School Board Honors District Retirees

At their Tuesday night meeting, the Salem School Board honored 13 retirees from the district, ranging from secretaries to teachers to administrators. 

Members of the board said a few words about each retiree before they were recognized Tuesday evening. Here is a summary of what was said about each of the 13 retirees.

DIANA BATES - FISK GRADE 2 TEACHER

• Began career in 1992 as Grade 1 teacher at Fisk School. Has remained at Fisk School through the years teaching both Grades 1 and 2.
• Member of Fisk School PTA and active in the Salem Education Association

STEFAN BANKEL - SHS BUSINESS TEACHER

• Assistant Principal at Salem High School in starting in 1976, returned to the classroom in 1993 as business education teacher.
• Life-long member of the Derry-Salem Elks and the American Legion. 
• Key Club advisor for several years. 

DALE CAPUANO - SOULE SPEECH & LANGUAGE TEACHER

• First employed as Grade 3 and 5 teacher in 1977.
• Has provided speech and language services at Haigh and Soule Elementary Schools since 1993.
• Active member of national and N.H. Speech and Hearing Associations.

LINDA JANDREAU - SCHOOL DISTRICT SECRETARY

• First hired in 1994, primarily worked in central office.
• Supported three directors of maintenance as well as Title I directors.
• "First introduction to school district" for many parents and children, according to School Board Chairwoman Pam Berry.

FAITH JOHNSON - SOULE GRADE 2 TEACHER

• Hired in 1976 as a Grade 4 teacher at Fisk School.
• Title I reading teacher from 1987 to 1989. Grade 2 teacher at Soule School since 1990.
• Active in National Education Association, N.H. Education Association, Salem Education Association throughout education.
• Assisted in overseeing Soule School student radio station.

BETH MATTHEWS - SCHOOL DISTRICT SECRETARY

• First employed by school district in 1995 as secretary for Woodbury assistant principals Edith Soley and Howard Sacks.
• Moved to Lancaster Elementary school working for Principal Edith Soley in 2001.
• In 2007 moved to central office staff as special education secretary, became secretary to Assistant Superintendent Edith Soley.

RHONDA McCUNE - SHS ART TEACHER

• Began career with district in 1979 as an English teacher. Since 2002, has been a "valued" member of the art staff.
• Member of NEA, SEA, NH Art Educators Association. Member of Board of Directors for Salem Dollars for Scholars.
• Advisor to National Honor Society through the years.

DEBORAH MESICK - SHS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

• Began career in 1981.
• Worked for years on district special needs programs. 

SUSAN "MICKI" RHODES - FISK SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

• First employed by district in 1978. Became full-time teacher in 1980 as a Grade 2 teacher at Fisk School.
• Became Grade 3 teacher at Lancaster School in 1984.
• Returned to Fisk in 1989 teaching both Grade 5 and 6.
• Became Principal at Haigh Elementary School in 1992, returned to Fisk as principal in 2002.

PAULA SHULTZ - WOODBURY READING TEACHER

• First started in 1990 as a long-term substitute at Lancaster and Haigh. Began teaching Grade 6 at Haigh in 1991.
• Moved to Woodbury in 1993, remained as reading and science teacher.
• Worked with students on the "Kaleidoscope of Talent."

MARYLOU SEARS - WOODBURY ART TEACHER

• Began career with the district in 1994 as substitute teacher, has been Woodbury art teacher since 1996.
• Member of SEA, NEA, NH Art Association and Greater Salem Arts Association.
• Organized school arts exhibits.

BARBARA WOJTAS - WOODBURY MATH TEACHER

• Employed by district since 1980, teaching Woodbury students math since then.
• Member of NEA, SEA, Woodbury PTSA.
• In 1992 was elected to Alpha Delta Kappa International Society of Women Educators "for dedicated education excellence in algebra."
• Participated in summer academies for math curriculum.

EDITH SOLEY - DISTRICT ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

• Teacher starting in 1970.
• Assistant principal at Woodbury School and later principal of Lancaster School.
• Returned from a brief retirement in 2008 to assume duties of assistant superintendent.