End of an era (for many) as PUSD recognizes retirees at May 20 Board meeting

Twelve longtime PUSD teachers and five CSEA employees will retire in June, the large number prompted by a district buyout offer for teachers with 20 or more years of experience. The retirees were recognized at the May 20 Board of Education meeting.

Retiring teachers include John White (PMS 6th Wheel, Green Team+), Laura Remer (teacher librarian), Craig Best (PMS PE), Helen Brown (Havens TK), Melissa Cowan (Wildwood), Jennifer Gulassa (teacher librarian), Alison Kelly (PMS Core 7), Lianne Morrison (Wildwood), Heidi Sawicki (PE Beach), Ted Scherman (PMS Core 7), Camilla Thayer (PMS Science) and Carolyn White (teacher librarian).

Classified staff include Nancy Andrada (Havens paraeducator), Jason Compton (IT specialist), Ron Mockel (Piedmont Adult School), Christine Petersen (WW admin assistant), and Donalda Selfors (WW paraeducator).

Also retiring this year is Jan d’Annunzio, the PUSD music assistant for almost 30 years.

The Exedra invited the retirees to share brief reflections on their time in the district:

Donalda Selfors

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? 28 years as instructional para/special ed para for five years.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years. Just seeing the look on a child’s face when something clicks and they get it.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Support the extra/supportive staff at the schools, kind words are the best! 

What will you miss most? The kids and the smiles, hugs, unconditional love. My work family is the best. I will miss the great friends, their love and support through good/sad times.

What’s next? Many adventures and sewing projects.

Jan D’Annunzio

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I have worked for 27 years as the PUSD Music Assistant; primarily at the middle and high school, but also some work at the elementary schools.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years. My favorite memory is taking the PHS Acappella Choir to China in 2000. It was before China was totally “westernized” and it was still an “emerging” country on the world stage. The contrast between the beautiful antiquities and the incredible poverty was eye-opening. The kids ate food they literally had never seen before and sang in venues that were “less than ideal” — certainly not the quality of concert halls and venues that we have in this country. Yet we had a blast. It opened all our eyes to a world that we had never experienced before and only knew existed from books and on TV! And it was a trip that I am sure those kids will NEVER forget.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Kids are only kids once. They don’t need to take “all AP’s” (or advanced) classes. Let them take some fun classes too. It won’t hurt their chances of getting into “a good college” (in fact, it very well might help). They will be more well rounded and for sure less stressed.  

What will you miss most? I will miss the kids — they are funny and fun and “keep me young”; and they teach me “techie” stuff on the computer and phone that I am simply incapable of learning on my own!

What’s next? I plan on traveling and spending more time with my husband, children, and grandchildren.

Camilla Thayer

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I started working at Piedmont Middle School in 1988 and have taught here for 38 years. I started as a seventh and eighth grade science and math teacher. The last 25 years I taught six and seventh grade science. When I started, sixth graders had a spelling class instead of science and sixth grade science was only six weeks and part of the elective wheel.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years. It’s hard to choose just one favorite memory because teaching is really a collection of thousands of meaningful moments. Watching students have an “a-ha” moment, collaborating on new lessons with my science team, and seeing students get excited about something new they’ve learned.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Parents should let  students make mistakes and use it as a learning opportunity. Middle schoolers will make mistakes, test boundaries, and have moments they are not proud of, that is part of growing up. What students need most is to know they are deeply loved and valued, even when they blow it.

What will you miss most? I will miss being part of the Piedmont Middle School community. I spend my day with amazing people, both my students and the staff I work with. Middle schoolers bring so much energy, humor, and curiosity into the classroom every single day. It has been a privilege to be part of their journey. I will also deeply miss working alongside such an amazing staff. I have been incredibly fortunate to spend my career surrounded by hardworking, talented, supportive, and caring people who consistently put students first. The teamwork and dedication within our school community is something truly special.

