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24 LTUSD staffers say goodbye

Isaac Brambila
ibrambila@tahoedailytribune.com
A group of South Tahoe Unified School District retirees pose with roses in their mouths during a honorary gathering Tuesday afternoon at the district office.
Isaac Brambila/Tahoe Daily Tribune |

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — The retiring staff members at South Tahoe Middle School were seated in front of the entire student body listening to kind parting words when the fire alarm went off on Wednesday. Calmly and orderly, the students and staff picked up their belongings and headed out of the multipurpose room, and outside, just down the hall close to the football field, flashing emergency lights, an ambulance, a fire engine, other emergency vehicles and several firefighters waited.

The students and staff marched down the hall and gathered in the middle of the field and then, “Happy!”

Pharrell Williams’ hit single pounded from a set of speakers and students and staff broke into dance. In front of them, a group of six firefighters joined in on the dance, coordinating as best they could but succeeding more in effort than in synchronization. It was a final gesture to parting staffers who dedicated nearly a combined 150 years of work at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.



Those staffers, however, are not the only ones retiring from the education system in South Lake Tahoe. In total, the LTUSD had 24 retirees who, combined, racked up nearly 650 years of work. Fifteen were certificated retirees, four were classified retirees, two were classified management retirees and three were confidential retirees.

Recognition for the entire group of district retirees took place on Tuesday at the lawn by the LTSU, just before the scheduled board meeting. The staffers were recognized individually in front of a group of about 35 and presented with a rose and a certificate accompanied by a few kind words.



The retirees also enjoyed appetizers and refreshments between laughs and playful conversations in the company of active educators, community members and LTUSD staff and board members.

Certificated retirees included Betsy Benavidez with 24 years of service with the district, Karen Boyer, 20 years, Howard Coleman, 32 years, Beth Delacour, 32 years, Joann Hernandez, 15 years, Deborah Kushner, 31 years, Marie Meagher, 36 years, Carol Murdock, 36 years, Elizabeth Roeser, 37 years, Lauretta Ross, 36 years, Dennis Sarosik, 34 years, Louise Ann Simon, 27 years, Pamela Taylor, 30 years, Karen Tinlin, 39 years and Susan Willmett, 19 years.

Eleanor Heckendorn, 31 years, Michael Kezer, three-and-a-half years, Paul Mitchell, 17 years, and Darlene Morris, 27 years were classified retirees.

Classified management retirees included Steve Morales, 33 years, and Debra Yates, nine years.

Wilma Hoppe, 23 years, Angie Keil, 23 years, and Nancy Tesh, 27 years, were confidential retirees.


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