2020 Retiree Tribute

Dean Alberswerth

25 Years of Service
Math, Pilgrim Park

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  My favorite Elmbrook memories are when I’m in the community and I hear, “Mr. A!” I look up and see a student I had last year, or 2 years ago or 8 years ago. The student then talks about something they remember that we did in class, or how it was a favorite part of their day and I’m humbled by the impact teachers have in what we see as small insignificant moments. 

• Who would you like to thank?
  There are so many people that I’m grateful for throughout my career; each of my colleagues, especially those that have become my closest friends in life; and my wife, Linda who saw something in me and supported me in making a change in career to teaching - and has continued to inspire me to teach with compassion, care and commitment to each student.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  In my retirement I look forward to having the freedom to take care of my granddaughter every day that I can; watching baseball everyday and to travel anytime during the year, especially to the Grand Teton mountains.

Mary Barker

24 Years of Service
Speech & Language Pathologist, Tonawanda Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  My best memories are the little things that happen every day - greetings, hugs, stories and questions from kids; greetings and funny stories shared by teachers and parents.  I'm pretty sure that every child has told me how old their parents are - or how old they THINK their parents are!

• Who would you like to thank?
  I would like to thank every parent who trusted me with their child and all the staff at Tonawanda who love and model great teaching;  Nancy Marsho and the LARGE interview team who hired me and my family, Ken and Claire, who helped me stay creative and compassionate. 

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  No alarm clock, no due dates for reports, travel, biking, exercise and gardening. 

Linda Bergmann

26 Years of Service
ELA & Social Studies, Wisconsin Hills

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  I have several favorite Elmbrook memories:

1. When Principal, Don VanBuskirk played the “Hallelujah Chorus” over the PA to celebrate the passage of the school referendum to open a second middle school!
2. The faces of my Cross Country girls, splattered with mud, as they conquered “Mt. Minooka.”
3. Traveling to Chicago with one of my award winning art students to receive an award from filmmaker, Ken Burns.
4. The camaraderie and unconditional support of my colleagues in good times and bad, knowing that it was all worth it to lift up students.
5. The many “light bulb” moments when a student's struggle turned to breakthrough.

• Who would you like to thank?
  Although I feel truly blessed to have worked with so many dedicated, selfless adults, I think I would have to thank the kids.  Every day these awkward, sweet, goofy, fearless middle schoolers made me laugh, and sometimes cry, pushing me to be a better person.  I can’t imagine what my career would have looked like without the permission to be silly, dance, discover and create with all of the students I’ve taught and athletes I’ve coached over these past 26 years.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  This abrupt and unexpected ending to decades of full time work has made me realize that I really crave the interaction a job brings. So, I plan to get a part-time job (with no prep work:) probably in retail.  I would also love to travel and get back to some of my creative endeavors like painting, sewing and maybe even pick up my guitar again!  Since teaching is in my blood, I also plan on going back to instructing a fitness class or two and helping out with some arts and crafts workshops at my mom’s senior community.

Laura Carlos

33 Years of Service
Fourth Grade, Burleigh Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  While I can’t think of one big memory that defines my career as a teacher in Elmbrook, I can think of a lot of smaller memories that I will take with me...the look on a child’s face when they finally understand a concept, when they don’t want you to stop reading because the book is so good and they want to know what happens, the flowers from their gardens, the hand written notes and pictures, the smiles, the hugs, handshakes and high fives, watching them teach each other, solving their first Mystery Skype location, trips to Madison (thankfully I never lost a student!) and other field trips, helping one another, watching friendships grow, making mistakes and learning from them, the shy child who shares in front of the class, the child that was upset with me one day, but returned the next day with a smile and a willingness to try again, when a former student returns to visit...and of course 12 weeks of virtual school. Those are the memories I will take with me.

• Who would you like to thank?
  First of all, I would like to thank my family for their support, encouragement and love throughout my teaching career. There were many days they cheered me on and helped me, even taught me, so I could teach others. To all the teachers, administrators and staff I have worked with (on grade level teams, school committees and district committees) thank you! You have taught me so much...how to be a better teacher, person, friend, parent and mentor. You are an inspiration to me with all of your hard work and dedication.  Thank you parents, guardians and families for trusting me with your child every day. I am so glad you were part of this incredible journey. Last, but not least to the hundreds of students I have taught over the past 36 years. You have made my life full. Thank you for learning with me, teaching me, loving learning, taking chances and being you! I have learned so much and have loved (almost) every minute! I will miss you!

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  As of right now, I do not have any plans except to relax! I plan on spending time with my granddaughter, my parents, my family and friends. I am looking forward to traveling during non-peak travel times!  I have a stack of books I would like to read, projects around the house I would like to do and crafts I can finish! I am ready for my next journey to begin! 

Marion Defnet

30 Years of Service
First Grade, Swanson Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  My favorite Elmbrook memory is when Dixon Elementary studied the Amazon Rain Forest and we decorated the entire school as a rain forest. The students were engaged in learning across the school Kindergarten through 6th grade. It was a collaborative effort with the entire staff. I remember walking through the hallways feeling overwhelmed and excited by the work and learning the staff and students had done together.

