Retirees share lessons learned at Newfield School

At the end of a normal school year, Newfield Central School District might expect to see two or three employee retirements. The retirees’ careers and contributions would be publicly acknowledged and celebrated with gifts, plaques and parties in their honor.

In contrast, since this time last year, the following faculty and staff members have quietly submitted their retirement letters with very little fanfare, their exit overshadowed by the enormity of the pandemic:

2021 Retirees: Shari Carpenter (elementary teacher, 16 years), Elizabeth Edwards (middle school teacher, 35 years), Robert Fisher (network specialist, five years), Kim Gatch (teacher aide, 28 years), Charles Githler (social studies teacher, 27 years), Lisa Miller (elementary teacher, 15 years), Joanne Nye (teacher aide, 15 years), Dee Wall (administration assistant, 35 years), Susan Walters (teacher aide, four years) and Lori White (English teacher, 38 years).

2020 Retirees: Dianne Carman (teacher aide, 31 years), Jill Green (elementary teacher, 33 years), Cathy Griggs (administrator, 23 years), Lisa Hawke (special education teacher, 31.5 years), Cheryl Jackson (administrator, six years), Richard Ketcham (technology teacher, 18 years), Scott Moseley (elementary teacher, 33 years), Paul Ravas (elementary teacher, 20 years), Suzette Shults (elementary teacher, 32 years) and Vicky Volpicelli (administrator, 36 years).

The past year has been difficult for everyone involved with public education as they grappled with new teaching methods and expectations, changing protocols and regulations and the difficulty of balancing their own health with the needs of students. Most of the recent or soon-to-be retirees will tell you that COVID-19 was not the determining factor in their retirement, but it certainly played a role.

“I had been thinking about retiring for a couple of years, but the pandemic did make my decision easier,” Wall said.

Griggs agreed, saying that, for her, it was a safety issue.

“My family was concerned that I would be exposed,” Griggs said. “Working for a few more years just wasn’t worth the risk.”

Carpenter said it was harder to form close bonds with students and families remotely, while Edwards found teaching was not as satisfying as her previous years in the classroom. The pandemic affected her thinking in other ways as well.

“My son called me and asked when I thought I would retire, that they could use my help with the kids,” Edwards said. “I came to the realization that life is short and I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren.”

The retirement incentive offered by the district, worth 20% of the base salary for those retiring in June 2021, was a factor that weighed heavily as far as the timing of the decisions.

“I had planned to retire in 2023, but the pandemic kind of took the wind out of my sails,” Githler said. “Teaching a hybrid classroom is a challenge, and a lot of kids struggle with virtual learning. The whole process is a lot less fun all of a sudden. I might have hung on for another year, but when the district offered a retirement incentive, I opted to hit the eject button.”

Taken individually, the loss of any one of these employees would cause a ripple or maybe a wave. The loss of so much talent and experience together will surely be more like a tsunami. Luckily, they are leaving some words of wisdom for their colleagues.

“What you say and do means so much to your students. A smile, a hug (post-pandemic) and a kind word can make a student’s day. Give them freely!” Green recommended. “Also, nobody knows what you are going through more than those you work with. Be there for each other.”

Volpicelli advised staff to live in the moment and to not sweat the small stuff.

“I didn’t know on March 13, 2020, that I’d never have the chance to say goodbye to students and staff like I always imagined I would. Be sure to treasure each day,” Volpicelli said. “Education is going to continue to change throughout your career. Do the best you can, get help if you need it, and things will be just fine.”

Miller agreed that change is a constant in education, as she’s seen programs and policies come and go.

“Expect massive highs and lows in this profession. Teaching can be exhausting, frustrating and seem overwhelming at times, but the rewards are so worth it,” Miller said. “I will forever have a great collection of memories to reflect on as I grow older. Keep a journal of the things that your students do or say that make you laugh out loud. If I had thought to start that early in my career, I’d be considering writing a book now.”

Ravas, who retired last June, had advice for both teachers and students.

“Teachers need to make instruction relevant. Learning out of context is so difficult,” Ravas said. “Now that I’m back working in construction, I’m excited that more young people are being encouraged to enter skilled trades. The need is tremendous. Anyone with a good work ethic, the ability to take direction, learn from mistakes and have reasonable expectations of their worth can have a wonderful and fulfilling livelihood.”

Being encouraged to retire for the financial good of the district might be expected to leave a bitter taste, but the retirees remain overwhelmingly positive about their years at Newfield and the future of education.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to learn from and teach alongside some of the greatest people and educators I have ever known,” White said. “It has also been my great joy and honor to teach the students of Newfield Central School, to learn alongside them, to laugh and cry with them, to be silly with them, to be there for them when they rise as well as when they fall. My first class of seniors is now in their fifties. NCS and I are chapters in their life stories, just as they are in ours. I hope we made a difference. ‘My kids’ have certainly made a difference to me.”

Fisher said that he has been inspired by watching “teachers proactively engage with students within this close-knit community.” Many others also cited the closeness and support of their “Newfield family.”

“For 35 years, Newfield School has been my life, and it is now time to turn it over to someone else and move on,” Wall said. “I hope that my replacement feels the same way about Newfield and the staff they work with.”

Volpicelli said she is confident that the district is in good hands.

“While this pandemic has been tragic, I think we may see some changes as to how education is delivered in the future,” Volpicelli said. “I certainly value in-person teaching, but I think many have found there are other ways of learning too. I am really excited [about] the direction NCSD is going. With the current Board and administrative team, I think we will see many new initiatives.”

The District will definitely not be the same without all of these unique and influential individuals who have given so much for so long. We thank them for their service. Looking forward, perhaps White said it best:

“The future of Newfield Central School is bright. It is a special place with extraordinary people; that will not change. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.”