Ten Wellesley School Faculty Members Retiring This Year

As the school year draws to a close many students and faculty members are looking forward to summer break and a return to Wellesely Public Schools in the fall. 

But a part from the seniors that are graduating and those heading for other districts, there are ten faculty members that will be saying goodbye to education and retiring.

In his weekly bulletin on Friday, Superintendent Lussier said goodbye. Here are a few exceprts from his notes about the departing faculty members.

Bob Callahan, WHS Art Specialist: Bob has a very special, gentle approach to teaching students: to trust their creativity and the creative process, in addition to helping them discover the ways of learning to see. Part of his magic is his unique way of inviting them to question their inherited view of reality and to question the status quo. He introduced his students to the art and practice of meditation long before it became the norm.

Bob Dankner, WMS Mathematics Teacher: We are losing a lot of the institutional memory of WMS with Bob's departure; I think he has been here longer than almost any other teacher. His good humor, easygoing nature, and generosity will be sorely missed by us all. He tells good stories, loves to laugh, is quick to volunteer to help out wherever he is needed, welcomes new teachers heartily, befriends 6th graders, keeps track of scheduling details that keep colleagues organized on weird-schedule days, and is universally kind.

Lynne Johnson, WMS Art Specialist: Lynne Johnson is truly a renaissance woman. She has been teaching creativity in all its glorious forms for 33 years at all grade levels, but mostly at Wellesley Middle School. She taught dance for the Performing Arts Department, which included choreographing and/or directing many high school and middle school musical productions. In the Visual Art Department, Lynne has taught photography, drawing & painting, ceramics, digital art, as well as sixth and seventh grade general art.

Nancy Kuziemski, WMS Department Head of Guidance: During her time in the middle school, she has implemented many new initiatives including: a redefined student support process, in-service programs for counselors, a web-based career exploration program, and developmental guidance curriculum that includes online lesson plans, presentations and activities. She is a model educator who understands that knowing adolescent child development is key to a student’s success both academically and socially. Her work always keeps student progress at the forefront of what she does.

Carole Lobach, WHS Special Educator: What makes Carole’s career so exceptional is that she has devoted her 24 years to the Transitions Special Education Program. Carole has always put student needs as her first priority. She has built a program that helps students meet success within a large high school and her program has often been called a family within a family. Carole is the voice of reason. She builds community and she is always looking for what is best for kids and adults.

Miriam McGuire, Early Intervention Teacher: Miriam has made such a difference in so many lives during the last 40 years. Her previous students (now adults) have come back to see her or have been pleasantly surprised to find her hard at work decades after being in her class. In one such case, a current kindergarten parent could hardly contain her excitement in seeing Miriam. After dropping her children off on their first day, this parent made sure to bring her mother into school to meet Mrs. McGuire again to acknowledge the lessons that stayed with her a lifetime.

Poppy Milner, WMS Guidance Counselor: Students, parents, and staff all cherish Poppy’s intelligence, grace, and wisdom. She is a creative problem-solver who responds to each child’s situation with compassion and calm support. Always professional and resourceful, Poppy has brought valuable depth of skill and experience to our department. She is a true team player, who contributes hard work and sensitivity in the many aspects of middle school counseling. We have also treasured Poppy’s refreshing humor and flexibility. Colleagues seek her advice frequently, describing her as “joyful and inspiring ” and “amazingly generous of spirit.”

Margaret Pickett, Middle School English Teacher: Dr. Margaret Pickett has been an English teacher in the Wellesley Middle School community since 1984. In that time, she has inspired her students and colleagues to think better, learn better, and be better by continually seeking opportunities to grow as an educator and as a person. In short, Margaret is a learner. Not one to stay in her comfort zone, Margaret has not only received her Masters of Education, she also earned her Doctorate.

Ritajayne Rivera, WMS Social Studies Teacher: What truly stands out about Ritajayne is her care for her students. She wanted students to learn content, but even more than that, she pushed them to be thoughtful, reflective people who worked for what was right. She sought to build relationships with students who may not have been in the center of the WMS social universe, and tried to ensure that all people felt comfortable in class.

Anne White, WMS English Teacher: Anne White began her tenure in the Wellesley Public School system in 1984. Since then she has integrated herself fully into the community. She has taught Reading, Poetry and Writing workshops, as well as grade 6 and grade 8 English. As a bus monitor, she is the first to greet students in the morning and help them set the tone for the day. She has also served as a coach and mentor to many athletes in Cross Country and Track and Field.

The Superintendent's bulletin can be found, with expanded goodbyes for the retirees, on the Wellesley Public Schools website.