The Hancock Central School District Board of Education honored staff members who have or will retire by the end of the 2018-19 academic year before its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, June 11.
The site of the meeting moved from the District Office to Hancock Elementary School’s Professional Development Room to accommodate a larger-than-normal audience that came to honor six people with more than 140 years of combined service.
Each retiree in attendance received gift baskets and praise from the BOE and Superintendent Terry Dougherty, then posed for pictures in front of family and friends. Cake and punch were served in celebration of our retirees, listed below in order of years spent at HCSD.
Deb Charles will retire June 28 after serving the Hancock Central School District as an elementary and middle school teacher for the last 43 years. Hired in 1976, the Ohio native and Kent State University graduate also has taught Title I Reading, coordinated our Koalaty Kids program, and coached cheerleading and majorettes during her time at Hancock. All three of her children – Krista, Chance and Cody – are Hancock graduates.
Clarence Wahl completed his 41st year as a custodial specialist at the Hancock Central School District on May 1. Born and raised in Hancock, Clarence served in the U.S. Army and National Guard after graduating from high school in 1967. Clarence’s career at Hancock started shortly after his honorable discharge in 1975, and his retirement began a little more than a month before his 70th birthday (June 7).
Monica Whitt will retire June 30 after her 23rd year as a mathematics teacher at Hancock, but she’ll remain active with the Wildcats’ Speech and Debate Team and school plays. The Bronx native graduated from Hancock High School in 1975 – marrying the valedictorian, current BOE President Terry Whitt – and earned degrees from Roberts Wesleyan and Binghamton University. She plans to spend more time with sons David, Steven and Andrew – all Hancock graduates – and her eight grandchildren.
Christine Casta completed 21 years of service to the Hancock Central School District, leaving her position as health office aide on April 15. Christine, who worked closely with School Nurse Jennifer Hunt for several years, could not attend tonight’s meeting.
Deb Dunlap of East Branch will retire from driving school buses for the second time in her career on June 28. The former hairdresser and mother of two U.S. military sergeants, Deb spent 25 years as a Downsville driver before retiring in 2010. She just couldn’t stay away, though, joining Hancock’s transportation department as a substitute driver the same year and turning full-time shortly after.
Don Roney of Preston Park, Pennsylvania, also will retire June 28 after seven years as a long-term substitute and technology teacher. The Class of 1966 Hancock High School graduate and father of one has a military background, a business degree from Binghamton University and career experience as an air-traffic controller, salesman and local repairman.
The Board also honored Class of 2019 Valedictorian Riley Ostrander and Salutatorian Erin Evanitsky with Senior Recognition Awards for Outstanding Academic Performance. Introduced by Director of Pupil Personnel Julie Bergman, our top two high school students read autobiographical essays thanking the BOE for the various educational opportunities offered at Hancock.
Athletic Director Ann Messenger presented a spring sports report to the Board before recognizing Brenna Gleim and Owen Wormuth with Scholar/Athlete certificates.
President Terry Whitt and Vice President Rebecca Smith lead the Hancock Central School District Board of Education, which also includes Jake Geer, Gene Homer, Todd Jacobs and Wayne Highlands representative Lothar Holbert.
Visit our Facebook page to see more photos from Tuesday's BOE meeting!