To celebrate our retirees at West Genesee, above is a video to say thank you to them for their years of service! Also, below is a listing and additional information about the retirees from the Spring/Summer 2020 Communicator edition.
Melissa Ahern
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 20 years with West Genesee as a counselor at Camillus Middle School.
Linda Bianchi
- After 5 years with the District as a food service worker she will retire on June 27, 2020.
Theresa Boyle
- She retired on February 29, 2020 after 19.5 years as a teacher aide in the District.
Claire Burke
- After 29 years with the District, she will retire on July 1, 2020 as the Instructional Technology Support Assistant at Split Rock Elementary School.
- She will remember, “Working with children.”
- In retirement her plans include Being Grandma to a new granddaughter due this summer.
Jean Campbell
- She retired on January 18, 2020 after 13.5 years with the District as the Food Service Manager.
Gerald Crossett
- After 20 years with the District as a mathematics teacher at the high school, he will retire on June 27, 2020.
- When asked what his most memorable experiences were, he shared, “Too many to list. I’m thankful that I was surrounded by some fantastic students that valued their education. Thankful for the people I worked with from the custodial staff, cafeteria staff, teachers, teachers assistants, administrators, etc, etc, etc. Most thankful for the support from my family, my wife Linda, our son Shane and our daughter.”
- In his retirement he plans to enjoy himself with NO timetable. A little travel, a little central NY until the weather tells me to go enjoy southwest Florida.
Linda Crossett
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 16 years as a teaching assistant in the at Camillus Middle for 12 years, Stonehedge Blue 4 years (plus the 13 years she attended as a student at Stonehedge, WGMS, and the high school).
- When asked what she will remember she shared, “Probably the time a student’s thank you to me was a handwritten note saying, ‘Thank you for making look like the others kids’. Otherwise the most wonderful kids and the relationships with co-workers!”
- In retirement she plans to watch her children continue to grow, go back and forth to her Florida home, and spend time with family and friends.
Mimi Didio
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 8 years as a registered nurse at the high school for 5 years, and the last 3 years at Camillus Middle School.
- When asked what she will remember she shared, “I have a book of memories with many chapters from my years of working with the West Genesee School District. I have enjoyed my interactions with students, teachers, staff, parents and families. It has been great to see kids develop and grow over the years. I hope that my knowledge and time spent with each person made a difference and made them feel better, safe, comforted and cared for. School nursing has been a very special part of my career.”
- In retirement she plans to spend more time with family, friends and grandchildren, relax, read, enjoy warm climate, and watch more sunsets.
Daniel Donovan
- He retired on June 26, 2019 after 12 years as a custodial helper in the District.
Lyuba Dyachuk
- She will retire on July 1, 2020 after 14 years with the District as a custodial worker.
Karen Gagnon
- She will retire on July 1, 2020 after 23 years as a teaching assistant in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School-Blue Team.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “It is very difficult to pick out particular memorable experiences as I have had so many! I feel blessed to have worked with so many compassionate, professional and supportive co-workers. Attending the Special Olympics was always memorable!”
- In her retirement she is planning to join her husband, now in retirement, spending time at the family cottage in Maine, visiting with her kids, and volunteering. She also hopes to get in a few Red Sox games as well!
Steven Galaska
- He will retire on June 27, 2020 after 17 years in the District, as a teacher aide at the high school.
Stanton Gibbs
- He retired on November 1, 2019 after 20 years in the District as a bus driver.
Imelda Greene
- After 17 years with the District, she will retire on June 30, 2020 as a teaching assistant at CMS, Stonehedge Elementary School, the high school, and the last 10 years at Onondaga Road Elementary School.
- Her favorite memories include, “Each day brought a memorable experience (some good, some bad, some happy, some sad). I will try not to cry because its over, but rather smile because it happened. ENJOY”
- As she retires, she looks forward to some travel and volunteer work.
Mary Griffen
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 22 years as a teaching assistant at East Hill Elementary School, Stonehedge Elementary School, Split Rock Elementary School, CMS and the high school.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “Being lucky enough to work with so many kind and talented people at West Genesee.”
- In her retirement she plans to spend time with her growing family and to get away from everything at her camp in the Adirondacks.
Barbara Headd
- After 20 years with the District as an Instructional Technology Support Assistant at Onondaga Road Elementary School and the high school, she will retire on June 30, 2020.
- When asked what her most memorable experiences were, she shared, “Getting to know the students. Boys basketball games.”
- In her retirement she plans to travel the world with here husband and to volunteer!
Ann Henderson
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after spending 14.5 years in the District as a teaching assistant at Stonehedge Elementary School and Onondaga Road, Elementary School, and Camillus Middle School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “It isn’t so much about moments as it is about people. I have had the blessing of working with so many wonderful people over the years. We have shared lots of laughter and some tears, we have cheered each other on and been there for each other when the lights went out and it got a little dark. Most of all it’s the students who bring it all together, give it meaning and make it all worthwhile. Being a part of the West Genesee Community, working here, raising our children here, is all about being family.”
- In her retirement she plans to go to Disney World, visit National Parks, go back to Ireland and Scotland, bike, hike, reading books, volunteer, play her harmonica, relearn to play the piano, and try to clean out and get rid of all the stuff accumulated over the years in an attempt to become a minimalist. All in all she has no plans to run out of things to do.