• Who would you like to thank?
  I would like to thank my three principals, Karla Sloan, Anne Kreul and Kori Hartman for inspiring me and encouraging me to be a lifelong learner and to be involved in the Elmbrook Education Association and serve on district committees. They were all strong role models who strived to be the best and encouraged me to do the same.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  I am looking forward to having more availability to spend time with my family, travel, read and volunteer.

Stephanie Gerard

32 Years of Service
Custodian, Wisconsin Hills

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  Walking though the building realizing this is my last day of work, as I was pasting by the classrooms thinking about all the fun things with the Staff and Students all the changes in the past 30 years .

• Who would you like to thank?
  The Dedicated and unique team at Wisconsin Hills, and caring friends.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Spending more time with my family , traveling and sleeping in.

Peggy Holle

28 Years of Service
Speech & Language Pathologist, Burleigh Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  If you are a teacher, new memories are made each and every day. Today,  I experienced my first speech tele-therapy session with a mom and her three year old daughter in the back seat of their car on their way to Georgia.  Mom had her target sounds, puppet, and everything necessary for this to be a successful experience. That was a first! Later that day, one of my students was sharing his strawberry snack with his very own hungry caterpillar puppet. Let’s not forget my preschool student who could finally be understood by the echo system in his room.  He said “Echo, skip that song,” and it understood him. Not earth shaking memories, but they all add up to put a smile on my face at the end of a long day teaching.

• Who would you like to thank?
  Oh my, that is a list longer than I have space for.  But truthfully it is not one single person but the cumulative of a number of people, experiences, and true friendships I have made along the way! It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one of you. A special thank you to all of my SLP colleagues. You are an amazing group of people. However, I must give a “shout out” to my friends, Cathy, Sue, and Pat.  You have always been there for me and will forever hold a special place in my heart. To you three, I want to thank you for being a big part of my journey.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Well, that puzzle is just beginning and the corner piece belongs to simply having time with my family.  They  have been so supportive throughout my career, especially my dear husband Allen. The second piece of the puzzle belongs to my grandson, Conrad. We will be making making mud pies, reading books together, and just “hanging out” for years to come. As I begin my retirement, I will remember that life is a puzzle that can’t be solved, BUT I sure am going to have fun trying!

Marcene Korpela

19 Years of Service
Administrative Assistant, District Office

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  Working at Swanson provided so many fun memories of the students; from the one who got locked in a locker to the student who came to the office every day to do the chicken dance with Rusty and me!

• Who would you like to thank?
  I thank all the supervisors who took a chance on me. I thank all my coworkers who taught me so much; I had a lot to learn!  I thank them for all the laughter, for their patience, for all the hugs, and for the coworker who prayed with me during a difficult time.  I’m most thankful for the life-long friendships I’ve made.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  My husband and I love the outdoors.  We will be biking, hiking, camping and kayaking during the spring, summer and fall months.  We also enjoy downhill skiing and snowshoeing so we’ll keep busy throughout the year.  We plan to travel to Europe in the near future.

Kathryn Lenz

28 Years of Service
Hearing Impaired Teacher, Fairview South / WCSEC

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  I have many fond memories of my time working in Elmbrook under the Waukesha County Special Education Cooperative. My favorite memories are the monthly cooperative meetings with my colleagues. It was always a time of support, learning and celebrations. We were a close group of colleagues who always respected and encouraged each other to be excellent educators and people in general. 

• Who would you like to thank?
  There are too many people to list! To start I’d like to thank my family, especially my husband Curt who always gives me endless encouragement. In addition, I have had the good fortune to work with many amazing people during my thirty-seven years in the field of education. To start  my dear WCSEC colleagues, directors, teachers, support staff, secretaries, and my awesome students. I have been blessed with many wonderful years of teaching!

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  I am looking forward to freely and in my own time, doing a variety of activities as I enter the next chapter of my life. To be honest, everything is “up in the air” but I do know that I will follow God’s lead. I would like to volunteer with my church, spend more time with my parents and extended family, take a stained glass course and  travel to Italy. I am mostly looking forward to having the freedom to do whatever I want! That is a good place to be.

Kathy Mannion

16 Years of Service
Teaching Assistant, Pilgrim Park

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  After 16 years at PPMS, I have many fond memories. I don't think I can pinpoint just one.  There is never a dull moment in middle school. All the students continually amaze and energize me, especially those in special education. 

• Who would you like to thank?
  Many thanks to all the teachers and staff I have worked with. And special thanks to all the teaching assistants that I have worked with over the years. I will miss them and wish them good health and happiness always. 

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  This one is easy. :) I am looking forward to spending as much time as possible with my grandchildren and visiting family and friends near and far.

Lynn O'Connor

23 Years of Service
Fifth Grade, Burleigh Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  There have been many memorable days in 5th grade; one of them being Colonial Day. I have always enjoyed teaching social studies, especially the history of Colonial America. Colonial Day was a simulation of activities and events from the past, and both teachers and students dressed in time period costumes. On a family vacation to Williamsburg, VA years ago, I made an astronomical purchase for this one day. I bought an expensive, authentic, sewn by hand, full blown colonial outfit! After my purchase, Bil Zahn, my principal, told me I was moving grade levels...he was kidding! In the end, it became an annual staple in my wardrobe, along with many incredible, memorable moments to treasure for the kids and me for 20+ years!

