Against the backdrop of the old Machado school and the setting
sun, 48 retiring Morgan Hill Unified School District employees were
applauded and embraced Wednesday for their combined 1,384 years of
dedication to educating and helping children.
Against the backdrop of the old Machado school and the setting sun, 48 retiring Morgan Hill Unified School District employees were applauded and embraced Wednesday for their combined 1,384 years of dedication to educating and helping children.
Twenty-nine school teachers, such as first-grade teacher Susan Hansen seen hugging her principal Patrick Buchser, are retiring this year; four administrators and 15 staff in food services, maintenance and transportation.
Straight from a “Happy Days” episode, retirees rocked around with their new clocks at the ’50s theme party chowed down on hamburgers, root-beer floats and cake.
If San Martin/Gwinn teacher Carol Anderson is having a less-than perfect day, she can always reflect on one story that has kept her laughing through the years.
It was January, after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the recess bell rang. One of her first-graders jumped up with arms raised, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”
MHUSD teachers, administrators and staff alike might be just as excited as Anderson’s student to hear the final school bell ring in two weeks.
After the party ended and all went home, the retiree class of 2010 have made their mark on Morgan Hill schools and every child who entered their classrooms.
A WHO’S WHO OF MHUSD RETIREES
Administrators
Nick Boden, Live Oak High School principal: six years of service to MHUSD
Carol Coursey, Britton Middle School principal: four years
Linda Evaro, transportation director: 12 years
Peter McKenna, maintenance and operations supervisor: 30 years
Michael Johnson, former assistant superintendent: four years
Alan Nishino, former superintendent: four years
Peggy Pappani, former executive secretary: 30 years
Shari Roth, former human resources supervisor: 30 years
Certificated teachers listed by school
Barrett Elementary
Maya D’Anjou, second grade: 11 years of service to MHUSD
El Toro Elementary
Susan Hansen, first grade: 14 years
JoAnn Johnson, first grade: 23 years
Suzanne Seymour, first grade: 21 years
Laura Tindall: speech and language specialist: 31 years
Kirby Woods, sixth grade: 37 years
Jackson Elementary
Stephanie Anderson, third grade: 33 years
Bryan Lack, fifth grade: 26 years
Daphne Renelle, third grade: 33 years
Steven Spencer, speech and language specialist: 37 years
Los Paseos Elementary
Margaret Rodrigues, fifth grade: 34 years
Christine Wait, speech and language specialist: 31 years
Nordstrom Elementary
Stephen Caracciolo, fourth grade: 21 years
San Martin/Gwinn Elementary
Mary Andre, first grade: 37 years
Carol Anderson, kindergarten: 25 years
Mary Wakatsuki, third grade: 37 years
P.A. Walsh Elementary
Timothy Pacelli, second grade: 34 years
Britton Middle School
Barbara Anderson: 22 years
Timothy Brewer: 33 years
Caroline Caracciolo: 38 years
Kathleen Hendricks, BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment): 24 years
Margaret McCann: nine years
Live Oak High School
Mary DeBenedetti, math: 14 years
Timothy Kelly, applied arts: 38 years
David Leveroni, math: 31 years
Joyce Wong, applied arts: 28 years
Ann Sobrato High School
Terrence Bernard, English: 31 years
James Feldman, P.E.: 31 years
Beth Pool, home economics: seven years
Classified staff
Sen AuYoung: 15 years
Bonnie Delgado: 26 years
Kathleen Fosbaugh: 30 years
Eileen Fraser: 24 years
Hortense Gaitan: 43 years
Gloria Galtman: 24 years
Mary Joyce Goslin: 11 years
Vivian Mitt: 20 years
Patricia Muetzenberg: 27 years
Rodolfo Orta: 11 years
Trudy Parks: 23 years
Patrick Reilly: 32 years
Linda Ross: 12 years
Naomi Sandoval: 9 years
Christine Schwartz: 12 years
Lynne Smith: 31 years
Carolyn Trevino: 19 years
Beverly Walker: 21 years
