Retiree Appreciation 2025
The Superintendent and School Board honored the educators and support staff who are retiring from the Pocono Mountain School District in 2025 at a public School Board meeting on Wednesday evening, June 4, 2025.
Dr. Elizabeth Robison presented each retiree with a certificate of appreciation and fleece blanket embroidered with the PMSD crest.
“I wanted to thank all of you for your service and dedication to our district and the wonderful care you extended to all of our students,” said Dr. Robison. “Your efforts over your many years of service to this district as educators and support staff members have left a lasting and positive impact on our students, our schools and this district. You have been an inspiration to current and future generations. On behalf of the entire school district, thank you for your service and dedication to the education and wellbeing of our students and the Pocono Mountain School District.”
The retirees recognized at the ceremony on June 4 were as follows:
|
Name |
Position |
Building |
Years of Service |
|
Susan Bankes |
Kindergarten Teacher |
SEC |
36 |
|
Dawn Bauman |
Grade 3 Teacher |
CRIS |
36 |
|
William Hantz |
Science Teacher |
EHS |
35 |
|
Timothy Mitchell |
Maintenance |
District |
34 |
|
Gretchin Benson |
Music Teacher |
WJHS |
33 |
|
Susan DeBella |
Music Teacher |
CREC |
32 |
|
Ruth Johanssen |
Special Education Teacher |
CRIS |
32 |
|
Jennifer Fries |
Special Education Teacher |
CRIS |
29 |
|
Margarita Bandala |
Custodian |
SEC |
29 |
|
Dora Labarre |
Dispatcher |
West Trans |
28 |
|
Linda Roeber |
Administrative Assistant |
EJHS |
28 |
|
Tammie Kimball |
Non-Teaching Assistant |
EJHS |
25 |
|
Adriana Gambino |
Non-Teaching Assistant |
EJHS |
25 |
|
Luis Bandala |
Custodian |
SEC |
25 |
|
Nancylee Garafola |
Science Teacher |
WHS |
22 |
|
Adrian Sanchez |
Custodian |
CRIS |
22 |
|
Deborah Reilly |
Psychologist |
EJHS |
21 |
|
Dorothy Newman |
Special Education Teacher |
WHS |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not in Attendance, But Also Retiring |
|
|
|
|
Name |
Position |
Building |
Years of Service |
|
Karen Augenstein |
Kindergarten Teacher |
TEC |
36 |
|
Jeff Sottolano |
Grade 6 Teacher |
SIS |
26 |
|
Randy Bender |
Maintenance |
District |
21 |
|
John Kielar |
Math Teacher |
EJHS |
20 |
|
Diane Rottkamp |
Health Room Nurse |
EJHS |
17 |
|
Louis Salvaggio |
Science Teacher |
EJHS |
16 |
|
Arlene Szabo |
Non-Teaching Assistant |
EHS |
16 |
|
Janice Devaney |
Special Education Teacher |
EHS |
15 |
|
Karla Scheld |
Grade 2 Teacher |
TEC |
15 |
Collectively, the district’s retirees dedicated 694 years of service to Pocono Mountain School District, our students and their families.
