Photo by James Short.
During the May 28 work session of the Wissahickon School Board of Directors, the retirees of the school year were recognized and congratulated for their careers. A special segment of the session focused on these educators who have or will retire between July 2023 and July 2024.
The first group of teachers recognized included those in-person at the work session and their families “cheering them on.” In total, 24 retirees will depart the district.
The full list of recognized school district employees includes:
Donna Branca
Library/attendance clerk
Blue Bell Elementary
16 years
Carolyn Casalinuovo
Van driver
Transportation Department
21 years
Karen Ciaccio
Special Education: Child Specific Assistant
Stony Creek Elementary
14 years
Wade Coleman
Business administrator
15 years
Janice Conger
Librarian
Middle School
7 years
Patricia Draper
Elementary teacher
Shady Grove Elementary
29 years
Johanna Duffy
Secretary
High School
24 years
Patricia Farrell
Elementary teacher
Shady Grove Elementary
35 years
Ann Finore
Reading specialist
Shady Grove Elementary
27 years
Patricia Fitzgerald
Elementary teacher
Stony Creek Elementary
25 years
Lisa Hacking
Special Education: Classroom assistant
Shady Grove Elementary
15 years
Henry Heisse
HVAC Technician
Buildings and Grounds
21 years
Nancy Hollenbeck
Special Education: Classroom assistant
Shady Grove Elementary
10 years
Michael Hood
Music teacher
High School
26 years
Charles Karcher
Van driver
Transportation Department
6 years
Donna Merin
Librarian
High School
25 years
Lisa Ruff
Librarian
Shady Grove Elementary
17 years
Teresa Shields
Reading specialists
Shady Grove Elementary
31 years
Jenifer Smith
ELA teacher
High School
23 years
Sonia St. Jules
Music teacher
Lower Gwynedd/Stony Creek
29 years
Thomas Tilghman
Custodian
High School
35 years
Nicole West
Elementary teacher
Shady Grove Elementary
19 years
Eileen Wheeler
Special Education: Classroom assistant
High School
25 years
Kenneth Wolff
Elementary teacher
Shady Grove Elementary
30 years
According to the attached documentation to the evening’s agenda, the Wissahickon School District “honors and celebrates district staff for their dedication and service to the Wissahickon community.”
“These represent administration, maintenance staff, custodians, special education classroom assistants, teachers, reading specialists, librarians, van drivers, and clerical staff,” said Danielle Hey, Wissahickon’s Director of Human Resources. “Collectively, these individuals represent the roles that make our school program successful every day.”
Each retiree received a “special gift” they were able to choose as well as “the gratitude for their dedicated years of service to the Wissahickon School Community.”
A short presentation thanking each of the 24 retirees was shown at the board’s work session. The presentation was done by HR Manager Rachelle Halterman.
“On behalf of all our staff and students, we thank you for your service,” noted the presentation’s final slide.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to meet with all of our retirees,” said Hey. “One of the best parts of my job is obviously hiring people, but also to exit folks. You told me your stories, and what you’re going to do after retirement, and it’s just really been an honor to be a part of that and be a part of that journey with you.”
“Donna [Branca] spent her final laps around the track of her Wissahickon career with us at the high school,” said Dr. Lynne Blair, the principal of Wissahickon High School during the work session’s presentations of the school’s departing librarian.
“I consider it a privilege and an honor that she did. I never actually asked you if you wanted to, but you weren’t forced to,” joked Blair. “Her colleagues shared that they appreciate the passion and time she gave to the students and teachers alike, and they’re really grateful for the countless hours she spent showing the teachers how to navigate through vast systems of databases and research processes at the heart of true inquiry-based learning.”
The Wissahickon Middle School Principal Elizabeth Bauer spoke about their departing library, Janice Conger.
“If a committee was in need, Janice was always willing to step up,” said Bauer, as she outlined the many titles and organizations Conger had served on during her tenure. “In Janice’s free time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, serving as a Boy Scouts’ den mother for her grandsons.”
Shady Grove Elementary Principal Jason Bialka, Ed.D., was also on-hand at Tuesday’s work session to thank retiring elementary teacher Patricia Farrell.
“She served as an official and unofficial mentor to countless staff members, some sitting in the audience tonight,” said Bialka. “As Pat embarks on this new chapter of her life, I’m filled with gratitude for the countless ways she’s touched the lives of her students and colleagues, and how she’s demonstrated the importance of community.”
Dr. James Crisfield, superintendent at WSD, also wanted to thank all who were retiring this school year. He said a few words about the departing member of the administrative team.
“Wade Coleman. Two words that have the ability to strike fear in so many people,” joked the super of the departing business administrator. “Imagine if you were a vendor, and you tried to short-ship us something or stick in some sort of clause that was district-unfriendly? I would not want to be that poor soul.”
On a more serious note, Crisfield said that the district would miss this 15-year veteran of the district, with a more than 30-plus year career.
“I’ve never come across a more skilled, a more professional, and a more effective business administrator in my entire career,” said Crisfield. “By the way, that includes me. I was a BA for a while! But, the bar’s a lot higher than that, believe me.”
Though Crisfield joked, he wasn’t sure Coleman was the one to truly thank.
“Wade, I’m giving your parents all the credit for this,” he said of Coleman’s accomplishments. “They did a nice job.”
