The St. Michael-Albertville School District honored 14 retiring teachers and staff members recently, including a science teacher who served the district in four different decades and a decorated coach of the Knights’ tennis teams.
Retirees, school district administration, staff and members of the St. Michael-Albertville School Board attended a reception held on Monday, May 18. Superintendent James Behle welcomed the retirees and their families and thanked them for their years of dedicated service to the STMA children and families.
Retirees included:
- Dan Abrahamson – High School Science Teacher, 34 years
- Jean Becker – Fieldstone Elementary Cook Helper, 9 years
- Sheila Bichler – St. Michael Elementary Principal, 9 years
- Jean Boese – Big Woods Elementary Response/Teacher Paraprofessional, 14 years
- Nadine Christenson – Middle School East 7th Grade FACS Teacher, 17 years
- Karen Hastings — Don’s Bus Special Education Paraprofessional, 10 years
- Richard Hofmeister – St. Michael Elementary — Day Lead Custodian, 11 years
- Deborah McLeod – Fieldstone Elementary Response/Teacher Paraprofessional, 12 years
- Sallee Nelson – St. Michael Elementary Special Education Teacher, 11 years
- James Riles – Middle School West 6th Grade Teacher and High School Girls & Boys Tennis Coach, 29 years
- Louise Tetlie – Kindergarten and Elementary English Language Learner Teacher, 17 years
- Douglas Vetsch – Middle School West Custodian, 16 years
- Debra Young – Albertville Primary and Fieldstone Elementary Speech Language Pathologist, 3 years
- Lorrie Zander – Community Education Administrative Assistant, 20 years
“Our retirees contributed to the success of the school district by making sure that students have what they need at school to be successful – excellent teaching, nutritious meals, and a safe and welcoming environment,” Behle said.
“On behalf of the St. Michael-Albertville School Board, we appreciate your hard work and dedication and we thank you!” said school board chair Douglas Birk.
Birk expressed the board’s gratitude for the essential role the retirees played in the district stating that, “the STMA school district is losing a wealth of information with each of the retirees, each of whom contributed to our schools in many different ways.”
Principals shared a few brief comments about the attending retirees and members of the school board presented each one with a plaque.