SALAMANCA — Seven staff members representing more than 185 years of service to the Salamanca City Central School District were recognized last week by the Board of Education.
Of the seven retirees, elementary school teacher Brenda Windus taught the most years in the district at 37.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to come to school every day,” Windus said. “It’s not really a job. I’m coming to school and learning right along with the kids most of the time.”
Windus, who has led the school’s Odyssey of the Mind program for many years, is also a graduate of Salamanca.
“Went to school here, graduated and came back, and it’s been wonderful,” she said. “It’s been great and I thank you all for the opportunity.”
Close behind Windus was another elementary school teacher, Karen Kaye, who worked in the district for nearly 36 years. Breidenstein said even with her final days winding down, Kaye treated each lesson with her students as a fresh, new day.
“I want the new hirees here to know that 35 years goes really quickly,” Kaye said. “It’s incredible. It’s been a great trip.”
Kaye began her career with the district as a long-term substitute followed by turns in a few elementary grade levels.
“I love kindergarten, and I loved first grade,” she said. “Thank you so much. It’s been great.”
Holly Studd has been an occupational therapist in the district for almost 28 years, working with elementary aged children with disabilities on their fine-motor and writing skills as well as hand-eye coordination.
“It has been a true pleasure working with the kids in the district,” Studd said. “I hope that all you young people go out and further your education, that you pick a career that you love as much as I have.”
Studd said she’s been an educator in the county for 37 years in total, starting in BOCES.
“Every day was fun and I think it’s really important to love what you do,” she said. “Get out there, take some good classes, go to college, get your degree and do something that you love.”
Kathy Stone spent 19 years in the district, beginning as a teacher’s aide and spending most of the past two decades teaching in Universal Pre-K. Breidenstein said it takes a special person to work with kids who are barely 4 years old and help them grow in their first full year at school.
“I absolutely love my job,” Stone said. “I love the people I work with and I love the little kids.”
Stone said she doesn’t want to retire but needs to for medical reasons. Otherwise, she said she’d stay in the Pre-K room until they kicked her out.
“Before I start crying, I just want to say thank you,” she said. “I wish I didn’t have to retire, but I do.”
Three retirees, Kathy Caruso (27 years), a kindergarten teacher, and Dr. Lee Kronert (27 years) and Donna Ingerson (15 years), both of whom taught math in the district, were unable to attend the school board meeting.
(Email reporter Kellen Quigley at kquigleysp@gmail.com.)
