While St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School said goodbye to
its class of 2003 last June, students and staff also said goodbye
to the
“Dynamic Kindergarten Duo” of Judi Cigan and Joan Boice.
While St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School said goodbye to its class of 2003 last June, students and staff also said goodbye to the “Dynamic Kindergarten Duo” of Judi Cigan and Joan Boice.
Cigan is retiring after nearly 30 years of teaching. The last 18 of those years have been at St. Catherine as the kindergarten teacher. Boice, the kinderarten aide, has been in education for 12 years, with a break to raise her children, and is moving permanently to her home in the Santa Cruz area.
Cigan took the job at St. Catherine after working in the Monterey Unified, Cupertino and Oak Grove School districts. Her children attended St. Catherine from 1973-85. The school was a good choice because it was close to her home, she was already involved in the parish community and her husband was on the school board at St. Catherine.
When asked how she chose her career, Cigan said, “I’ve always liked children and was good with them.”
A lifelong Morgan Hill resident, she attended San Jose State to become a teacher in kindergarten and primary education. Teachers she knew encouraged her, and once she had a chance to be in the classroom for some on the job training, she was hooked.
While Boice and Cigan had been neighbors for many years and have been friends for 27 years, they didn’t work together until eight years ago. Boice was very involved in the religious education program at St. Catherine and was on hiatus from teaching to raise her children. Finally, there was an opening for a kindergarten aide and Cigan’s husband, Dennis, elbowed Boice towards the job.
“It was a natural outcome of my involvement in the community,” said Boice. “This was home.”
The timing was right and apparently so was the chemistry for Boice and Cigan. How did they manage to work together for eight years? Laughter and a sense of humor seem key to their relationship.
“She gets my jokes,” said Boice of Cigan. They both share a commitment to consistency and a respect for each other’s mode of discipline and teaching styles.
Reflecting on their experience, they noted that the kids they have taught have been great. The addition of the junior high program at St. Catherine allowed them to see students’ progress from kindergarten through eighth grade and has been wonderful, they said.
The hardest thing for them to leave, they said, is the committed and excellent staff at St. Catherine, noting their dedication to the Christian aspect of the school. Cigan and Boice are leaving many dear friends but they hope to maintain those relationships.
“There are so many memories,” said Cigan.
What’s in store for the still youthful pair?
“I’m looking forward to no lesson plans, no bells…I want to see my grandchild, garden, do hobbies,” said Cigan, who has an almost year-old grandchild in Springfield, V.A.
Boice is looking forward to having time to relax, to do things she wants to do.
St. Catherine school is located at 17500 Peak Ave. The principal is Suzanne Rich. It is part of the community of St. Catherine Church, which is lead by Fr. Eugene P. O’Donnell.
