District 518 faculty, staff feted at year-end event

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• Superintendent John Landgaard summarizes the 2008-2009 school year for District 518 at the teacher recognition ceremony May 29, 2009.

WORTHINGTON — Nearly 60 faculty and staff who have put in countless hours of service were honored at District 518’s Annual Staff Recognition event Friday at the high school.

But Janice Wolterstorff —- one of 12 retiring this year —earned special attention.

Wolterstorff, who currently works as a paraprofessional at Worthington Middle School, began her career in the district in 1962, at what was then a school for physically handicapped children.

“At that time we had a lot of physically handicapped people, where now they’re more mobile but yet need special help,” she remembered.

Wolterstorff took a few years off to be with her family, but still managed a combined 40 years of service to the district, the highest amount honored at Friday’s ceremony — though retiree Betty Gieser came in a close second with 38 years of service.

Wolterstorff said she doesn’t know how she’ll spend her retirement.

“I’ve done it for 40 years so I’m not sure,” she said with a laugh, “I’ll do some travelling probably.”

Superintendent John Landgaard reviewed happenings within the district, including planned upgrades in school buildings and the flexible learning year application, set for the 2010-2011 school year.

“It’s been an outstanding year. Many of you have worked above (and beyond) educating kids in our district,” he told the teachers in the crowd.

“We’ve got a lot to do to continue moving forward … but we have things going in the right direction,” he said.

He also thanked the building administrators, saying, “They put in a lot of extra time and effort on the children’s behalf and the employees of the district’s behalf.”

Education Minnesota Worthington’s Teacher of the Year Jeanette Jenson was honored, as were those who had worked in the district for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, even 35 years.

Among those honored for 30 or 35 years of service were Donna Reed, Mary Ann Hoffman, Lana Grimmius, Jeanette Varuska, Barb Adams, Sandy Wood, Karen Wasmund and Bev Watje.

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