33 Retirees Honored for Service to Clover Park Schools

They were teachers, administrators, bus drivers and librarians, 33 in all.

All were honored as the 2011 graduating class—of employees, that is.

The district’s annual retirement reception was held Monday evening at Clover Park High School. Each honoree in attendance was presented with a certificate, rose and district pin, and their supervisor read a brief biography and shared a story or two.

Those honored retired between July 2010 and June 2011; employees who retire over the summer will be honored next spring.

“I’m sad that you’re leaving–and I’m not,” joked Superintendent Debbie LeBeau in her remarks to the crowd.

Her tone, growing more serious, she added, “I am proud to have known you during your time in the Clover Park School District.”

A prevalent theme among those retiring—other than plans to travel and sleep in— was a desire to return working with children, whether through substituting or volunteering.

Rita Boyd, who retired last summer after 42 years in education—33 of those years at Idewild Elementary— said that she has loved being able to volunteer at .

“It feels wonderful,” she said. “I volunteer, but I don’t have to do anything. I get to do what I love.”

principal Jim Pfeiffer said that Boyd “made every day an adventure in the first grade.”

Lee Ault, who is retiring after 21 years in CPSD, most recently as a fourth-grade teacher at Oakbrook, was hailed as a teacher who “made sure each student felt pride in an accomplishment or goal that was set just for them,” said principal Jeff Murrell.

Ault’s future plans include gardening and volunteering at her grandchild’s school.

The crowd roared with laughter when principal John Seaton called para-educator Marietta Brockman from the podium. After spending the last two months convincing her to attend the reception, Seaton said, a doctor’s orders prevented her from coming.

But Brockman wasn’t getting off the hook that easily, he said, as he dialed his cellphone.

“Can you have her come to the phone?” he asked the person on the other end. “This is Mr. Seaton.”

Brockman, who has worked in CPSD since 1986, is “selfless, flexible and known for her work ethic and attention to detail,” Seaton said.

Middle-school humanities teacher Terryl Holloway was also lauded for her drive in the classroom.

“She’s the kind of teacher who won’t let students fail,” said principal Moureen David. “She makes teaching an art form.”

LeBeau said after the ceremony that she was a little surprised at how many employees opted to retire this year. Last year, she said, the economy halted people’s plans.

“Especially as we all saw our retirement investments (eroding),” she said.

But for Tina Cooper, retirement is nothing new.  This is her second one—before working as a life-skills para-educator at Evergreen Elementary, she was a nurse for 25 years.

“I can’t wait for my last day,” she said, and then paused as she started to choke up. “But I’m really going to miss my kids. I’m already crying.”