![\"2024-25](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-Retiree-Reception-1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This year, 32 longtime employees with combined service of more than 777 years will leave BC after dedicating their careers to serving the children and families of the Bethlehem Central School District.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, May 29, a reception was held at Martel\u2019s at Capital Hills to celebrate this year\u2019s retirees.\u00a0 Those in attendance were welcomed by Superintendent Jody Monroe, Board President Holly Dellenbaugh, along with administrators and department supervisors who were on hand to honor them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Below, learn more about this extraordinary group of people as we say farewell, and thank you!<\/p>\n
2024-25 BCSD Retirees
\nSandra Banas \u2013 Physical Education Teacher, Middle School (33 years<\/p>\n
\u201cSandi has always approached all of her responsibilities with the utmost integrity. She is universally well-regarded, respected and admired by every single one of her colleagues. Sandi made us feel just a little bit more like a family and her legacy lives on in so many teachers she has touched positively throughout the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teresita Barcia \u2013 World Language Teacher, High School (35 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cDescribed by a colleague as \u2018One of the most caring and compassionate people I know\u2019, Teresita makes all students feel included and is attentive to their needs. Always someone you can count on, Teresita is especially gifted at lifting people up. Teresita gives her all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lester Betor \u2013 Elementary Teacher, Slingerlands (25 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cFor most of his career, Lester has called fifth grade home\u2014and what a home he built. His classroom has long been a place where students feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for. Lester has a special way of connecting with his students, making each one feel valued and capable. He had high expectations, a sharp wit, and a steady presence that made his classroom both challenging and comforting\u2014a place where students could thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa Carr \u2013 School Counselor, High School (27 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a single conversation, \u2018Doc Carr\u2019 has the power to guide you toward the right choice while simultaneously lifting your spirits. Her knowledge, kindness, and optimism have shaped her students\u2019 lives and created a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Whether offering a listening ear or thoughtful advice, she has been a guiding force for all who have had the privilege of working alongside her. While her absence will surely be felt, her influence will never fade.\u201d<\/p>\n
Catherine Cusato \u2013 Speech Therapist, High School (30 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout her career, Cathy has been a steadfast advocate for her students, always prioritizing their needs and ensuring they had the tools and support necessary to succeed. Cathy\u2019s contributions to the district extend far beyond her professional duties. She developed deep, meaningful relationships not only with her students but also with their families, fostering a sense of community and collaboration that has left a lasting legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joan Deragon \u2013 Noon Aide, Elsmere (47 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cJoan has a rare gift: the ability to help children solve their own problems, to listen deeply, and to gently teach without ever raising her voice. Without ever asking for recognition, Joan has modeled what it means to be strong in both mind and body, reliable, steady, and full of grace. For 47 years, she has been Elsmere\u2019s rock. Our role model. Our friend. Joan\u2019s absence will be deeply felt, but her legacy will live on in every corner of the school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Edgar \u2013 English Teacher, High School (30 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cFor three decades, Liz has been shaping young minds, challenging students to think critically, and\u2014most impressively\u2014convincing them that reading books is still a worthwhile endeavor. If there\u2019s one thing Liz\u2019s students will always remember, it\u2019s that she cared \u2014about the subject, about fairness, about making them better versions of themselves. That\u2019s a legacy any teacher would be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donna Falkenhainer \u2013 Aide to Students with Disabilities, Hamagrael (30 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cDonna balances a warm, loving approach with having high expectations for her students. She often attends nighttime events to support her students, and it\u2019s evident that students remember her for that. During our senior assembly each year, her name comes up frequently as someone who had an impact on graduating seniors. Donna will be missed greatly, but her influence will continue to be felt in countless ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura Forman \u2013 Art Teacher, Middle School (31 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cLaura\u2019s most common teaching tactic is affirmation! The kind words of congratulations, both on results and equally on effort, showered on her students created a charismatic pull that drew students to enjoy her class, engage with the projects they completed, and compelled many to continue with Art in high school. This is perhaps the greatest indicator of how a teacher develops relationships with their students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Flanagan \u2013 Elementary Teacher, Glenmont (33 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine Glenmont Elementary without Mrs. Beth Flanagan. Her connection to this school runs deep: not only has she devoted more than 33 years here as a beloved educator, but she also began her journey as a student at Glenmont School. It\u2019s here she met her future husband, John, and built the foundation for a life filled with love, learning, and community. Beth\u2019s impact is immeasurable, and her legacy will live on in every student, colleague, and family whose lives she has touched.