DOWNEY — A retirement ceremony was held May 1 at Rio Hondo Event Center by Downey Unified and the Downey Education Association for 58 faculty members who are retiring at the end of this school year.

This group of 58 employees is comprised of two administrators and 56 teachers. In all, the retiring employees represent 1,480 total years of service to the students of Downey Unified.

Administrators retiring in July are Dolores Goble, principal of Gauldin Elementary School, and Marian Reynolds, Administrator of Student Services at the district office.

Goble started her career as a first-year teacher at Gauldin Elementary, then moved on to Rio San Gabriel Elementary before she was promoted to vice principal, then principal, at Rio Hondo Elementary.

After 10 years at Rio Hondo, Goble became principal of Gauldin Elementary in 2008 where she will be giving her official farewell after 33 years of service.

Reynolds is leaving the Downey Unified family after 30 years of service to students. Starting as a teacher at Imperial Elementary School, then West (now Stauffer) Middle School, she was promoted to assistant principal at Warren High School in 2001.

After 16 years as assistant principal, Reynolds moved to the district office where she will be finishing her career as the Administrator of Student Services.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RETIREES

Retiring from the elementary school level are Carmen Daugherty, Susan Fuqua and Karen Lambert from Alameda; Joy Anderson, Doris Camp and Tamara Fishering from Carpenter; Regina Donahue and Carol Gutierrez from Gallatin; Gwen Hakel, Patti Hargrave, Kathryn Replogle and Tammy Smick from Lewis; Elizabeth Frank, Thelma Juarez and Dennis Petersen from Imperial; Barbara Lacy from Old River; Shelley Miller and Cynthia Skoll from Rio Hondo; Heidi Kendle from Rio San Gabriel; Wendie Graf and Helen Lanners from Unsworth; Patti Flynn, Jackie Graves, Manya Mucha, Charlotte Rippel and Linda Schneider-Tasse from Ward; and Kathy Ambruso, Susan Smith and Susan Vincent from Williams.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RETIREES

From the middle school level are Sarah Jamison from Doty; Randee Bolt-Chambers from Griffiths; Todd Miller and Mary Catherine Mueller from Stauffer; and Judith Davis, Cheryl Ramsey and Thomas Walejko from Sussman.

HIGH SCHOOL & ADULT SCHOOL RETIREES

Retiring from the high school and adult school levels are Charles Farrell, John Glaister, Virginia Rooney and Deborah Wynn Young from Columbus; Leslee Davis, Edgar Fuenmayor, Nancy Goodwin, Gregory Pittenger, Diane Villa and Gordon Weisenburger from Downey; Monica Hatcher, Patricia Hoffman, Jack Murry, Daniel Noonan and David Norris Stone from Warren; and Silvia Wood from the Downey Adult School.

Lastly, saying their final farewells are the teachers on special assignments who operated out of the district office or traveled to schools across the district assisting students in various capacities which include Eva Denise Georgianna, Mary Dagani, Barbara Halbmaier and Gregg Stapp.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we want to thank you for the almost 1,500 years of dedicated service you’ve provided to our students,” stated Dr. Garcia as he addressed the filled room at the Rio Hondo Event Center. “Each of you has had a positive impact on thousands of childrens’ lives and you are the reasons why Downey Unified is such an amazing district.”