Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Grand Island School District retirees take the stage to receive congratulations and well-wishes for their future on Monday at Grand Island High School. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)
Grand Island School District retirees take the stage to receive congratulations and well-wishes for their future on Monday at Grand Island High School. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

Grand Island School District honors retirees, tenured staff

Sat, Jun 12th 2021 07:00 am

Congratulations were in order for 27 employees invited to a reception preceding Monday’s School Board meeting.

The Grand Island School District welcomed seven people to the ranks of tenured faculty and said goodbye 20 faculty and staff who are retiring at the end of this school year.

And in an unusual twist, one of the newly tenured educators is retiring. Assistant High School Principal Karen Surdyke had the distinct honor of achieving one of her professional goals at the same time she was leaving the job.

Because the reception was held in the cafeteria, participants wore masks, unless part of the same household, and sat behind Plexiglas barriers to stay within school COVID-19 guidelines.

Each tenured faculty member received a pin, and retirees were given a special gift.

The school district employees were honored at the district’s Retiree and Tenure Reception.

Retiring Sidway School Principal Denise Dunbar is shown with her family and her boss at the district’s Retiree/Tenure Reception on Monday. They are, from left: Nicole, Mark and Denise Dunbar and (far right) School Superintendent Brian Graham. Denise began her tenure as principal in 2006. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

••••••••

Tenured recipients are:

•Karen Surdyke – Secondary assistant principal, high school

•Kari Campas – Reading, Sidway Elementary

•Susan Moretta – Physical education/health, Veronica Connor Middle School

•Kari Schlageter – Art, Kaegebein Elementary

•Kelli Marcus – Special education, Sidway Elementary

•Kristin Ryan – Special education, Sidway Elementary

•Barbara Tewsley – Teaching assistant, Kaegebein Elementary

The retirees are:

•Nora Klein – Art, VCMS

•Ellen Lewis – Reading, Kaegebein

•Rosemarie Pavolko – Science, high school

•Penelope Schmitt – Teaching assistance, Huth

•Elizabeth Freedman – Elementary, VCMS

•Patrick Crowley – Special education, high school

•Craig Warthling – Physical education, Huth

•Annalea Masiello – Music, VCMS

•Denise Dunbar – Principal, Sidway

•Karen Surdyke – Assistant principal, high school

•Dennis Zgoda – Custodian

•Marci Conn – Lunch monitor

•Patsy Bedford – Food service

•Diane Merrick – Teacher aide

•Joanne Kurpiewski – Teacher aide

•Jeanne Johnston – Clerk typist

•Elizabeth Tucker – Cleaner

•Karen Smith – Bus driver

•Cheryl Domowicz – Cook manager

•AnneMarie Stewart – Registered nurse

AnneMarie Stewart, center, is retiring after 30 years as a nurse with the Grand Island School District. On the left is her mother, Nancy Samrany, and at right is her husband, Robert. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

Hometown News

View All News