A Million Thanks

A Billion Wishes

Thursday

May 12, 2011

District 191 Retirement Reception

In Their Own Words.

We invited all of this year’s retirees to voluntarily

offer up some information about themselves. Most did.

BRUCE ANDERSON, 1975

Math Teacher, Burnsville High School

Most Rewarding Experience: I was chosen

the MN Girls Hockey Coach of the Year

(2007) by my colleagues.

Favorite 191 Story: My 3 children all at-

tended BHS. We had an open registration at that time and all 3

chose to have me as their math teacher.

Plans for Retirement: I hope to continue coaching our BHS girls'

hockey team. I plan to do a lot of traveling. I also want to volun-

teer at the V.A.

CAROL ANDERSON, 1976

Purchasing Clerk, ASC

Carol’s career at 191 included 35 years

of loyal service to the District at Vista

View, Cedar School, and the ASC.

CYNTHIA ANDERSON, 1976

ESL Teacher, Burnsville High School

Most Rewarding Experience: Teaching

the new Russian program at BHS...it

brought great cultural understanding and

non-traditional language study for hun-

dreds of District 191 students.

Plans for Retirement: Curl up at home on the couch next to my

poodles with a good book on rainy days and snowy days. Pick ber-

ries and make jam, process goose sausage, freeze garden pro-

duce, and enjoy making culinary treats year round.

District Retirees Share.

Please enjoy reading the personal remembrances and

future plans of our esteemed group of honorees.

KATHY ANDERSON, 1978

School Psychologist, Districtwide

Plans for Retirement: I am continuing my

new adventure into the fiber world—from

cleaning the raw fleece to dying, spinning

and weaving. I am intrigued with it all! Throw

in playing in the dirt, exploring new places, lingering over my

coffee on cozy mornings…this retirement gig is "dang good"!

JO-ANNA ANTONUCCI, 1982

Educational Assistant, Vista View

Jo-Anna’s fine service included dutifully

fulfilling duties as a crossing guard and

assisting students with their learning.

BYRON BONG, 1970

4th Grade Teacher, M.W. Savage

Most Rewarding Experience: In 2007 I was

nominated as the representative for

Teacher of the Year from MWS by one of my

former students. In 2008 I was honored by a

parent of one of my students as a KS95 Teacher of the Week.

This same year I was also presented by another former student, a

Teacher Appreciation award indicating what teacher she felt had

the greatest academic influence on her life.

Plans for Retirement: Assisting my parents who still live in their

own home, volunteering at church and perhaps at school as well

as spending some time traveling with my wife after she retires in

Fall 2011.

GENELL BRANDELL, 1987

LD Teacher, M.W. Savage

Ms. Brandell’s service to the District included

24 years of dedicated instruction to students

with learning disabilities at M.W. Savage.

MARILOU CHAMBERLAIN, 1971

5th Grade Teacher, Gideon Pond

Marilou enjoyed her teaching in Burnsville

tremendously and feels that the District has

offered an exceptional education system.

CYNDI DORIGAN-SLETTE, 1993

Speech & Lang. Pathologist, Sioux Trail

Most Rewarding Experience: I loved being

on the Assistive Technology Team and being

Speech Liaison. It was fun to see what

teachers were doing in all of the buildings.

Favorite 191 Story: BHS had the fire and we

were moved to Sky Oaks Elementary for classes. My big and tall

high school students walked into the 1st grade classroom and

wanted to know how they were suppose to walk with all of this

STUFF (art work) hanging from the ceiling and in their faces. My

speech story is of the student who came to me one morning and

told me his grandmother was having her brains taken out that

day. It took me a few minutes to realize he meant veins (a B for

V substitution).

DANIEL DORNFELD, 1975

Science Teacher, Eagle Ridge

Most Rewarding Experience: While at Sioux

Trail Elementary, Dale Bedard and I team-

taught together in what we called ―The Hall

of Fame‖. These exhausting, yet extremely rewarding years,

allowed me to grow as an educator in ways that I would never

have imagined. How do you top an experience like that? You

help open a new school that was to be named Eagle Ridge Jr.

High School. This school was going to be different from the

other junior high schools in District 191. It was going to be a mid-

dle school concept that centered on team teaching in a house

setting. How could I refuse such an offer? Plans for Retire-

ment: My plans for this next chapter of my life are still a work in

progress. But my greatest plan is to spend more time with my

family and our grandchildren.

