two weeks ago to come back for the 2014-2015 school year.