School District No. 46 (SD46) said goodbye earlier this month to 12 retiring staff members and honoured 10 employees who each had mustered more than 31 years of service to the school district.
"Our retiring staff have made a very special difference in the lives of thousands of Sunshine Coast children," said superintendent of schools Patrick Bocking. "As a district and a community, we owe these professionals a deep debt of gratitude for their dedication and energy for many years."
The dozen retiring teachers were honoured at a luncheon hosted by SD46 on June 17. The retirement party was for:
Mary Braun, who worked as a special education teacher assistant (SETA) at Gibsons, Roberts Creek and Cedar Grove elem-entary schools for 23 years.
Doug Detwiller, who started his 34-year career with the district as a teacher at Cedar Grove Elementary, and spent most of his time teaching early intermediate students at Gibsons Elementary School.
Joan Fox, who started teaching at Chatelech, and spent the majority of her 31 years with SD46 at Elphinstone Secondary teaching physical education and science.
Catherine Gibson, who has been a teacher for 28 years at Madeira Park Elementary School.
The late Donna Joe, who spent 27 years as the Aboriginal language teacher at Sechelt and Kinnikinnick Elementary schools as well as Chatelech Secondary.
Nicki Kravac, who worked as a primary teacher at Sechelt, West Sechelt, Roberts Creek and Kinnikinnick elementary schools during her 30 years with SD46.
Kim Leighton, who worked as a SETA for 21 years at many of the elementary and secondary schools on the Coast, most recently the Sunshine Coast Alternative School.
Gloria McBain, who spent six years as a principal at Madeira Park and Roberts Creek elementary schools.
Nancy Randall, who served as a library assistant in nearly all of the schools in the district for 16 years.
George Richey, who has been a teacher for 24 years on the Coast, working at Madeira Park, Gibsons and Roberts Creek elementary schools.
Fred Thorsell, who served as principal at Mad-eira Park Elementary and Elphinstone and Chatelech secondary schools during his four years with SD46.
Marg Williams, who started out 20 years ago as a crossing guard and supervision assistant, and later became a SETA at Gibsons, Davis Bay and West Sechelt elementary schools as well as Chatelech Secondary School.
"We wish them the very best in their future," Bocking noted.
The 10 teachers who were given long service awards at the luncheon were Gloria Dybwad (37 years), Carrie Allan (36 years), Barry Krangle (35 years), Susan Fitchell (34 years), Carol Duff (33 years), Gabriele Knecht (33 years), Susan Murray (33 years), Bill Sluis (32 years), Diane Wagner (31 years) and Marnie Baba (31 years).
