23 employees retire from Downey Unified

DOWNEY — Twenty-three Downey Unified School District employees transitioned into retirement at the close of the school year on May 29.

This group of employees are comprised of 11 teachers and 12 classified (non-teaching) staff. In all, this year’s retiring employees represent 514 total years of service to the students of Downey Unified.

Retiring from the elementary school level are Kristy Berk and Rose Sapia from Price; Lourdes Regueiro from Rio Hondo; Emilie Alvarez from Rio San Gabriel; and Rose Latimer and Jami Piercy from Ward.

Retiring from the high school and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program are Edwina Starnes from Downey; Guy Weeks from Warren; and Helen Brand and Joan Perea from the DHH program.

Saying their final farewell is one of Downey Unified’s Speech Language Pathologists who operated out of the district office and traveled to schools across the district assisting students in various capacities is Karin Hernandez.

Lastly, the 12 Downey Unified classified employees who will be moving into retirement are utility worker Mario Archibeque ( 16 years); campus security assistant Derrick Childs (23 years); custodian Ruben Contreras (seven years); facilities construction manager Calvin Davis (25 years); food service supervisor Maralyn DiPiazza (two years); bus driver Maria Farfan (four years); senior instructional assistant Lori Harris (19 years); general maintenance worker Jonathan Johnston (22 years); senior instructional assistant Connie King (eight years); computer/network support technician David Lubetski (35 years); administrative secretary Catherine Pecka (31 years) and utility worker Edward Sandoval (23 years).

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we want to thank you for the almost 515 years of dedicated service you’ve provided to our students,” stated Superintendent Dr. John Garcia. “Each of you has had a positive impact on thousands of childrens’ lives and you are the reason why Downey Unified is such an amazing district.”