Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Seven retiring SAD 1 employees with a combined 222 years of service to the district were recognized last Wednesday night at the SAD 1 board meeting.
Photo courtesy of Terry Sandusky
SAD 1 HONORED seven retiring employees at the June 3 board meeting. Each employee received a plaque and a gift certificate to the School Farm Store. Retiring with a combined 222 years of service to the district are, from left: Syd Smith, Dave Sowers, John Eivers, Gail Gibson, Carolyn Rigg, Cathy Hotham and Jim Ouellette.
• John Eivers, who is presently a special education ed tech at Presque Isle High School, is retiring after 12 years of service.
In congratulating Eivers, PIHS Principal Eric Waddell said when he became principal in 2002, he was “always a little comforted to know that John was in the building.”
“I think the most important accomplishments in John’s life, however, were not as principal or teacher, but rather as a husband, father and grandfather,” said Waddell. “Those are the most proud pieces in his résumé. We’re going to miss John at the high school, but we’re also going to see him from time to time because he has asked to continue teaching driver education, so I’ll be seeing John … maybe not at those 6:30 a.m. classes, but will be comforted to know you will be maintaining your existence in that program. We thank you for everything you’ve done for us here over the last 12 years.”
Eivers said he has enjoyed his time with SAD 1.
“I think this is one of the finest school systems that I’ve seen throughout the state,” he said, “and I’ve been through many.”
• Cathy Hotham, currently a keyboarding instructor at Zippel and Mapleton elementary schools, is leaving with 22 years in the district.
“Cathy started in business technology when the IBM Selectric typewriters were coming out,” said Waddell. “She’s gone from those devices to electric typewriters to the equipment she’s using now. Her program has evolved, as well. She started here at PIHS, but as kids began picking up the skills earlier, her program was moved to the middle school and now to the elementary schools. Her adaptablity is certainly impressive.”
“The ride has been great, the time has just flown, and while I never expected I’d end up in elementary, it’s been wonderful moving from the high school to the middle school to both elementary schools because I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people,” said Hotham. “That’s really been a gift and I appreciate that.”
• Jim Ouellette, building trades instructor at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center, was honored for 29 years with SAD 1.
“Jim has been with us since 1980 after having taught for seven years in the Limestone school system, and has been the building trades instructor all but one of those years,” said Larry Fox, PIRCTC director. “My first memories of Jim were back when I was the adult ed director back in 2001. I used to get to work about 5:30 or 6 p.m., and quite often Jim would still be here. He’d come into my office and we’d talk. We developed a bit of a friendship back then.
“Three years ago I came on as the director of PIRCTC, and I can say that Jim is a great asset. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to know Jim very well, and I admire the work that he’s done,” he said. “He’s been very involved in the SkillsUSA and his handiwork can be seen in the community.”
Fox asked his colleagues how they would describe Ouellette, and among the characteristics shared included “dedicated, selfless, tireless, wise, considerate, one-of-a-kind, trustworthy, loyal, helpful, talented, genuine, kindhearted, a good friend, and a true craftsman.”
“We thank Jim for the career that he’s had here,” said Fox, “and for the young lives that he’s helped mold and fashion.”
“I’ve learned a lot from all you folks,” Ouellette said, “and I’ve enjoyed being here. Thank you very much.”
• Carolyn Rigg has been with the district for 41 years. She is presently the secretary at the SAD 1 pre-K.
“Carolyn is intelligent, creative, efficient, loyal, dedicated, compassionate, kind and caring,” said Gail Gibson, pre-K administrator. “Sharon Brown [principal at Zippel Elementary School] gave me the best line. She said, ‘Carolyn takes care of the little ones and she takes care of the big ones.’
“I had a horrible day today, but just hearing Carolyn’s voice made me feel better. I’ve been privileged to work with her and I love this woman,” said Gibson. “I’m so glad to have her as a forever friend.”
Rigg said the last 41 years have been “the best of my life.”
“I’ve made so many wonderful friends, and it’s been a joy to come to work,” she said. “It’s not work, it’s fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I hope to keep in touch with all my good friends.”
• Syd Smith, currently the district’s transportation supervisor, has been with SAD 1 for 49 years.
