Lawrence Township Schools Say Goodbye to Retirees

The 2010-2011 school year has now drawn to a close in Lawrence Township, and with it go 26 veterans of the township school district.

With the retirements of these men and women, the district loses a wealth of knowledge and experience. Collectively, they served Lawrence Township schools for 625 years (and that figure doesn’t count the years many of them spent as educators in other districts prior to coming to Lawrence).

Lawrenceville Patch would like to salute these fine men and women and thank them for all their hard work educating Lawrence Township’s children.

Listed below are farewell messages some of the retirees wished to share with Patch readers.

Laura Barrall 

• 31 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a health and physical education teacher at Lawrence High School

Roseann Bozzone

• 19 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a first-grade teacher at Eldridge Park Elementary School

"I have been an educator for close to 30 years.  It has been a somewhat varied career beginning with teaching middle school for seven years in New York. A Lawrence resident for 25 years, my years teaching in Lawrence have been wonderful ones characterized by wonderful principals, great students and terrific colleagues who have become my family, as well as my friends.  Eldridge Park School has been a home away from my not-so-far-away home where I have spent 19 years teaching a transitional first grade, second grade and finally, my all-time favorite, first grade.  The children are all very special little people who are engaging, creative and lots of fun.  I will miss the daily fun and ‘light- bulb’ moments when someone finally gets it for the first time but I know that teaching will always be important to me and look forward to other ways to learn and teach in the future."

Patricia Brown 

• 5 years of service in Lawrence Township; media specialist at Lawrence Intermediate School

Geraldine Bryan

• 22 years of service in Lawrence Township; French teacher at Lawrence High School

Michele Cacciabaudo 

• 23 years of service in Lawrence Township; special education teacher at Lawrence Intermediate School

Barbara Chase 

• 25 years of service in Lawrence Township, special education teacher at Lawrence Middle School

Kristine Deni

• 5 years of service in Lawrence Township, district special education supervisor

"I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with a staff, administration and board of education so fully in support of programs for students with disabilities."

Sylvia DeVoe

• 22 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a special education teacher at Eldridge Park Elementary School

Evelyn Dye

• 23 years of service in Lawrence Township; kindergarten teacher at Slackwood Elementary School

Ellen Kirsch

• 26 years of service in Lawrence Township; social worker and member of a Child Study Team (25 years at Lawrence Intermediate School; several years at Lawrenceville Elementary School)

"It has been a satisfying career counseling students, identifying students with special needs, working with their families, and collaborating with staff."

Joyce Lino

• 17 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a kindergarten teacher at Eldridge Park Elementary School

Jacqueline McCrystal

• 13 years of service in Lawrence Township; lunch assistant at Eldridge Park Elementary School

Lynne Miller

• 23 years of service in Lawrence Township; guidance counselor at Lawrence Middle School

Monica Orloff

• 22 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a third-grade teacher at Ben Franklin Elementary School

Joan Pesce

• 29 years of service in Lawrence Township; lunch assistant at Eldridge Park Elementary School

Linda Pica

• 14 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently in the special education department at Lawrence Intermediate School

Diane Pothier

• 25 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a special education teacher at Lawrence High School

Clementina Salmastrelli

• 42 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as an instructional supervisor

Kathie Smith

• 35 years of service in Lawrence Township; taught fifth through seventh grades, library skills, writing lab and, most recently, academic support instruction, all at Lawrence Intermediate School

Penny Starkey

• 33 years of service in Lawrence Township; most recently as a first-grade teacher at Slackwood Elementary School

"Saying 'goodbye' to what feels like home is never easy. But that sense of loss is tempered with pride when I see or hear from former students, and they tell me of their lives and accomplishments. Never having had children of my own, I couldn't be prouder of ‘my guys,’ no matter where their paths lead them. Two of them are teachers right here in Lawrence Township!  (Boy, talk about feeling old...)  I 'grew up' at Slackwood School, and the 33 years of experiences will always be precious to me. I made life-long friends and memories, and for that I will be forever grateful.' Goodbye, old friend!' All my love. "

Susan Tucker 

• 8 years of service in Lawrence Township; most-recently as the speech teacher at Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School

William Tucker 

• 40 years of service in Lawrence Township; most-recently as a social studies teacher at Lawrence High School

Carol Vedral

• 41 years of service in Lawrence Township; most-recently as a teacher at Lawrence Middle School

"I would like to thank the students and staff for making my years as a teacher ones that I shall always cherish. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be a member of such a wonderful family."

Leonard Weister

• 38 years of service in Lawrence Township; most-recently as a health and physical education teacher at Lawrence High School

Patricia Wendell

• 21 years of service in Lawrence Township; principal of Slackwood Elementary School

"I am grateful to have been part of the Slackwood School family and the Lawrence Township Public Schools for 21 years.   My heart is full of joyful and warm memories of wonderful children, families, and fellow staff! "

Donna Wilder

• 23 years of service in Lawrence Township; most-recently as the secretary to the principal at Lawrence Intermediate School; she also taught sixth-grade at Lawrence Intermediate School in 1988

"I love LIS, the students, the teachers and the administration.  It is a very friendly school and the staff takes care of each other like family, and they care tremendously about the students also.  I have had a wonderful 23 years at LIS, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have worked here.  I will miss it very much when I leave."