GCPS Says Goodbye to 435 Retiring Teachers, Staff

Gwinnett County Public Schools thanked 435 classroom teachers, office staff, administrators, counselors and media specialists who retired after the 2011-2012 school year.

Collectively the group of Gwinnett County Public School retirees have spent 11,233 years of their lives in education and 180 have 30 years of service, 15 have invested 40 or years and one retiree has 50 years in education, according to a release from Gwinnett County Public Schools.

"I would like to personally thank each of our retiring employees for their service to Gwinnett County Public Schools, to our community, and most importantly to our students," said CEO and Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks," in the release.

The list includes 38 retirees from the following public schools that serve Peachtree Corners students. Listed are schools in the Norcross and Duluth clusters.

Peachtree Elementary School

Suzanne Ernst, Teacher
26 years in education, 22 years in GCPS

Judy Hamrick, 4th Grade Academic Support and ESOL Teacher
37 years in education, 15 years in GCPS

Kathy McDonough, Teacher
27 years in education, 18 years in Gwinnett

Jo Phillips, Paraprofessional
34 years in education, 24 years in GCPS

Regina Quiza, Custodian
14 years in education, all in GCPS

JoEllen Rainey, Paraprofessional
24 years in education, all in GCPS

Donna A. Rothstein, Teacher
30 years in education, all in Gwinnett

Simpson Elementary School

Rebecca Acree, Media Specialist
23 years in education, 17 years at GCPS

Janet P. Jones, Teacher
33 years in education, 23 years with GCPS

Kathy Russo, Gifted Advanced Content Mathematics and Intervention Teacher
38 years in education, 22 years in Gwinnett

Susan S. Wise, Teacher
41 years in education, all in GCPS

Pinckneyville Middle School

Lynn Bird, Social Studies Teacher
29.6 years in education, 29 years with GCPS

Linda Flagler, 6th Grade Science Teacher
28 years in education, 25 years in GCPS

Petra Malageanu, Custodian
13 years in education, all in GCPS

Kathleen Overton, Mathematics Teacher
25 years in education, all in GCPS

Norcross High School

Juanna P. Alzaga, Orchestra Teacher,
30 years in 3ducation, 21 years GCPS

Dianne Cotton, Counselor
42 years in education, 12 years at GCPS

Lou Llerandi, History Teacher
31 years in education, 19 years in GCPS

Beverly Mayes, Work-Based Learning Coordinator
37 years in education, 15 years in Gwinnett

Cathy Rogers, Chemistry Teacher
11.5 years in education, all in GCPS

Glenda Young, ESOL Sheltered Integrated Algebra I Teacher
39 years in education, 21 years in Gwinnett

Berkeley Lake Elementary

Margaret E. Gonzalez, Teacher
22 years in education, 8 years with GCPS

Debbie Kittinger, Teacher
34 years in education, 20 years in Gwinnett

Dr. F A McLeod, Principal
26 years in education, all in Gwinnett

Julie L. Mumpower, Teacher
34 years in education, 17 years in GCPS

Carol Mack Smith, Paraprofessional
27 years in education, 24 years in Gwinnett

Duluth Middle School

Vicki Bauer, 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher,
30 years in education, 20.5 years GCPS

Jerry Bradford, Parking Lot Attendant
15 years in education, all in GCPS

Elizabeth Ann Morrison, School Nutrition Program Worker
14.7 years in education, all in Gwinnett

Duluth High School

Mary Sue Jenkins, Administrative Clerk
11.5 years in education, all in Gwinnett

Joe Marelle, Health and PE Teacher
31 years in education, all in GCPS

Mary Anne Meeks, Social Studies Teacher
28 years in education, 25 years in Gwinnett

Valerie Murphy-Brown, Special Education Language Arts Teacher
34 years in education, 23 years in GCPS

Nancy P. Phillips, Counselor
30.7 years in education, all in Gwinnett

Paula Pittenger, Spanish Teacher
23 years in education, 20 years with GCPS

Vivien Scott, Special Education Teacher
20 years in education. 12 years in GCPS

Rose Shtrulis, ESOL Teacher
34 years in education, 16 years in Gwinnett

Bunny Taplin, Family Consumer Science Teacher
36 years in education, 21 years in Gwinnett

Students and Parents: Do you know one or more of these teachers and support staff that has retired? Would you like to share a fond memory? Use the comment box below and let your fellow Peachtree Corners Patch readers know.