City schools bid farewell to 84 at district retiree reception

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown city school district has said goodbye to more than 2,300 years of educational service.

That’s the approximate combined service time of 84 retiring teachers, custodians, secretaries, administrators, maintenance workers, cooks and others honored during a school board reception Tuesday.

“We’re going to miss a lot of these people,” said Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent.

She wasn’t shy about asking some of the 42 retiring teachers to come back as volunteers as she greeted them before the ceremony.

The district can use their expertise as tutors to work one-on-one with students who need the assistance, she said.

Many of them promised to do just that.

Some, like Penny Wells who is leaving after 38 years of service, said they intend to continue working with the special programs they helped institute.

For Wells, projects like Sojourn to the Past and the Underground Railroad research team, both involving city school students, remain dear to her heart and she doesn’t intend to give them up.

Difficult to replace

The mentorship offered by the retiring teachers will be difficult to replace, Webb said, pointing out that veteran teachers teach new teachers.

“This is a heyday for you all. It’s a very hard thing for me,” she said, as she presented the retirees to the board. “You are more than just educators. You are my friends. Go forward and enjoy life,” Webb told the group.

She greeted each retiree and shook their hands, but when Diane Black, a Taft Elementary teacher with 35 years of service approached, Webb announced that Black already has promised to come back to help.

“You’ve got my word,” Black replied.

The retirees and their guests were treated to refreshments and presented with watches bearing a city school insignia. The person with the greatest longevity in the district was Patricia Orenic, a Taft teacher with 41 years of experience.

gwin@vindy.com