SDOW Staff Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony for School District of Washington Staff
Posted on 05/29/2019
SDOW Staff Closing CeremonyThe closing ceremony for the School District of Washington staff was held Friday afternoon, May 24, in the CJB Theater at Washington High School.

The ceremony marked the end of the 2018-19 school year and celebrated accomplishments, presented service awards, technology recognition, recognized and thanked retirees, announced staff scholarships, and announced WINGS awards.

Superintendent Dr. Lori VanLeer and Board of Education President John Freitag addressed the staff.

Helen Thebeau, custodian at Four Rivers Career Center, was named the School District of Washington and WINGS Support Staff Person of the Year. The six finalists were Thebeau, Elizabeth Kloppe (Special Education Para at South Point Elementary), Dave Wells (Custodian at Washington High School), Chris Gauzy (Secretary at Washington Middle School), Hanah Knickmeyer (Para in Toddler Class at Early Learning Center), and Julie Bell (Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education Secretary).

Receiving the Dr. Jane and Doug Reed Scholarship for $2,000 apiece were Washington High School German teacher Sarah Johnson (certified staff) and Buildings and Grounds staff members Darrick Luko, Joe Goodman and Ben Hoemann (support staff).

The top selling school of the WINGS discount cards was Campbellton Elementary.

Retiring staff members, combining for 472 years of service, are Jeanne Abbett, Rekke Berges, Julie Bunkley, Lisa Fortner, Barb Gansmann, Garry Gerhart, Virginia Gilbertsen, Dan Gilman, Connie Groff, Linda Hackmann, Maria Kakadiaris, Vic, Kallmbah, Carolyn Kluesner, Chester Livell, Lori Mickelson, Ron Millheiser, Scott Morgan, Judy Obermark, Laurie Reed, Kathy Rogers, Kerry Scoles, Karen Stafford, Debbie Stone, Jada Sumner, Leslie Wallace and Judy Westhoff.

Honored for 30 years of service were Connie Groff, Penny Heisel, Helen Thebeau and Penny Wilmesherr.

Honored for 25 years of service were Glen Bade, Julie Bunkley, Karen Conduitt, Garry Gerhart, Lisa Gleeson and Lori Mickelson.

Honored for 20 years of service were Dwayne Briggs, Bill Deckelman, Brett Hoch, Cindy Luelf, Cindy Stroeher, Laura Mann, Kim Minnich-Contarini, Tammy Clark, Rebecca Dotson, Cathy Jinkerson, Scott Paulson and Patty Thornton.

Honored for 15 years of service were Tricia Bartle, Kate Winkelmeier, Amy Gruber, Cathy Hartmann, Philip King, Samantha Loepker, Jennifer Pecka, Alison Snider, Beth Beerman, Dan Brinkmann, Melissa Meza, Mike Jinkerson, Lynne Kuchem, Judy Obermark, Kenny Sullentrup and Shelly Struckhoff.

Honored for 10 years of service were Daniella Cotos, Lloyd Kassebaum, Anna LaForest, Meghan Boland, Bonnie Rademacher, Sherry Schull, Nanci Simmons, Judy Westhoff and Angie Schuttenberg.

Completing the Teaching With Technology Leadership Academy were:

Professional Level (Year 1): Sara Bradshaw, Kim Fleer, Lisa Gleeson, Jennifer Hunewill, Catherine Scott and Kate Winkelmeier.

Specialist Level (Year 2): Chris Becker, Jessica Fitzgerald and Jenny Meers.

Master Level (Year 3): Michelle Prewitt.

Photos from the closing ceremony for the School District of Washington staff are below.

Staff Closing Ceremony
SDOW, WINGS Support Staff of Year
Helen Thebeau, custodian at Four Rivers Career Center, was named the School District of Washington and WINGS Support Staff Person of the Year. Also shown are FRCC Director Andy Robinson, left, and Brad Mitchell from WINGS.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Dr. Jane and Doug Reed Scholarship
Receiving the Dr. Jane and Doug Reed Scholarship were Buildings and Grounds staff members Darrick Luko, middle left, and Joe Goodman, middle right. Also shown are Dr. Jane Reed, far right, and Doug Reed, far left. Not shown are recipients Ben Hoemann and Sarah Johnson.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Retiring Staff Members
There are 26 School District of Washington staff members retiring, accumulating 472 years of service to the SDOW. Front row, from left, are Karen Stafford, Laurie Reed, Carolyn Kluesner, Barb Gansmann, Connie Groff, Julie Bunkley and Leslie Wallace. Middle row, from left, are Kathy Rogers, Rekke Berges, Linda Hackmann, Lori Mickelson, Garry Gerhart and Ron Millheiser. Back row, from left, are Debbie Stone, Kerry Scoles, Scott Morgan, Chester Livell, Judy Obermark and Judy Westhoff. Not shown are Lisa Fortner, Jeanne Abbett, Dan Gilman, Jada Sumner, Maria Kakadiaris, Vic Kallmbah and Virginia Gilbertsen.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Staff Closing Ceremony

WINGS Discount Cards Fundraiser
Elementary schools and the middle school in the School District of Washington received their payouts from the WINGS discount cards program. Front row, from left, are Amy Oesterly (WINGS), Jennifer Pecka (Labadie Principal), Dr. Mary Robertson (Augusta Principal) and Glenda Leslie (Washington West Assistant Principal). Middle row, from left, are Melanie Trentmann (South Point Assistant Principal), Kim Hunt (Washington West Principal), Laura Bruckerhoff (Washington Middle School Associate Principal) and Kate Winkelmeier (Marthasville teacher). Back row, from left, are Aimee Harty (South Point Principal), Jennifer Meyer (Campbellton Principal), Dr. Matt Busekrus (Clearview Principal), Larry Tobben (WINGS) and Brad Mitchell (WINGS).
Staff Closing Ceremony
Service Awards: 30 years
Honored for 30 years of service. From left are Connie Groff, Helen Thebeau, Penny Heisel and Penny Wilmesherr.
Staff Closing Ceremony

Service Awards: 25 Years
Honored for 25 years of service. Front row, from left, are Lori Mickelson, Julie Bunkley and Karen Conduitt. Back row, from left, are Garry Gerhart, Lisa Gleeson and Glen Bade.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Service Awards: 20 Years
Honored for 20 years of service. Front row, from left, are Tammy Clark, Rebecca Dotson, , Kim Minnich-Contarini and Dwayne Briggs. Back row, from left, are Scott Paulson, Patty Thornton, Cathy Jinkerson and Brett Hoch. Not pictured are Bill Deckelman, Cindy Luelf, Cindy Stroeher and Laura Mann.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Service Awards: 15 Years

Honored for 15 years of service. Front row, from left, are Kate Winkelmeier, Tricia Bartle, Samantha Loepker and Lynne Kuchem. Middle row, from left, are Jennifer Pecka, Alison Snider, Melissa Meza and Shelly Struckhoff. Back row, from left, are Mike Jinkerson, Dan Brinkmann, Philip King and Judy Obermark. Not pictured are Amy Gruber, Cathy Hartmann, Beth Beerman and Kenny Sullentrup.
Staff Closing Ceremony
Service Awards: 10 Years
Honored for 10 years of service. Front row, from left, are Sherry Schull, Daniella Cotos and Bonnie Rademacher. Back row, from left, are Judy Westhoff, Anna LaForest, Nanci Simmons and Meghan Boland. Not pictured are Angie Schuttenberg and Lloyd Kassebaum.