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa Haas \u2013 Central Registrar, High School (23 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cMelissa\u2019s professionalism, empathy, and unwavering grace made her a constant source of support for families and colleagues alike. Whether it was a parent nervously registering their child for kindergarten, a newly arrived family navigating the challenges of a language barrier, or complex custody situations, Melissa met each with composure, respect, and care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kathleen Hahn \u2013 Art Teacher, High School (19 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cKathleen is leaving behind a legacy of creativity, inspiration, and support for her students and colleagues. Through her passion for art, she cultivated a space where students felt empowered to explore their imaginations and express themselves. She not only taught art techniques but also life lessons in perseverance, empathy, and the beauty of seeing the world through different perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline Hill \u2013 School Bus Driver, Transportation Department (22 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cJackie, thank you for being you! You have a wonderful spirit and you have done a great job. True story: Jackie counted down the days to retirement and in doing so forced her colleagues to do the same. When they got down to zero, Jackie took off one day and came back to work as a substitute driver the next day. It was fantastic!!\u201d<\/p>\n
Debra Jeffers \u2013 Elementary Teacher, Hamagrael (25 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cDeb has balanced compassion and high expectations with remarkable grace\u2014an approach that shaped young lives and inspired those around her. Deb\u2019 s legacy is one of wholehearted dedication, thoughtful mentorship, and unwavering care. She leaves behind a school community that is better because of her presence, and a generation of students who were lucky enough to learn in her classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prakashbhai Joshi \u2013 Bus Attendant, Transportation Department (8 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cSoft-spoken, generous and dedicated, Prakash was especially helpful to students with special needs. He is missed in the BC Transportation Department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andre Legrone \u2013 Custodial Worker, High School (11 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cAndre always ensures that students and staff alike have a welcoming environment each day. Quiet and unassuming, Andre consistently focuses on the task at hand, leading by example through his steady and dependable presence. His gentle demeanor and positive spirit will be missed by all of us at BC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jane Mahan \u2013 Aide to Students with Disabilities, Middle School (24 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cJane was always counted upon at the middle school for her leadership, primarily because of how calmly she listened to others and helped any conflict onward toward resolution. She always had a supportive and positive attitude toward seeing the best in others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laurie Mortensen \u2013 Aide to Students with Disabilities, Hamagrael (20 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cLaurie\u2019s presence in our school community has been nothing short transformative. Through her deep dedication, compassion, and tireless advocacy, Laurie has shaped the lives of countless students, families, and colleagues in ways that will resonate for years to come. She brought with her a level of professionalism, heart, and intuition that is rare and deeply valued.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shawn Mowry \u2013 Science Teacher, High School (21 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways attuned to the needs of his students, Shawn devoted countless hours\u2014often staying late into the evening\u2014to work one-on-one with those who needed extra support. His patient and compassionate approach empowered struggling students. He single-handedly launched Bethlehem\u2019s Science Olympiad team and transformed it into a competitive force, while the successful Science Bowl and Masterminds teams he led gave students new and challenging opportunities in STEM.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Nealon \u2013 Physical Education Teacher, Middle School (27 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cTo watch Mark Nealon with students or the athletes he coached is like observing a \u2018how to\u2019 on how to be a great mentor, coach, parent, teacher, or someone who just gets people. Mark has been an outstanding embodiment of all that any school hopes to have in any of its staff: leadership, character, integrity, and a lifelong learner committed to excelling at his craft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth Neff \u2013 Science Teacher, High School (36 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a career defined by excellence, passion, and unwavering dedication, Mr. Neff leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who had the privilege of working or learning alongside him. It\u2019s hard to imagine Bethlehem High School without him anchoring the B wing. The faculty room will be a little quieter next year, and many of us will miss his \u2018quick\u2019 words of wisdom, his takes on the latest science news, and, of course, his stories from the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n