What’s next? My husband and I will be doing quite a bit of traveling this year, beginning with a trip to Washington, DC. We also have a four-day bike trip planned through Washington and Idaho, a visit to the East Coast in the fall, and a trip to Africa next spring. When I’m not traveling, I plan to spend as much time as possible with my dad. I’m excited to explore new places, and enjoy time with my family.

Carolyn White

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I started in January of 2001 at Beach Elementary. For most of my time there I taught fifth grade with one year of a 4/5 combo class. I moved up to PMS to share the Teacher Librarian position, first with Raynor Voorhies then with Jennifer Gulassa. Last year, the district changed the position, so we are now in the library at PHS as well.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years. I always loved taking fifth graders to Marin Headlands for outdoor education.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Time flies, so relax and enjoy the ride.

What will you miss most? Collaboration with colleagues and helping students build research skills.

What’s next? TBD.

Helen Brown

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I’ve been here in PUSD for 29 years and previously taught in International Schools. I was a first grade teacher at Havens for 24 years and for the last 5 years I have been teaching TK.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years. I loved teaching writing to my first graders and seeing them awaken to the power of the pencil. Finding little handwritten notes and seeing my students’ perspectives in personal narratives were very meaningful moments. My first graders used to perform an end of year play. We did the Musical Stone Soup for several years. It was another way for students to shine. Now in TK, every moment is thick with young children making meaning about life, friendships, and the incredible world around them. It’s a time and place full of wonderment. I love my little Acorns.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Childhood is incredibly intense nowadays. Give your children plenty of down time, have them spend time in nature, and get plenty of sleep.

What will you miss most? I will miss my amazing colleagues, reading aloud, and the whimsical yet profound conversations with young children.

What’s next? Most immediately is some walking in Ireland. After that, new adventures to be determined!!

Heidi Sawicki

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I have been with Piedmont Unified School District for 23 years. I was first a classroom teacher for many years, teaching second, third, and fourth grade. I was very interested in how physical movement helps students learn. When the Physical Education position opened up years ago, I leapt at the chance, and was the PE Teacher at Beach School. I wanted kids to play, relax, and joyfully engage with their classmates. My goal was to help kids build confidence and skills to be physically active for their entire lives. 

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Piedmont has so many opportunities. Find ways for you to play and learn along with your children. Our family chose two things: we loved being involved with Piedmont Scouting Troop 15. We also cherished our time with the Piedmont Mountain Bike Team. We now have so many memories to talk about together.

What will you miss most? I will miss the daily opportunity to interact, engage, and teach young students. I will especially miss their jokes and their way of looking at things.

What’s next? You’ll find me dancing, taking acting improv classes, reading, and hiking. If you spot me “out in the wild,” make sure you stop me and say hi!

Lianne Morrison

How long have you worked in PUSD and in what roles? I’ve worked as a teacher in PUSD since 1989. I was hired to teach a new first grade class when Wildwood had a “bulge” year. I taught first grade for 18 years, then I moved down to kindergarten in another “bulge.” I owe so much to those big groups of kids.

What is your favorite memory and/or a meaningful teaching moment you had through the years? There were many years when my class made a class quilt, with the help of our wonderful paraeducators and many dedicated parents. We helped students dye fabric with onion skin dye, then paint or print it, then cut it up and assemble it in a geometric pattern they designed as a group. The parents sewed the quilt together and I finished it. Each student took it home for a sleepover, and their family signed the back. Each year, those quilts bonded our classroom communities in a unique and irreplaceable way. I still have two of them, and kids in my class wrap up in them daily.

If you could give families (new to PUSD or otherwise) one piece of advice, what would it be? Enjoy and cultivate your conversations with your children. When kids have experience discussing ideas thoughtfully with adults who hear them and care about their ideas and feelings, they are set for learning and collaboration. And for adults, what’s more rewarding than a great conversation with your child?

What will you miss most? The whole Wildwood community, past and present, and our lovely school itself. It’s a magical place that magnetically attracts special, creative people.

What’s next? Permanently deleting my weekday 6 a.m. alarm from my phone.