School District Retirees 'Irreplaceable'

The school district honored 20 retirees at Monday’s Board of Education meeting with personal statements and a book chosen specifically for each employee.

Some of the retirees included former Superintendent Richard Starodub, Mill Pond Principal Sue Gallagher and Supervisor of Special Services Thomas Dorso.

Dorso served the Lacey school district for more than 35 years. Dorso has “served this district well,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vanessa Clark said, adding that he had rapport with the students, was positive and influential.

“You epitomize the very definition of the school social worker, which states, ‘School social workers are instrumental in furthering the purpose of the schools—to provide a setting for teaching, learning and for the attainment of confidence and competence,’ “ Clark said.

Clark dedicated the books “Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success” as well as “The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation” to Dorso.

“I stand before you all as a very fortunate man,” Dorso said. “Fortunate to live in this town for 28 years, fortunate to serve this community for 35 years by working in this school system. I want to tell you I thank you for that, I’m honored by that, privileged by that.”

School Board Vice President thanked the retirees for their service and said that they’re “immeasurable” and “irreplaceable.”

“In a school district that’s been around for a while, we’re still pretty young but we’re getting there, we have to replace things all the time,” he said. “We have to replace doorknobs. We have to replace desks, books and a lot of things. And we have to replace positions but we don’t replace you.”

The books chosen for each employee will be featured in libraries throughout the district.

The following were retirees who were recognized for their years of service at the Lacey Township School District on Monday:

Administration
Thomas Dorso, Supervisor of Student Services
Richard Starodub, Former Superintendent 

Lacey Township High School
Diane Bauernhuber, Teacher
Christy Brown, Teacher
Patty Cooke, Teacher
Esther Jenkins, Paraprofessional
Michael Shern, Dean of Discipline 

Lacey Middle School
Maureen Eaton, Cafeteria

Mill Pond School
Genevieve Bergstrom, Duty Aide
Sue Gallagher, Principal
Theresa Kaufman, Duty Aide 

Cedar Creek School
Marilyn Fox, Teacher
Charleen Leslie, Paraprofessional
Judy Tabit, Music Teacher

Lanoka Harbor School
Barbara Julian, Teacher
Debra Smith, Teacher

Forked River School
Janice Oakland, Paraprofessional

Other
LouAnn Mrtin, Bus Driver
Helen Roemer, Computer Operator
Bobbie Hogg, SAC Counselor