As the school year comes to a close, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is saying goodbye to more than just this year’s graduating class.
“This is a bittersweet time of year with our staff,” Superintendent Sean Dusek said in a statement. “We are losing some excellent educators and support staff, and while it is sad they are leaving the district, it is also a time to be thankful for their contributions and also wish them well on their next adventure.”
With a cumulative total of nearly 800 years of working in the district, the following staff will be retiring or resigning.
Rosemary Bird, 37 years
Kenai Middle School Choir and Home Economics Teacher
Teri Zopf-Schoessler, 33 years
Soldotna High School English and Drama Teacher
Mo Sanders, 30 years
Montessori Charter School Administrator
Kenneth Roser, 30 years
Kenai Middle School Physical Education and Health Teacher
Daniel Calhoun, 30 years
Homer Middle School Math Teacher
Linda Raemaker, 29 years
Soldotna High School Social Studies Teacher
Bill Noomah, 28 years
McNeil Canyon Elementary School Fifth Grade Teacher
Katie Blossom, 25 years
Tustumena Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher
David Fischer, 25 years
Kenai Middle School Math and Science Teacher
Michele Stenger, 25 years
Kachemak-Selo Kindergarten and First grade Teacher
Laurie Olson, 24 years
District Office Director of Finance
Martha Shirley, 22 years
Skyview Middle School Special Education Resource Teacher
Laurie Martin, 20 years
Paul Banks Elementary School Second Grade Teacher
Carol Boehmler, 17 years
Sterling Elementary School Third and Fourth Grade Teacher
David Kingsland, 17 years
Seward Elementary School Administrator
Teri Diamond, 17 years
Soldotna Elementary School Administrator
Janet Szajkowski, 16 years
Connections Home School Program Generalist Teacher
Kimberly Johnson, 15 years
Chapman School Second Grade Teacher
Leobof Dorvall, 32 years
Nikolaevsk School ELL Tutor and Food Service Manager I-S
Daniel Hastings, 31 years
Student Nutrition Services Districtwide Kitchen Manager
Marilyn Dvorak, 28 years
Homer Flex and West Homer Elementary Custodian I, Food Service Cashier
Phyllis Halstead, 27 years
Kenai Alternative High School School Secretary II
Eric Benson, 26 years
Paul Banks Elementary School Head Custodian II
Jean Calhoun, 26 years
West Homer Elementary School School Secretary III
Pamela Howard, 26 years
Tebughna School School Nurse
Catherine Patterson, 26 years
Sterling Elementary School Food Service Manager I-S
Teresa Dalebout, 24 years
Soldotna Prep School Special Education Aide
Stuart Laurion, 23 years
Soldotna High School Special Education Aide
Penny Duncan, 22 years
Seward High School Head Custodian III
Dolan “Wayne” Cowan, 20 years
Kenai Middle School Head Custodian II
Mary Helminski, 20 years
Redoubt Elementary School School Secretary III
Diane Ames, 19 years
Nikiski North Star Elementary School Food Service Cashier, Kitchen Assistant
Barbara Njaa, 18 years
Central Peninsula Area Schools ELL Tutor
Andrea Fischer, 15 years
Kenai Middle School Food Service Manager I-S
“Thanks and best of luck goes to all our retirees and staff moving on to other adventures. You will be missed,” Dusek said.
