HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional School Committee held a reception for retiring teachers and staff prior to their regular meeting on Wednesday. Nine retirees representing 173 years of service at Gateway were feted.
Retiring Gateway English teacher Rod Kleber (left) also received the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award from superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Among the retirees is Joanne Blocker, who graduated Gateway in 1977, and has served the district for 20 years as Middle School dean of discipline, elementary principal and most recently as the director of academics.
Also retiring is Alice Taverna, director of pupil services. Taverna has worked with children and adults with special needs for 43 years, the last five at Gateway. She first served Gateway as a member, and later chair, of the School Committee. Taverna said she is looking forward to spending a lot of time on her deck with her feet propped up. A search is currently underway to replace the position at Gateway.
English teacher Rod Kleber is retiring after 32 years of teaching, 15 of those at Gateway. He is the 2016 recipient of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Other retirees include Sue Bloomrose, a Gateway paraprofessional for 22 ½ years; Karen Chaffee, Gateway’s physical therapist for the past 30 years, her entire career; Gateway graduate Donna Cranson, paraprofessional at the district for 30 years; Linda Dugas, nurse leader at Gateway for 22 years; Gary Huff, Gateway custodian for 19 years; and Deb Olander, health teacher for 29 years, spending the last 10 at Gateway.
Retiring custodian Gary Huff (right)
Also recognized with an awards at the reception was varsity baseball coach Jared Heeter, who received the Sportsmanship Award from the Hampshire Franklin Baseball Umpires Association at their September banquet, marking the only time the HFBUA honored a first-year coach. Heeter was an umpire in professional baseball, and has been involved in Gateway Little League and served as umpire on numerous leagues in the region.
Also honored was Gateway guidance counselor Meghan Wasiak who received Rising Star
David Hopson and Meghan Wasiak
Awards from both the Western Massachusetts Counseling Association and the Massachusetts School Counselors Association.
“It’s a bittersweet time. We’re losing a lot of institutional memory,” said Gateway superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson at the reception. “Thanks for all the work you’ve done,” he added.
“There are not really enough words to express our gratitude,” said School Committee chair Michele Crane.