“The majority of those 49 years have been on the transportation side of the house,” said Dave Sowers, SAD 1 operations supervisor. “Syd can probably go back to the times when we had a very small bus garage with a dirt floor. He has been very loyal to this district. In the winter months, when the temperature gets down to 20 to 30 below zero, Syd has always been the first one there at 3:30-4 a.m. just to make sure the buses would start.
“Syd’s always been there whenever he’s needed and he really loves kids and looks out for their well-being and safety when it comes to the fleet,” Sowers said. “He’s going to be a very hard person to replace.”
• Gail Gibson, presently the principal at Mapleton Elementary School, is retiring with 37 years’ of service to the district.
Noting that Gibson enjoys gardening, Sharon Brown shared a story about how Gibson and her granddaughter were once watering flowers.
“They were watering annuals in the front of her house and the little girl was really liking this task and didn’t want to get done, so they went into the house and filled their watering cans and went out to the backyard,” said Brown. “Gail realized her granddaughter was not right behind her so she turned around and looked and the little girl was watering each dandelion along the way.
“That describes Gail because Gail thinks every child is a flower and every child deserves nurturing and has beauty within and every teacher holds the watering can,” she said. “That is a fitting legacy, Gail. Thank you.”
Superintendent Gehrig Johnson called Gibson a “confidant.”
“She advises me in a lot of areas especially regarding personnel and communications,” he said. “She’s a rock and I will miss her personally. She is a huge help to me as one of our senior administrators. Gail has great common sense and is a wonderful, wonderful person.”
Gibson thanked the board for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the district for so many years.
“There’s nothing like it in the world,” she said, “and I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve been lucky to be in SAD 1.”
• Dave Sowers is leaving the district with 32 years’ of dedicated service.
“He’s one of the few people that was here before I got here,” said Johnson. “He came in 1977 as a bus driver. I came in 1983 and we hit it off right away. He has a military background and I grew up in a military family. We’re both big on organization. He became the operations supervisor in 1982, and from that point, over a period of years, he accepted more and more responsibility. In these last few years, he pretty much runs everything in SAD 1 … operations, buildings and grounds, transportation, custodians and bus drivers. He has about 150-plus employees that report to him that he’s responsible for. It’s a big job … so big that upon his retirement we have to split his job among a couple different people.
“Dave is impossible to replace. He’s loyal, smart and when you want something done – and it’s something that I appreciate so much about him – it’s done,” Johnson said. “You give him general responsibilities and they are done and that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about. That’s a rare talent. Like Gail, seeing Dave leave is like pulling a piece of my heart out. I will miss you.”
A self-described “man of few words,” Sowers thanked the board, Johnson, administration and staff for their support.
“Without your help,” he said, “I would have never made it. I will miss this place. It’s been very challenging, and rewarding. I’ve enjoyed it. There have been very few dull moments.
“I used to spend time at night planning my next day only to see it fall all to pieces,” said Sowers, “so now I use the idea, ‘The best plan is to have no plan. Build it when you get to work that morning’ and it’s seemed to work quite well. I will miss everybody, and again, thank you.”
Also at the June 3 board meeting, directors were notified of the following staff transfers:
• Bob Gagnon will transfer from the facilities manager at PIHS to the district’s operations supervisor, Sandy Curran will continue to be the facilities manager at Presque Isle Middle School, but will also take on the role of facilities manager at PIHS; Judy Atcheson, third grade teacher at Zippel will become the new third grade teacher at Mapleton; Cindi Condon, second grade teacher at Pine Street Elementary School will be the new second grade teacher at Mapleton; and Vicki McCurry will leave her current position as eighth grade science teacher at the middle school to teach ag science at the PIRCTC.
Other recent transfers include Lynne Brabant from grade 2 at Mapleton to grade 1 at Mapleton; Karen Weston from special education at Zippel to grade three teacher at Zippel; and Erin Argraves from ag science teacher at PIRCTC to science teacher at the high school.
Matthew Lokken recently resigned as biology teacher at PIHS. He will be relocating to New Hampshire.
Newly hired employees include Laura Cronin, who will teach special education at Zippel; Spencer Bragan who will be the new building trades teacher at PIRCTC, and Daniel Duprey, who has been hired as the new principal at Mapleton.
The next SAD 1 board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 in the board conference room at PIHS.
