Board's Farewell to Departing Teachers Turns Emotional

Hillsborough's board of education took time Monday to pay tribute to teachers retiring at the end of this school year, with the emotional good-byes building to the recognition of outgoing Hillsborough Education Association President Barbara Parker.

A lengthy standing ovation greeted Parker as her HEA successor, Daynon Blevins, recounted her impact on the district and schools.

"Barbara Parker has the distinction of being the one person who has had the most influence on the Hillsborough public school system over the last decade," Blevins said, noting she worked in Hillsborough schools for 29 of her 40 years in education, and headed the HEA for the last 12 years. "This district has seen a lot of chances in the 29 years Barbara has been here, and the most signifiicant changes have occurred in her tenure as president.

"This district has seen a somewhat adversarial relationship between the board, administrators and the association, turned into one of collaboration and mutual respect—all under the guidance of Barbara," Blevins said. He added that while serving as the head of the education, Parker worked with four different superintendents and five different central office administrators, noting "While the district and the players have changed, the one constant has been Barbara.

"Hillsborough is a much better place because of Barbara Parker," he concluded.

Parker as one of 29 educators whose retirement was noted at the meeting. Following a short note of each teacher's service, plans for retirement, and a word of wisdom offered by each teacher (including a request for a "shameless plug for Donna Kitzie's Dog Walking Service" by Principal Steven Kerrigan), teachers present at the meeting were handed a gift by Board of Education President Thomas Kinst.

The teachers recognized were: 

• Linda Glincman: 21 of 28 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Wayne Kopf: 34 of 36 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Denise Ordway: 28 years in Hillsborough schools;
• Lorraine Pydeski: 21 years in Hillsborough schools;
• Barbara Parker: 29 of 40 years in education in Hillsborough schools;   
• Charlie Davis: 23 of 35 years in education in Hillsborough schools;
• Phyllis Pinsky: 15 of 36 years in education in Hillsborough schools;
• Susan Pristas: 21 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Jane Staats: 18 of 33 years in education in Hillsborough schools;  
• Joan Arshen: 21 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Deborah Gross: 25 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Jeanne Magliaro: 38 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Patricia Mathisen: 37 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Caroline Quadrino: 5 years at Triangle School;
• Fred Keiper: 40 years in education in Hillsborough schools;  
• Bonnie Alley: 37 years with Hillsborough schools;
• Janet Hartmann: 37 of 40 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Jerrie Hoover: Hillsborough Elementary School librarian "for many years"; 
• Richard Fulmer: 14 of 24 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Joanne Gordon: 11 years at Hillsborough schools; 
• Stephen Grabowski: 20 of 26 years in educationin Hillsborough schools; 
• Cynthia Sobreyra: 15 of 27 years in education in Hillsborough schools;  
• Carol Leo: 34 years in education in Hillsborough schools; 
• Deborah Grimaldi: 19 years in Hillsborough schools;  
• Donna Kitzie: 32 years in education in Hillsborough schools;  
• Linda Reimer: 12 years at Wood Road Elementary School; 
• Roberta Vladimer: 35 years in education in Hillsborough schools;  

Hillsborough High School math supervisor Maria Szijj and Sunnymead School teacher Carole Davis also retired during the school year.