Sandusky Schools celebrates longtime employees

In the Sandusky city school district, there are 19 school employees who have shaped the future generations of Blue Streaks for over three decades. These steadfast individuals — who range from teachers, administrators, custodians and support staff — not only have witnessed significant changes in the educational system, but have played a vital role in transforming the lives of countless Sandusky students. Sandusky City Schools celebrates the careers of the school employees who have dedicated over 30 years to a single district: • Gary Trent — 43 years, skilled maintenance, grounds at the board of education • William Ehrnsberger — 41 years, customer service and graphics coordinator at the board of education • Lee Ann Panzer — 37 years, paraprofessional at Sandusky Early Learning Academy • Gloria Lewis — 36 years, cafeteria worker at Sandusky Early Learning Academy • Halden Walton — 36 years, custodian/firefighter at Sandusky High School • Elizabeth Herman-Wells — 35 years, media specialist at Sandusky High School • Thomas Knupke — 34 years, maintenance at the board of education • Andrew Shannon — 34 years, commercial arts teacher at Sandusky High School • Tammy Wilke — 34 years, cafeteria manager at Sandusky High School • David Colatruglio — 33 years, math teacher at Sandusky High School • Cynthia Souter — 33 years, first-grade teacher at Sandusky Primary School •Ann Stauffer — 33 years, art teacher at Sandusky Primary School • Christina Norwell-Fischer —32 years, director of curriculum and instruction at the board of education • Vera Smith — 32 years, administrative assistant at Sandusky High School • Jeffery Walters — 32 years, custodian/firefighter at the adult education center • Patricia Kelly — 30 years, kindergarten teacher at Sandusky Early Learning Academy • Robin Meyers — 30 years, title content area specialist at Sandusky Primary School • Kimberly Walters — 30 years, cafeteria manager at Sandusky Primary School • Barbara Rose — 30 years, physical education teacher at Sandusky Intermediate School • Leslie Zimmerman — 30 years, speech pathologist at the board of education When asked, "What is your fondest memory of teaching/working in Sandusky City Schools?" the following responses were shared from our exemplary staff members: • "I enjoy seeing a smiling face when the student grasps a concept." • I" have so many fond memories of the great students, families and co-workers I was able to get to know over the years. It is so fun to hear from them and see where they are now." • "Just working with the SCS family." • "Being able to get to know the other teachers that work at Sandusky High School. The teaching staff here is truly a talented and dedicated group of people that are very positive and inspiring. I am proud to be in their company. My fondest memories of working in SCS are the days at the stadium, a place where I lived and grew up in a place where my grandfather and father both worked. I also have great memories of friendships with many staff members in the district over the years." • "I have many fond memories from my 34 years teaching in Sandusky City Schools. One that stands out is from my first year of teaching in 1990. I was at Osborne School, and we celebrated Osborne School turning 100 years old that year. We had a celebration where we dressed in old-time clothing and invited members of the community and former students in. They had so much fun reminiscing about their old school. I felt so honored to have been hired by Sandusky City Schools and to have such an involved community." • "I have many fond memories teaching at SCS. Some of the best memories are of field trips to local farms when I taught kindergarten. On farm field trip day, we would visit a chicken farm, pig farm and a dairy farm. Students gathered eggs, held piglets, milked a cow and rode a horse on this field trip." • "I got a letter from a parent of one of my students in my early days of teaching. She thanked me for helping her daughter with a transition from an old school. She lifted me up and confirmed that I truly make a difference in the lives of the children I teach." • "Doing sock hop with my sixth-graders and having parents and students come in and enjoy seeing the students dancing and having a great time." • "I have many fond memories of working at Adams when it was a seventh-grade building. The friendship and comradery built among the staff was incredible. Many of those staff members are still friends today. The fondest memory with this staff was our girls weekends on Kelleys Island. It began as a night out and after a few years. We were spending the whole weekend together. The fondest memories I have with my students were the overnight field trips to Gibraltar Island with our sixth-grade students from Mills. It was a joy to see students outside the classroom trying new experiences, learning in real-life settings, and being, successfully, pushed out of their comfort zone." • "I really liked the open houses at Madison and Osborne schools. It was fun to see past students and their families." • "Attending Camp Lazarus to build trust with co-workers and the students." • "My fondest memory happens over and over every year. It's watching a student shine with pride when achieving a skill we have worked on for weeks or longer." When dedicating 30 or more years to any profession, you have valuable advice to share. When the staff members were asked, "What advice would you have for the students who attend Sandusky City Schools?" the responses were as follows: • "Try your best at all times." • "Get involved in different sports, activities and opportunities as you never know where you will find your passion and meet a lifelong friend. Take advantage of all the wonderful options Sandusky Schools has to offer." • "Get your education. SCS has a lot to offer." • "Try to attend every day and always strive to do the best that you can and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Smile and shine, showing a positive attitude, your attitude gets you farther in life than your abilities." • "My advice for students is to always try your best, ask for help when needed and believe you can do anything you set your mind to do. If you have a question or challenge, always ask for help. Your teacher believes in you and wants you to do your best. Respect SCS property and those who work hard to keep the day-to-day activities in motion." • "Everything worth doing takes time and effort. Work hard. Never give up. You are never too young to make an impact." • "Never give up. Life is hard and you may have adversities to overcome but you can do it. You have a lot of people at SCS who believe in you." • "Treat others the way you want to be treated. Be kind to one another." • "Do hard things. You can do it and your effort will pay off in numerous ways." • "With hard work and good character you can achieve your dreams." • "Make education your No. 1 responsibility." • When you aren't successful the first time, don't give up. Take a break, try a different way, or ask for help. Learning happens in the mistakes. Our veteran staff also shared some wonderful advice for new staff members. When asked, "What advice would you have for a new staff member in Sandusky City Schools?" the following responses were shared: • "You get as much back as you put in." • "Teaching is not an easy profession and you need to have many skill sets to do it effectively. Sometimes it may seem as if your efforts are in vain, but I assure you, one day someone will reach out to you and tell you what a positive difference you made in that person's life. Those moments are what make this profession so worthwhile." • "Do your best and welcome to a great Sandusky City Schools family." • "Like Benjamin Franklin said, 'Well done is better than well said.' Do the work to make it easier for your students to succeed. Be that Positive Role Model and show that you care as often as possible in ways that are meaningful to them." • "Remember you can be a better educator tomorrow than you are today. Things will be tough, years will be tough, but remember that we teach for the students. It is so important to meet students where they are and to instill a love for learning in them. Accept their differences and make sure that your students know that you care about them and that they feel valued in your class." • "Teach with passion, love, grace and patience. Remember that students are not the only learners in the classroom." • "You must be structured and consistent. In this crazy world, it's nice for the students to know they have a constant in the classroom." • "Love what you do every day and it's never a job." • "Focus on building relationships with your staff members. You'll learn so much from them about what works in the classroom, you'll have professionals to give you feedback on your classroom practices and you'll find a lot of support on those difficult days." • "Build positive relationships with students and their families. Believe in your students' ability to grow and learn." • "Every day is a new day. Get involved in the district and share new ideas." • "Become a positive part of the building culture. Team with coworkers to build a network of support." School employees who have dedicated over 30 years of their lives to a single district are an invaluable asset to the world of education. The Blue Streak community thanks each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication over the years. Truly, we are better together.