HUNTINGTON – Six staff members, retiring from the Gateway Regional School District in June, will be honored by the Gateway Regional School Committee at a special reception on Wednesday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Gateway Courtyard. Karen Savoy, Mary Ann Shipman, Phyllis Dassatti, Carol Pellerin, Brenda Mason and Shelley Pease—who, combined have served the Gateway district for nearly 140 years—will be honored.
The reception will also honor Gateway’s 2013 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award Winners, Gail Gingras, Avery Lavigueur and Susan Rhoads. Others to be honored include Steve Estelle, Division 3 Coach of the Year for girls soccer; Sue Luppino, selected to serve as Teacher in Residence at Westfield State University next year; and Food Services Director Wendy McCaul, who achieved a Bronze Level in the USDA Healthier Schools Challenge this year.
Karen Savoy has spent 29 of her 31 ½ years in education at Gateway. She holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Westfield State University. “My favorite part of teaching was having the opportunity to be a part of so many children’s lives and watching their love of learning!” Savoy said. “Besides the children, I will miss the warm and caring adults I worked with. I was fortunate to be a part of a real ‘community’ of co-workers who truly care about each other. Over the years, Savoy has also served as a member of the Professional Development Team, several curriculum committees, and as a teacher mentor. She currently teaches fourth grade at Littleville Elementary School.
Mary Ann Shipman has taught for 21 years at Gateway Regional, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education/Bilingual Teacher. She says that she will miss the rich and devoted relationships that she has had with her students, their families and the Gateway staff. “Our staff has helped me to celebrate my blessings and to sustain me in hard times,” Shipman said. She has served the district as the special subjects Team Leader since 2006; the Community Service Class Advisor from 2003-2009; and chaperoned trips to Washington D.C. and Disney World. “I am so grateful to have these years here at Gateway,” Shipman noted. “Meeting my husband here was so wonderful! I am a better person for all these experiences.” Shipman currently teachers Spanish and Multicultural Studies.
Phyllis Dassatti has been the secretary of the Pupil Services office for 20 years. Before that, she worked for 8 ½ years as the secretary at R. H. Conwell Elementary School. Her favorite memory from working at Gateway was being in the elementary school with younger children, ‘playing nurse to a child with an eraser in her nose and providing crackers when children were hungry during math!” She has also enjoyed interacting with high school students, and especially the students who have special needs. “It always sounds typical to say that you will miss your colleagues,” Dassatti reported, “but how true it is. The staff have been my true friends and support system. We had a wonderful respect for one another and each person’s professionalism.”
Carol Pellerin will retire after 20 years at Gateway as the Transportation Coordinator, and a Central Office Administrative Assistant whose responsibilities have included scheduling the facilities and grounds among school and community groups. She has enjoyed working with the bus companies and drivers; “They are a great group of people and have always been supportive. She has also enjoyed working with the support staff and secretaries. Pellerin has also served as a Guidance Secretary and was the Secretary to the Gateway Regional Building Committee.
Brenda Mason has worked for Gateway for 19 years and will retire as the Cafeteria Bookkeeper. She has enjoyed working for students and found working in the cafeteria as a fun place to be. She has enjoyed all of her years at Gateway, due in large part to her co-workers and friends.
Shelley Pease also retires from the Gateway cafeteria after 22 years. Her favorite part of her job—and the part she will miss the most—has been interacting with staff and students.
Current and former staff, students and parents are invited to attend, congratulate our honorees and wish our retirees well! Light refreshments will be served.
