Westfield Public School Employees Honored For Years Of Service

by Lorre Korecky

Seventeen Westfield Public School retiring staff members were honored for 406 years of combined service by the Board of Education, colleagues, and guests at the 28th annual Gala for school employees. The event was held in June at Pantagis Renaissance in Scotch Plains.

The time-honored event also pays tribute to employees with 25 years of service.

Superintendent of Schools Margaret Dolan and Westfield Education Association President Michael Seiler addressed the honorees, thanking them for their dedication and service to the Westfield Public Schools. Board of Education President Richard Mattessich and Vice President Gretchan Ohlig formally recognized the retirees and 25-year employees.

This year’s retirees include: Brenda Benimeo – Social Worker, Special Services; Barbara Bottini – Secretary, Edison Intermediate School; Nancy Cunliffe – Secretary, McKinley Elementary School; Reginald Davis – Head Custodian, Tamaques Elementary School; Katherine Haldeman – Nurse, Wilson Elementary School; Christine Hedden – Social Studies Teacher, Edison Intermediate School; Kathryn Hinman – Paraprofessional, Washington Elementary School; George Kapner – Math Teacher, Westfield High School; Yaeko Knaus – Achieve Math Teacher, McKinley Elementary School; Kathleen Kopec – Resource Center Teacher, Edison Intermediate School; Josephine “Dee” Macaluso – Executive Secretary, Business Office; Margaret Maffey – Math Teacher, Edison Intermediate School; Susan McClelland – Teacher, Washington Elementary School; Joanne Saladino – Special Education Teacher, Edison Intermediate School; Dorothy Sarna – Secretary, Jefferson Elementary School; Margaret Teitelbaum – Coordinator of Health Services; and Raymond Wojcik – Music Teacher, Westfield High School and Edison Intermediate School.

The nine honorees with 25 years of service, with a combined total of 225 years, included: Brenda Acanfora – Special Education Teacher, Westfield High School; Barbara Barnansky – Secretary, Westfield High School; Liza Boan – Teacher, Franklin Elementary School; Yaeko Knaus – Achieve Teacher, McKinley Elementary School; Nicoletta “Nickie” Leitch – Secretary, Human Resources; Joy Nuzzo – Resource Center, Franklin Elementary School; Dorothy Sarna – Secretary, Jefferson Elementary School; Roseann Schliesske – Paraprofessional, Lincoln School; and Teresa Squillace – Science Teacher, Edison Intermediate School.

PHOTO CAPTION

Superintendent of the Westfield Public Schools, Margaret Dolan (at right), congratulated retiring staff members at the school district’s annual Gala including Brenda Benimeo, whose service to the Westfield community as a teacher, counselor and social worker has spanned more than 31 years. The event brought district employees, Board of Education members, and guests together to honor retirees and those with 25 years of service.