SCHOOL NOTEBOOK | USD 383 honors retirees | news

The Manhattan-Ogden School District honored retired employees during a special ceremony Wednesday.

District officials played a video of employees who were retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year and employees who were retiring at the end of the previous school year. Due to the pandemic, there were no retirement receptions in 2020.

This year, 34 people are retiring from $ 383, from teachers and child nutrition workers to paraducators and maintenance workers.

Here are the 2020-21 retirees:

• Kimberly Abernathy, retired July 1, 2020. Abernathy was the border guard at Lee Elementary. She began with the district in 2011, with nine years of service.
• Jim Armendariz, who will retire June 1st. Armendariz is the headmaster of Ogden Elementary. He started with the district in 1982, with 39 years of service.
• Santina Baslock, retired August 1, 2020. Santina was a bus monitor for the transport department. She joined the district in 2005 with 15 years of service.
• Lisa Bietau will retire on June 1st. Bietau is a gifted teacher at Anthony Middle School. She entered the district in 1985 with 36 years of service.
• Nancy Evans, retired December 1st, 2020. Evans was a 3rd grade teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. She entered the district in 1986 with 35 years of service.
• Susan Farr, who will retire August 1st. She is a special service teacher at Ogden Elementary. She started at $ 383 in 1997 and served 24 years.
• Erin Fingalsen, retired on October 1st, 2020. Fingalsen was a health teacher at Anthony Middle School. She began serving in the district in 1992 when she was 28 years old.
• Ann Fitzpatrick, retired January 1, 2021. Fitzpatrick was the library media writer at Marlatt Elementary. She joined the district in 2000 with 20 years of service.
• Joann Galland, retired on January 1st, 2021. Galland was an ESL teacher at Eisenhower Middle School. She joined the district in 1992 with 28 years of service.
• Tracey Gift will retire July 1st. Gift is the custodian at the College Hill Early Learning Center. She joined the district in 2012 with nine years of service.
• Don Hess, retired on July 1st, 2020. Hess was a PE teacher at Anthony Middle School. He joined the district in 1984 with 36 years of service. He continues as the head baseball coach.
• Janice Humes, retired on September 1, 2020. Humes was in the food service department at Manhattan High School. She began working for the district in 2011 for nine years.
• Lisa Kinderknecht, retired on June 1, 2021. Kinderknecht is a PE teacher at Manhattan High School. She joined the district in 1991 with 30 years of service.
• Pat McKiney, retired July 1, 2020. McKiney was a social science teacher at MHS. She joined the district in 2013 with seven years of service.
• Cindy Norris will retire on July 1, 2021. Norris is a 6th grade teacher at Lee Elementary. She entered the district in 1985 with 36 years of service.
• Fred Olson, who will retire June 1, 2021. Olson is the groundskeeper in the maintenance department. He joined the district in 2016 with five years of service.
• Pat Olson, retired June 1, 2021. She is the library media writer at Anthony Middle School and has worked for the district since 1997. She has been in the service for 24 years.
• Sandy Richard, retired July 1, 2020. Richard was a 3rd grade teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. She joined the district in 1992 with 28 years of service.
• Barb Rivett, retired June 1, 2020. Rivett was a Paraducator at Northview Elementary. She began serving the district in 1987 with 33 years of service.
• Marcia Schreiner, retired on June 1, 2021. Schreiner is an MTSS coordinator and Title I teacher at Ogden Elementary. She joined the district in 2011 after serving ten years.
• Deb Shaner, retired January 1, 2021. Shaner was the library media writer at Amanda Arnold Elementary. She joined the district in 1990 with 30 years of service.
• Kathleen Sheltra, retired September 1, 2020. Sheltra was a language teacher at Eisenhower Middle School. She began serving the district in 2005 when she was 15 years of service.
• Debra Shepek will retire on August 1, 2021. Shepek is a kindergarten teacher at Amanda Arnold Elementary. She began working for the district in 2005 when she was 16 years of service.
• Debbie Smith, retired January 1, 2021. Smith was an administrative assistant for the central library and the educational media division. She entered the district in 1978 with 42 years of service.
• Kayla Stigge will retire on June 1, 2021. Stigge is a library media specialist at Bluemont Elementary. She entered the district in 1984 with 37 years of service.
• Pam Stokes, retired June 1st, 2020. Stokes was a health worker at MHS. She began working for the district in 1999 with 21 years of service.
• Deadre Strouts, retired September 1, 2020. Strouts was a family education partner for the Parents Teachers program. She entered the district in 1991 with 29 years of service.
• Kathleen Sundgren, retired April 1, 2020. Sundgren was an office clerk and health worker with Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. She joined the district in 2002 with 19 years of service.
• Diane Thompson, who will retire June 1, 2021. Thompson is a paraducator at MHS. She joined the district in 2000 with 21 years of service.
• Rhonda Thornburrow will retire on June 1, 2021. Thornburrow is a library media specialist at Anthony Middle School. She began working for the district in 2005 when she was 16 years of service.
• Denise Waker, retired on December 1, 2020. Waker was a paraducator at MHS. She joined the district in 2016 after serving four years.
• Dee West, retired July 1, 2020. West was the food service manager at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. She joined the district in 1990 with 30 years of service.
• Anthony Wichmann, who will retire on July 1, 2021. Wichmann is a consultant at MHS. He began working for the district in 1999 with 22 years of service.

Greg Wilhoite, retired on November 1st, 2020. Wilhoite was a qualified maintenance and turf management employee in the maintenance department. He joined the district in 1995 with 25 years of service.