District says goodbye to dedicated staff

  • By KAT SORENSEN
  • Sunday, May 21, 2017 7:45pm
  • News

As the school year comes to a close, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is saying goodbye to more than just this year’s graduating class.

“This is a bittersweet time of year with our staff,” Superintendent Sean Dusek said in a statement. “We are losing some excellent educators and support staff, and while it is sad they are leaving the district, it is also a time to be thankful for their contributions and also wish them well on their next adventure.”

With a cumulative total of nearly 800 years of working in the district, the following staff will be retiring or resigning.

Rosemary Bird, 37 years

Kenai Middle School Choir and Home Economics Teacher

Teri Zopf-Schoessler, 33 years

Soldotna High School English and Drama Teacher

Mo Sanders, 30 years

Montessori Charter School Administrator

Kenneth Roser, 30 years

Kenai Middle School Physical Education and Health Teacher

Daniel Calhoun, 30 years

Homer Middle School Math Teacher

Linda Raemaker, 29 years

Soldotna High School Social Studies Teacher

Bill Noomah, 28 years

McNeil Canyon Elementary School Fifth Grade Teacher

Katie Blossom, 25 years

Tustumena Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher

David Fischer, 25 years

Kenai Middle School Math and Science Teacher

Michele Stenger, 25 years

Kachemak-Selo Kindergarten and First grade Teacher

Laurie Olson, 24 years

District Office Director of Finance

Martha Shirley, 22 years

Skyview Middle School Special Education Resource Teacher

Laurie Martin, 20 years

Paul Banks Elementary School Second Grade Teacher

Carol Boehmler, 17 years

Sterling Elementary School Third and Fourth Grade Teacher

David Kingsland, 17 years

Seward Elementary School Administrator

Teri Diamond, 17 years

Soldotna Elementary School Administrator

Janet Szajkowski, 16 years

Connections Home School Program Generalist Teacher

Kimberly Johnson, 15 years

Chapman School Second Grade Teacher

Leobof Dorvall, 32 years

Nikolaevsk School ELL Tutor and Food Service Manager I-S

Daniel Hastings, 31 years

Student Nutrition Services Districtwide Kitchen Manager

Marilyn Dvorak, 28 years

Homer Flex and West Homer Elementary Custodian I, Food Service Cashier

Phyllis Halstead, 27 years

Kenai Alternative High School School Secretary II

Eric Benson, 26 years

Paul Banks Elementary School Head Custodian II

Jean Calhoun, 26 years

West Homer Elementary School School Secretary III

Pamela Howard, 26 years

Tebughna School School Nurse

Catherine Patterson, 26 years

Sterling Elementary School Food Service Manager I-S

Teresa Dalebout, 24 years

Soldotna Prep School Special Education Aide

Stuart Laurion, 23 years

Soldotna High School Special Education Aide

Penny Duncan, 22 years

Seward High School Head Custodian III

Dolan “Wayne” Cowan, 20 years

Kenai Middle School Head Custodian II

Mary Helminski, 20 years

Redoubt Elementary School School Secretary III

Diane Ames, 19 years

Nikiski North Star Elementary School Food Service Cashier, Kitchen Assistant

Barbara Njaa, 18 years

Central Peninsula Area Schools ELL Tutor

Andrea Fischer, 15 years

Kenai Middle School Food Service Manager I-S

“Thanks and best of luck goes to all our retirees and staff moving on to other adventures. You will be missed,” Dusek said.

More in News

David Meyer. Photo courtesy of Chantrelle Meyer
Volunteers continue search for missing Happy Valley man

David Meyer was reported missing June 11 while kayaking in Cook Inlet.

Boats at Douglas Harbor under mostly clear skies on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
80°F in Juneau will trigger first-ever National Weather Service heat advisories

Officials say sun’s angle in Alaska makes temperatures feel higher compared to other states.

People carrying flags and signs line the Sterling Highway for a “No Kings” protest in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna ‘No Kings’ protest draws hundreds

The nationwide protest came the same day as a military parade organized at the behest of the Trump administration.

Council member Jordan Chilson speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna council mulls change to meeting time

Meetings would be moved from 6 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. under a resolution set to be considered on June 25.

Mountain View Elementary School is photographed on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mountain View vandalized by children, police say

Staff who arrived at the school on Monday found significant damage, according to police.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress 4th grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy vetoes education funding to $500 BSA increase

Per-student funding was increased by $700 in an education bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in May.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Minimum wage increases to $13 per hour on July 1

Since 2014, Alaska’s minimum wage has increased from $7.75 to $11.91 through the Alaska Wage and Hour Act.

Leads for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements Project field questions and showcase their “preferred design” during an open house meeting at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Preferred design alternative for Sterling Highway safety corridor introduced at town hall

The project is intended to redesign and construct improvements to the highway to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo
Recovered remains confirmed to be missing Texas boaters; fourth set of remains found

Remains were recovered from the vessel sank that in Kachemak Bay last August.

Most Read