Shenandoah – Five teachers who have been in education for a combined 135 years will retire from the Shenandoah Valley School District at the end of this school year.
At Wednesday night's regular board meeting, the school board approved high school English major Judy Ashford's letter of intent to retire. Colleen McGuire, High School Special Education; Erica Pauley, speech therapist; Russell Schumack, High School Physics, Science, and Chemistry. Ann Taylor is middle school English.
Each teacher has decades of experience in the education field, the majority of which is in Shenandoah Valley schools.
“While this year is not over yet, I would like to personally thank each educator for their commitment and dedication to the students of the Shenandoah Valley School District,” Waite said. “I will be lonely without you. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”
Ashford and Taylor have both taught in Shenandoah Valley schools for nearly 35 years each. At the time, the JW Cooper building was still in use as an elementary school center. Both have also helped lead extracurricular activities such as drama club and yearbook.
Pauly has also been in education for 35 years, but is a relatively recent addition to the Shenandoah Valley staff.
Waite said McGuire has 20 years of experience in the education field.
Schumack, a former Shenandoah fire chief, has 14 years of education and decades of experience as an engineer.
The school district retroactively approved the posting and advertising of the post.