KATHLEEN GARNETT, 1998

LD Teacher, Harriet Bishop

Most Rewarding Experience: As a special

education teacher, I cherished the times

when I had the opportunity to watch strug-

gling students grow into confident, well-

adjusted and flourishing students as they

progressed through the elementary grades. I enjoyed seeing stu-

dents' faces light up with the discovery and joy when they were

able to grasp a new concept. I also appreciated the camaraderie

of staff as we worked together towards the common goal of

helping a student to learn and achieve their goals. It was an

honor to be chosen by peers to represent Harriet Bishop as build-

ing T.O.Y. one year.

Plans for Retirement: My plans include having more opportu-

nities to connect with family near and far, to enjoy my grand-

children, and to serve in my church.

JEWEL HARGEST, 1993

Custodian, Nicollet

Better known as J.W., Mr. Hargest will be

missed by the students he connected with

during his service here at 191.

CHAR HATFIELD, 1978

Food Service Clerk, ASC

Most Rewarding Experience: The many

great friends I have made over 33 years.

Plans for Retirement: Spend time at our

lake cabin in Deerwood, MN with family

and friends. Get as far away from Minnesota as possible in the

winter and think of every day as Saturday.

CAROL HILGERS, 1989

Food Service, Burnsville High School

Carol was the Snack Bar Manager of the High

School and spent 21 years serving 191 stu-

dents nutritious meals to fuel their learning.

STEVE HOILAND, 1994

Director of Purchasing & Trans., ASC

Steve’s faithful service ensured that

students made it safely to school each day

and secured the best contracts for the

District.

SUSAN JOHNSON, 1976

Spanish Teacher, Nicollet

Most Rewarding Experience: Simply. .

.having the opportunity to teach and con-

nect with many outstanding students as

well as working with the best colleagues

ever, many whom have become lifelong friends.

Plans for Retirement: Stay up late (if after 9:00 pm is late),

sleep in, read, take walks, work out, spend time with my family,

prepare/cook 'different' meals, have dinner parties, meet friends

for lunch, do a little shopping, watch my favorite soap opera,

clean my house, plan little getaways with my husband, travel to

Mexico and Costa Rica.

JEANETTE KANE, 1987

Educational Assistant, William Byrne

Most Rewarding Experience: It has been

an honor and a privilege to work in District

191 and to be a special part in so many

students' lives over all these years. I have

truly loved every minute of it and look

back on my career with so many happy memories. Plans for Re-

tirement: First and foremost, I plan to spend a lot more time

with my husband, Ken, our two children, Angie (Zach) Shannon

and Adam (Kira) Kane.

PATRICIA KOMAR, 1979

Management Ed. Assistant, Gideon Pond

Paddi is appreciative of the support and the

professional and personal development oppor-

tunities that she was provided over the years.

CAROLYN KOTHE, 1998

EBD Teacher, Rahn

Carolyn started as a Management Educa-

tional Assistant at Vista View Elementary

and moved on to become a Special Educa-

tion Teacher.

MARY JO KURTZ, 1983

Evaluator, Districtwide

Most Rewarding Experience: The students

were interesting and fun, the curriculum

was challenging; working with the CIS/AP

stretched my mind and love of America's

beginnings and place in the world today.

Plans for Retirement: I hope to relax, exercise more, get a part-

time job, be politically active, and travel.

ANN LEE, 1975

3rd Grade Teacher, Harriet Bishop

Most Rewarding Experience: Witnessing

learners of all ages and especially young,

struggling learners make connections and

gain understanding. Plans for Retirement:

Rest, exercise, travel, imagine, read, eat well.

JANET MACKENZIE-POLANSKI, 1973

4th Grade Teacher, Harriet Bishop

Most Rewarding Experience: Definitely

watching young people grow and become

confident readers, writers, mathematicians

and decision makers is what teaching is all

about.

ROBERT MAYNE, 1976

LD Teacher, Vista View

Plans for Retirement: To continue to be

active in church along with my wife, men-

tor for MN Teen Challenge, and substitute

teach for 191.

CYNTHIA NICHOLS, 1975

4th Grade Teacher, Sioux Trail

Most Rewarding Experience: The most re-

warding part of my career has been the op-

portunity to work with caring and hard-

working people who truly are concerned

about all children, the school, and each other.

Plans for Retirement: I'm going to be a first-time grandma in

July. I also plan to work part-time at my daughter-in-law's eye

clinic. My husband and I also plan on taking fall or winter vaca-

tions. (I've never had the opportunity to do that before!)

