ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 6, 2000

REVERE – May is a time for beginnings and endings. High school graduates saygoodbye to youthful ways and hello to college, careers and adulthood.

Retiring teachers also say goodbye to school, and hello to another stage in life.

On June 1 the St. John Parish School Board bid a fond adieu to 29 schoolemployees. At a party held in the St. John School Board Media Center inReserve 19 teachers, four administrators, one teachers aide, two bus drivers, two lunch technicians and two maintenance workers gathered with school board members and administration to eat, drink, and reminisce over long careers in education.

There is a combined total of 734 years of service to the school board, with the longest being fifth-grade teacher Dianna Cayette with 35 years of service, and the shortest being bus driver Hayward Rixner with six years of employment.

In a short speech to the retirees, Superintendent Chris Donaldson said, “I don’t know how we will replace you all.”School Board President Richard DeLong told the retirees, “The kids have really appreciated all the work you have done.”Even though there were some tears and some sad feelings, most of the retirees seemed ready to hang up the education shoes and put on some comfortable slippers for some much-deserved relaxation.

Title I teacher Catherine Pedescleaux said, “I’m looking forward to some traveling.”The employees who retired are, bus driver Hayward Rixner, six years; lunch technician Anna Belle Ockman, eight years; eighth-grade teacher Belinda Stringer, 10 years; maintenance worker Leon Sterling Jr., 12 years;disciplinarian Albert Madere, 12 years; math teacher Brenda Vicknair, 15 years; assistant principal Ken Landry, 19 years; bus driver Nathalie Vicknair, 20 years; seventh-grade teacher Teresa Chambers, 23 years; math teacher Lorraine Pyne, 24 years; head janitor Cora Lee Mitchell, 25 years; seventh- and eighth-grade teacher Barbara Julien, 25 years; special education aide Gwendolyn Wilson, 25 years; coordinator of staff development Marcha Walker, 25 years; Director of Elementary Education Stephanie Watkins, 27 years; lunch technician Clemantine Grows, 28 years; fourth-grade teacher Rose Bazile, 28 years; guidance counselor Albertha Henderson, 29 years; first-grade teacher Rosemary Williams, 30 years; assistant principal Felton Collins, 32 years; French teacher Geraldine Smith, 32 years; librarian Glendora Grant, 33 years; special education teacher Marion Robinson, 33 years; fourth-grade teacher Sheila Domino, 33 years, sixth-grade teacher Equila Bazile, 34 years; librarian Gloria Duhe, 34 years; guidance counselor Bessie Jeffery, 34 years; Title I teacher Catherine Pedescleaux, 34 years; and fifth-grade teacher Dianna Cayette, 35 years.

Return To News Stories