• Who would you like to thank?
  It has been a pleasure working with all of my students, parents, and staff; but I would have to thank all of my teammates over the years for the support, the collaboration, the encouragement, the laughs, the memories, and the friendships. They made coming to work every day for 23 years easy! A big thank you to all of them!

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Teaching has been a passion of mine for the past 37 years, hopefully I’ve been able to inspire the many students I have met along the way. As I move onto my next journey I’m looking forward to building new relationships, joining clubs, and enjoying life in our new home in Poinciana, FL. Travel will continue to be a part of our lives, especially coming back to visit. Most importantly I’m looking forward to watching my 8 month old grandson grow. I see babysitting in my future!

Ken Pelkofer

22 Years of Service
Math, Pilgrim Park

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  My favorite memory is working with my co-workers. I have built so many friendships through the years that I will always cherish. 

• Who would you like to thank?
  I'd like to thank all my co-workers, coaches, and administrators that I have worked with for the last 24 years.  The students, athletes,  parents, and community have been amazing. I feel fortunate and blessed to have worked in such a wonderful, progressive, and supportive school district. 

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  I am looking forward to hanging out with my grandchildren even more than I do now.  I am also looking forward to my new career and the new challenges it will bring. 

Jan Schneider

21 Years of Service
Fourth Grade, Burleigh Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  I have so many heartwarming memories, I can’t narrow this request down to one memory. Among my favorites is the 5th grader who said to me, "Mrs. Schneider, this is the first time I have finished a book, thank you.”  Or being part of connecting learning, and sharing, with classrooms around the country and the world because of our involvement with The Global Read Aloud. Or the time one of my 4th graders had such a deep connection with a character in one of our read alouds; that she then decided she had to share part of her private self with the entire class and was rewarded with genuine appreciation by her peers. The list goes on . . . .

• Who would you like to thank?
  I have so many people to thank for my wonderful experiences as an educator in Elmbrook!  From Nancy and Marge who believed in me and gave me my first job in education, to the outstanding learning-support family that inspired and supported me to become a classroom teacher, to the incredible people who I have worked with and learned from; and to those work beside me, they are my daily inspiration! You know who you are!  And, of course, my family and friends for always supporting me.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  I look forward to learning new things, spending more time with family and friends, watching my garden grow and my grandchildren! I also look forward to exploring new ways to feed my passion for growing readers!

Ralph Schneider

27 Years of Service
Custodian, Swanson Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  The first time I saw all the kids get on the bus on the last day of school and knowing that many of them were going off to middle school was a very powerful experience. I've loved getting to see the kids each day.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  I'm looking forward to having more time to relax and spend with my family and do things I've been wanting to do for years.

Patricia Shearer

21 Years of Service
Special Education Assistant, Brookfield Elementary

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  After 21 years in Elmbrook as a Special Education Assistant I have many memories of special times with students at Swanson and Brookfield Elementary schools. Some fun times and some really tough times.

• Who would you like to thank?
  I would like to thank all of the great Special Ed teachers and assistants I have gotten to know and work with. I also thank the classroom teachers who welcome us into their rooms and help give us the knowledge we need to help all our students.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Now that I will be retired I will be able to volunteer at my grandsons school, spend more time with my family and am hoping to rock babies at the hospital.

David Smith

15 Years of Service
Math, Brookfield Central

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  My best memories are when I meet former students out and about and they thank me for being an important and positive influence on their lives.

• Who would you like to thank?
  I wish to thank Elaine Hutchinson and Jack Moyer. College professors that steered me to and through the Math Education profession.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Now that there is more time, playing and writing a whole lot more music.

Colleen Vickio

27 Years of Service
Food Service Administrative Assistant, District Office

• What is your favorite Elmbrook memory?
  I started  my career with Elmbrook in 1992, working in the Brookfield Central kitchen with a terrific group of "lunch ladies". Besides being a mom to their own families, they were "moms" to many students and it was evident in the way they took pride in the meals they prepared from scratch and how they cared for the students. They worked extremely hard, but they also knew how to have fun at work - for example, creating our secret code word "Mashed Potatoes" (this is going to stay with me for a long, long time).
   

• Who would you like to thank?
  First and foremost, my family, who has always been supportive of my decision to return to work after taking a short-lived hiatus from a previous job. It has given me the opportunity to work with some of the most talented staff at Elmbrook. I am very appreciative for those individuals who have taken time to train me (when needed) and provide the growth in my current position. A special thank you to the outstanding food service staff in our schools - they are truly the heart of the Food & Nutrition program.

• What are you looking forward to most during retirement?
  Enjoy every moment of my new carefree lifestyle, devoting time to my fur babies (they can never be spoiled enough), and attempt to visit all the State Parks my daughter has mapped out for myself and my husband.  Whatever direction life takes me, I will follow.....