Lynne Koban
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 21 years as a physical education teacher at the high school.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “Every year brought new memorable experiences. The one constant were the students. West Genesee has respectful, friendly and enthusiastic students. That made my teaching experience very enjoyable. Coaching was also a huge part of my career. I have sports related memories to last a lifetime. I also got to meet some wonderful people that make up a tremendous staff. I’m thankful that I had 21 of my 31 years of teaching at West Genesee. It truly is a remarkable school district.”
- In her retirement she plans to continue to travel for as long as she can. If all goes as planned, Antarctica will be her next adventure. Her plan is to do what she can do while she can do it.
Mary Kukulski
- She will retire on June 30, 2020 after spending 30 years in the District as a cook.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “I have enjoyed being part of the West Genesee School District. My children graduated from the district now my grandchildren go there.It was my pleasure to work with so many great people .I will miss the kids, especially the senior breakfast and all the functions through out the year.Hopefully this pandemic will pass and life will get back to normal.
- In her retirement she plans to spend more time with her family and especially with her grandchildren.
Jeanette Lannie
- After 31 years with the District as an Instructional Technology Support Assistant at Stonehedge Elementary School for 23 years, the high school for 4 years, and Camillus Middle School for the last 4 years, she will retire on June 30, 2020.
- When asked what her most memorable experiences were, she shared, “I would have to say being a part of technology when it was first introduced at Stonehedge in 1995 and being a part of its evolution to the present. So much has changed and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much along the way.”
- In her retirement she plans to definitely enjoy a slower pace, spending more time with friends and family and addressing things that are on her “long” to-do list.
Anne LoBello
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 19 years as a teacher in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “Watching students arrive off their busses in the morning with big smiles.”
- In her retirement she plans to travel and possibly work for a non-profit agency serving the special needs population.
Courtney Lyons
- She retired on June 30, 2019 after 17 years as a teacher in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “It’s to hard to pick just one, I will always have many fond memories of my time at Stonehedge and my Stonehedge “family”. Having the chance in life to meet so many amazing students and work with the most incredible people.”
- In her retirement she plans to continue to work on her health and spend quality time with her family.
Nancy Menges
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 12 years as a teaching assistant in the District at East Hill Elementary School.
Robert Michaels
- Will retire on July 1, 2020 after 32 years in the District, as the custodian at Onondaga Road Elementary School.
Ann Rice
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 15 years as a teacher in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School, Camillus Middle School, and West Genesee Middle School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “It’s hard to choose just one experience, but I have gotten the greatest satisfaction out of seeing Middle School non-readers or very low functioning readers, after direct instruction, become readers and begin to see themselves as “Readers”. It is SO exciting!”
- In her retirement she plans to travel (she has a Hawaii trip planned for later this summer), spend time with family, exercise, read, brush up on her Spanish and Sign Language, play guitar, perhaps work part-time with a literacy non-profit agency, and volunteer at my grandkids’ school.
Gary Rogers
- He retired on February 1, 2020 after 9 years as a bus driver in the District.
Yvonne Rugg
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 29 years as an art teacher in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School and West Genesee Middle School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “Sharing my love of the arts of course! Loved seeing the smiles from students, teachers, support staff and parents when viewing our amazing student artworks displayed in the halls; Performing traditional music for square dances at our District’s former ‘Colonial Days’; Giving presentations about my Guiding Eyes puppies; and seeing that the topographic mural I made with Jane Rose (former Stonehedge librarian) and our 3rd grade students is still displayed in the library after 10 years!”
- In her retirement she plans to have more time for art, more time to raise more potential guide dogs, and more time for gardening and visiting with family and friends.
Eileen Russell
- After 23 years with the District, she will retire on July 1, 2020 as an administrative assistant having worked at the District Office, Stonehedge Elementary School, and West Genesee Middle School.
- Her favorite memories include, “The wonderful people I worked with over the years, so many great families that I interacted with and just the hilarity of kids!
- As she retires, she looks forward to hopefully some travel and volunteer work.
Anne Scholl
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 6 years as a teaching assistant in the District at Onondaga Road Elementary School.
Sandra Sherlock
- She retired on November 15, 2019 after 14 years as a teacher in the District at Stonehedge Elementary School.
Mary Denise Slade
- She will retire on June 30, 2020 after 8 years as a mathematics teacher in the District at Camillus Middle School.
- Her most memorable experiences include, “Thank you to all of my students, who reminded me daily of what is important in life! They all brought a great deal of joy to me, and it was a privilege to teach Math at CMS!”
- In her retirement she plans on spending a great deal of time with her family, camping, and traveling.
Karen Sullivan
- She will retire on June 27, 2020 after 30 years as a mathematics teacher in the District at West Genesee Middle School.
Susan Taylor
- She will retire on June 30, 2020 after 13 years as a teaching assistant at Stonehedge Elementary School.
- When asked what she will remember she shared, “It was such a pleasure to get to know the kids and all of the people I worked with. You could always count on the kids to make your day and make you feel special.”
- In retirement she plans to see her new granddaughter and hopefully learning how to play golf. She really wants to travel and hopefully spend the winter where it is nice and warm!