Five retiring teachers and 53 milestone teachers and staff members were honored Wednesday in ceremonies at the Perry Performing Arts Center, and the Perry Rotary Club Teacher of the Year was also announced.
PCSD Superintendent Clark Wicks presided over the ceremonies, with Perry School Board President Linda Andorf and PCSD Executive Assistant Joyce Scott helping to distribute the awards. Wicks congratulated and thanked all the faculty and staff members present, commending them for their perseverance during a most challenging spring term in the school district.
Wicks then thanked five retirees for their 134 years of cumulative service to the Perry schools:
- Kristine Finn, retiring after 34 years as the PHS special education instructor
- Diane Gibson, retiring after 29 years as the PHS social studies teacher
- Jamison Blum, retiring after 28.5 years as the PHS Spanish teacher
- Leslie Mayhugh, retiring after 23 years as the PES art teacher
- Joel Happel, retiring after 19 years as the PHS math teacher
Then 53 teachers and staff members were congratulated on reaching incremental milestones:
30 years: Klista Meis and Lisa Schumacher
25 years: Robert Hidlebaugh, Dawn Higgins, Lori Meinecke, Cynthia Miner, Melissa Raskie and Roxanne Whitmore
20 years: Luz Angelica Diaz-Cardenas, Andrew Hoyt, Sara Iben and Carla Wood
15 years: Brennan Cleveland, Kristie Davis, Michelle Hager, Teresa Kresse, Corey Myers and Lena Pavlica
10 years: Shaylena Bell, Joy Berg, Lyndsey Buhrman, Jacob Enderton, Brienna Hayes, Jordan Lohman, Megan Maylum, Denise Mitchell, Randy Peterson, Devin Schroeder and Amy Skinner
Five years: Ryan Burger, Mari Butler Abry, Layce Chicoine, Michael Craig, Emelie Cross, Madison Gay, Veronica Gilreath, Kenneth Hegwood, Jeffrey Hidlebaugh, Jennifer Kempf, Holly Killmer, Alicia Klinehart, Amanda McDivitt, Felicia Moe, Aurora Rodriguez, Joshua Sass, Mackenzie Simpson, Broc Sorensen, Meladee Steele, Erica Stevenson, Don Thomas, Brandi Valdez, Katelyn Whelchel and Tessa Whitney
Twenty-five-year PHS special education teacher Lori Meinecke was also presented with the Perry Rotary Club Teacher of the Year Award for 2023-2024 by Rotary Club President and PHS Director of Teaching and Learning Kevin Vidergar.
Vidergar praised Meinecke as one whose “outstanding support for her students and colleagues really set her apart,” he said, and because she “consistently demonstrated very high expectations for her students, encouraging and empowering them to reach their full potential. Her commitment to their success is evident in her tireless efforts to provide guidance, support, accommodations to ensure that students achieve their goals.”
Along with her strengths as a teacher, Meinecke was “a pillar of strength and support within our school community,” Vidergar said. “Her competence, motivation and ability to build strong relationships with both students and staff have created an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.”