David Norman \u2013 Music Supervisor, High School (24 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the most challenging of times, Dave Norman ensured that BC\u2019s music program not only survived but thrived. He taught us all that music is not just about performance, it\u2019s about community, humanity, and connection. He has proven that the arts are not extras, but essentials. Dave\u2019s influence will echo in every hallway, every rehearsal room, and every note sung or played by our students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kim Panaro \u2013 Social Worker, High School (18 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cThose who know Kim can attest to her immense heart and advocacy, as she consistently exudes kindness and compassion in all her interactions with students and staff alike. The students and staff who have come to know and love Kim will certainly miss her in retirement. However, the impact she has made on our school culture and environment will last for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elisa Peters \u2013 Senior Account Clerk, Operations and Maintenance Department (20 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cElisa has been an integral part of the Operations & Maintenance team, providing unwavering support, insight, and service throughout her career. Her unmatched knowledge of District operations, coupled with her keen attention to detail, made her a go-to resource and a steady hand in even the most complex situations. Elisa\u2019s contributions have left a lasting impact on the O & M Department and the District as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judy Pinheiro \u2013 Bus Attendant, Transportation Department (9 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cA mother of six, a nurse and then, in 2016, a bus attendant. Judy is nurturing and it showed in her work. Students responded very well to Judy. She had a gift of figuring out what would be best for a safe, quiet, enjoyable ride. Sometimes it was a particular toy and sometimes an iPad, she would also color and read to the students. She loved coming back to the base to tell us of her successes. We wish her well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beverly Reese-Hulse \u2013 Math Teacher, Middle School (20 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cBev consistently was able to resonate with students who may have wanted to give up on themselves in math class. To say that this skill is transformational in the lives of students is not an exaggeration. We wish Bev all the best in retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pamela Rizzo \u2013 Aide to Students with Disabilities, Middle School (18 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cPam is rarely seen without a smile when working with students. She is willing to take over in a second in any situation and does so with a sense of ease and calm. She is dependable, hard working and the students respect Pam very much. Pam will be missed as an outstanding asset and team member of our middle school community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter Ruggiero \u2013 Art Teacher, Middle School (29 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cPete was a great member of every team he was placed on and he always brought strong connections to students and his colleagues with him. Pete was also well known for his advocacy of all good causes, including service learning. Every year he created artwork for the middle school art auction and many of his colleagues have authentic Ruggiero pieces because of these efforts. We already miss Pete.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda Seymour \u2013 Reading Teacher, Glenmont (25 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cFormer Principal Betty Ahearn once wrote of Linda, \u2018She created a respectful and caring environment in which children felt safe to take important risks in learning to read.\u2019 That sentiment still rings true today. Linda built trust, nurtured confidence, and inspired countless students to believe in themselves. Without Linda\u2019s unwavering dedication, strength, and heart, Glenmont will not be the same, but her legacy will remain a part of this school forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce Turek \u2013 Data Web Architect, High School (12 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cFor over a decade, Bruce has been a cornerstone of the Bethlehem Central School District. When we say he \u2019s helped keep this district running, we mean it. Whether it was transportation data, rostering for a hundred different educational platforms, or state reporting, Bruce has been the steady, brilliant force behind it all. If something worked seamlessly, chances are Bruce made that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard Warnken Jr \u2013 School Bus Driver, Transportation Department (15 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often hear how the children and families of this district love Richard as their bus driver. They bake him giant cookies. They make projects professing their love and respect for him. They trust Richard. We all do. He is a one-in-a-million, true-blue gentleman. We are all luckier in our lives to be able to say not only do we know Richard, we also work with him, and that has been an honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
William Wojcik \u2013 ELA Teacher, High School (30 years)<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Bill, the idea of sharing a love of books with young minds just made sense. It also didn\u2019t hurt that he had a talent for teaching, honed during his experiences as a writing tutor for ESL students. It was there he realized the power of imparting knowledge and how transformative education could be for both teacher and student. So here \u2019s to Bill, and to a retirement that promises to be just as inspiring as the career that came before it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Retirement Reception Slideshow<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year, 32 longtime employees with combined service of more than 777 years will leave BC after dedicating…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5417,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-5416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}