DIANE NOLTE, 1978

3rd Grade Teacher, Sky Oaks

Diane is a valued teacher who taught the

District’s primary students at both Vista

View and Sky Oaks for 33 years of out-

standing service to students and families.

THOMAS OCHS, 1969

4th Grade Teacher, Hidden Valley

Most Rewarding Experience: Educating

thousands of students and athletes– being a

positive influence on their lives. Also, seeing

my three oldest children graduate from BHS.

Favorite 191 Story: When a student comes back to visit and tells

me what a positive influence I was to them and how I always en-

couraged them to work hard and reach for their dreams. Do what

you love for life.

SARA PRYBIL, 1974

2nd Grade Teacher, M.W. Savage

Sara initially started at 191 as a long term

substitute at Sioux Trail Elementary and

went on to become a full-time teacher in

BETTY RAMSBACHER, 1976

1st Grade Teacher, Gideon Pond

Most Rewarding Experience: Students who

grow to have a love of learning and return

often to share their stories with me. Seeing

the students succeed against all odds.

Plans for Retirement: I can't wait to sleep late and travel!

First, I plan on having Chuck fulfill his promised gift on our 40th

Wedding Anniversary… that was a cruise to Rome and the Greek

Islands!

Picture

Unavailable

SANDRA SHAUL, 1998

Math Teacher, Eagle Ridge

Most Rewarding Experience: Working with the

students of this district. It has been an honor

and an enjoyment to work with great kids.

Favorite 191 Story: After the fire at BHS, the

high school students shared classrooms with Sky Oaks and Nicol-

let. The students at Sky Oaks left notes on their desks offering to

share their paper and pencils with the high school students as

their materials could not be taken out of the building. This in-

cluded the big elementary pencils and writing tablets.

JUDY SIEVE, 2008

Scanning Clerk, Burnsville High School

Judy sincerely appreciates the three years

that she has worked at ISD 191 as a records

scanner at the high school and feels that the

position was just the right fix for her life.

EMILY SOELTER, 1989

3rd Grade Teacher, Rahn

Most Rewarding Experience: One spring af-

ternoon a 6th grade girl stopped by my class-

room. She climbed up on the window ledge

for a chat and said, ―Mrs. Soelter, I’ll always

remember when you bought treats for me to

hand out to the kids on my birthday back in first grade. That

was so nice of you.‖ It was a good reminder that those little

things we do can make the biggest difference in the lives of our

students.

Plans for Retirement: I look forward to spending more time with

our children and grandchildren, traveling, volunteering, reading,

writing, cooking (or so my husband hopes!), biking, golfing…

WILLIAM TAPPPER, 1975

5th Grade Teacher, Gideon Pond

William taught elementary students at Vista

View and Gideon Pond and enjoyed his 36

years at 191. He hopes to substitute teach in

the future.

THOMAS TROESTER, 1978

Evaluator, Districtwide

Most Rewarding Experience: There really

isn’t a single experience for me, but rather an

accumulation of the kids I taught, the families

I met, and the friendships I made.

Plans for Retirement: Whatever I want!

JOAN WARD, 1992

ECSE Teacher, ECSE

Joan’s 18 years of dedicated service to early

childhood students and families has brought

great value to the success of many students.

JUDY WILLEMSSEN, 1975

Music Teacher, Sioux Trail

Plans for Retirement: I am looking forward to

lots of travel, including warm weathers in the

winters. My husband and I love to hike, so we

will now have the time and the opportunity to

do that year-round. It will be fun to visit friends and family

around the United States. I also hope to continue with my

equestrian activities of dressage, cross-country and stadium

jumping.

For the full version of retiree memories,

go to StaffNet to read more!

Thank You!

2011 Retirees

Honoring 1,045 Years of Valued Service!

Bruce Anderson

Carol Anderson

Cynthia Anderson

Kathy Anderson

Jo-Anna Antonucci

Byron Bong

Genell Brandell

Cyndi Dorigan-Slette

Daniel Dornfield

Kathleen Garnett

Jewel Hargest

Char Hatfield

Carol Hilgers

Steve Hoiland

Susan Johnson

Jeanette Kane

Patricia Komar

Gloria Karbo*

Carolyn Kothe

Mary Jo Kurtz

Ann Lee

Janet Mackenzie-Polanski

Robert Mayne

Cynthia Nichols

Diane Nolte

Thomas Ochs

Sara Pribyl

Betty Ramsbacher

Sandra Shaul

Judy Sieve

Emily Soelter

William Tapper

Thomas Troester

Joan Ward

Judy Willemssen

* Politely declined inclusion in tonight’s program