It's retirement season at Downey Unified

Forty teachers and administrators are retiring from Downey Unified at the conclusion of this school year. Photo courtesy DUSD

DOWNEY – As the school year winds to an end, the Downey Unified School District is saying goodbye to dozens of retiring teachers and administrators. 

On Monday, the Downey Education Association held a retirement celebration for the outgoing members of Downey Unified. This group of 40 employees is comprised of six administrators and 34 teachers. 

In all, the retiring employees recognized at this celebration represented 1,088 total years of service to the students of Downey Unified. 

Administrators who will be retiring in July include Cynthia Benedetti (vice principal, Price Elementary), Leslie Jones (assistant superintendent of educational services), Robin Martin (principal, Lewis Elementary), Margaret McClain (vice principal, Lewis and Unsworth Elementary), Kathleen Succa (director of student services) and Denise Takano (director of elementary curriculum, instruction and assessment). 

Retiring from the elementary school level are Susan Barber (Rio Hondo), Nancy Barras (Williams), Alison Cleeland (Williams), Stephanie Hathaway (Old River), Cindy Johnson (Lewis), Jonina Jolly (Williams), Kathleen Kile (Price), Jan Lake (Alameda), Valerie Leonard (Rio Hondo), Brad Mathews (Lewis), Dana Mehling (Unsworth), Nora Pedersen (Gallatin), Tamera Rodgers (Unsworth), Barbara Simpson (Williams), Betty Skarbo (Imperial), Victoria Smith (Price), Judy Stayton-Glaister (Price), Sandra Lynne St. Pierre (Williams) and Carole Watanabe-Lee (Lewis and Rio San Gabriel). 

The sole middle school retiree is Gregory Benner from Sussman. 

Lastly, retiring from the high school and adult school level are Jay Brunner (Downey), Virginia Comer (Columbus), Melody Delgado (Downey), William Greer (Warren), Reginald Jones (Downey), Timothy Meledy (Downey), Mary Monica Miller (Downey), Susan Rodriguez (Columbus), Sherrill Romero (Warren), Linda Shelton (Warren), James Stewart (Warren), Shirley Stewart (Warren) and Teresa Tinnerman (Downey Adult School). 

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we want to thank you for the countless years of dedicated service you’ve provided to our students,” expressed school board president D. Mark Morris. “Each of you has had a positive effect on children's lives and you are the reasons why Downey Unified is such an amazing district.”