News

Spring Lake Park Schools held its annual retirement reception on May 21 to honor and recognize the 8 staff members who retired during the 2023-2024 school year or are retiring at the end of the school year.

School board members, administrators, principals, staff members, former employees and family members of retiring staff gathered for the celebration. Tony Easter, school board chair, led a brief program with Superintendent Jeff Ronneberg who presented each honoree with a commemorative school bell award recognizing their service and commitment to the district.

As a learning community, we thank and recognize each of the retirees for their tremendous commitment to the students of Spring Lake Park Schools and wish them well in their retirement.

Here, they share any words they wanted to convey to our community about their journey and plans for the future.

Retirement reception photo album

 

Cynthia DeBrobander

Park Terrace Elementary
Nutrition Services Associate
2014-2024

While primarily working in Nutrition Services, over my ten years I also occasionally subbed at Northpoint and Woodcrest Elementary Schools and Spring Lake Park High School. Previous to employment with SLP, I had worked in the insurance industry as an accounting associate for 36 years. I never thought I would find myself working as a “lunch lady,” but I have enjoyed it very much. I love the work, feeding the students and making them feel welcome. I will miss the daily interactions working with my coworkers and seeing the students. I have enjoyed watching the kids grow from kindergarten to fourth grade. It’s a great feeling to make them feel loved when they come to be fed. My plans after retirement include spending time at our lake place and completing many projects at home. Also, spending more time with family and friends and volunteering for various organizations.

Theresa Holland

Spring Lake Park High School
Science Teacher
1989-2023

II have spent all 35 years at the High School in the Science department. When I started, I was the only female for many years. I have taught Physical Science, Honors Physical Science, Biology, AP Biology, and Environmental Science. I was Freshman Senate Advisor, Department Chair, Curriculum Lead, and JV Girls Swim Coach for 10 years. I am proud of the curriculum that I have created during my tenure. I feel like the district has given me a lot of freedom to develop meaningful courses and units.  I have enjoyed getting involved in the Spring Lake Park community. I have attended many sporting events, concerts, prom, plays and musicals. Students appreciate when you show up. I am proud of the relationships that I have formed with students, former students, and staff members. I will miss many people at Spring Lake Park. I have developed many long-lasting relationships with the staff and know that we will stay in touch after I retire. I have been teaching long enough that for the last 10 years, I have been getting students of former students in my classes. It is always a joy when a former student comes to Open House and introduces me to their child and say they are happy that I will have them as a student. The parents usually tell me something that they remember about my class which really reinforces what I have been doing for over half of my life. My husband Dale and I have a lot planned for retirement.  We are just rebuilding our family cabins after a tornado so that will keep us busy. We will be traveling a lot. We have a granddaughter and a grandson on the way, so I am sure we will be spending a lot of time with them.  I love to read, workout, garden, and do puzzles which should keep me busy and I am also a Gopher basketball and football fan along with the Vikings and Twins, so I watch and attend a lot of sports.

Jodine Jones

Park Terrace Elementary
3rd Grade Teacher
1991-2024

At the beginning of my career in 1991, I was an Individual Learning Plan teacher at Westwood Elementary for grades K-3. In 1994, I was the Assurance of Mastery and Title 1 teacher at Park Terrace Elementary for grades 1-6. From there I remained at Park Terrace Elementary and I was a first grade teacher in 2000-2009, second grade teacher 2009-2018 and then a third grade teacher ever since. I have appreciated the opportunity to be a part of a community of educators that care deeply about the students they work with and lucky to be a part of a staff that is always willing to learn and explore new ways to help our students. My grade level teams through the years have not only been supportive at school but outside of school. I am thankful and blessed to have been a part these teams that know what is important and be there for each other professionally and personally. My colleagues are always striving to do better and be better, which has made me strive toward the same. I was part of the leadership team at Park Terrace when we began our work and learning to use PLC communities to help us better understand our students and find ways to personalize their learning. I think the time and effort spent helping each other and students through COVID to continue their learning made me grow in so many ways and persevere through all its challenges. During retirement, I plan to spend more time with my family and friends, and traveling to warmer climates during the Minnesota winters.

Judi Kahoun

District-wide
Coordinator of Learning and Innovation
1985-2024

I started my career in the summer of 1985, teaching at Westwood. That fall I started at Woodcrest and was there as a classroom teacher until the spring of 2003. I spent the next four years as a coordinator at the district level, before returning to Woodcrest as principal. In the fall of 2014, I moved from Woodcrest to Northpoint and served there until the spring of 2023. This past year I have served on the Learning and Innovation team as I eased into retirement. I am proud of the focus Spring Lake Park Schools has maintained on creating exemplary learning opportunities for students and staff alike. This has been the constant since Jeff Ronneberg came to Spring Lake Park and I will be forever grateful for his belief in me and the opportunities he has given me. I’d like to recognize Rob Youel and Pat Haase, who gave me the best ever first year teacher experience in 1985-86. Corene Wacker taught me hard work and accountability to our students, and Gary Erickson demonstrated the value of humility and care as a leader. Amy Bjurlin and Jerelyne Nemanich have been valued colleagues and friends over the past 20 plus years. Ryan Stromberg has my ultimate respect and gratitude for his mentorship. My recent leadership team of Heidi Rogers, Michael Wojtalewicz, and Nick Hooper are the best I could ever have imagined. And of course, to my students over the past 39 years, you are why we do this amazing work! Although it’s hard to pick just one highlight, I am most proud of the teachers and leaders I’ve been able to support and develop over the years. During retirement, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband, kids, and grandkids, time at our cabin and traveling with family and friends.

Mary Mohr-Scinocca

Spring Lake Park High School
English Language Arts Teacher
1998-2024

Deborah Munter

Westwood Schools
5th Grade Teacher
1990-2024

I began my career as a student teacher in kindergarten at Westwood and Woodcrest. Then, I became a 5th grade teacher at Woodcrest, was a 3rd and 4th grade teacher at Kenneth Hall, and finally a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Westwood. I’m proud to be a Panther thanks to the many incredible people I’ve been blessed to work with over the years. They’ve taught, inspired, supported, encouraged, and challenged me while tirelessly focusing on doing what’s best for students.  A special shout-out goes to my 5A team (Kristin, Sue, Dani, and Ollie) for being my amazing work family and wrapping up my career in SLP with so many crazy, fun, and wonderful memories! I’ve had so many career highlights and proud moments over the years that included getting my master’s degree and being nominated for teacher of the year. However, one that’s happened the most is seeing the happiness, pride, and excitement in a student’s face when he/she learns something new or overcomes an obstacle. That’s why I love this profession and have stayed in it for so long. Other than focusing on my family, many long overdue projects, and plenty of classic car shows, I’m keeping my retirement options open. I’m looking at it like an airplane that I plan to build while I fly it. Let the new chapter begin!

Susan Wimler

District-wide
Continuous Improvement Coach, Preschool Teacher
1998-2024

26 years ago, I started teaching ECFE and preschool students in the old science wing of the high school - before renovations and new buildings! The first 16 years, I taught 80 preschool students a year, at the high school site, at Woodcrest and at Northpoint. The last 10 years I have been supporting our 25 Early Childhood teachers as a Continuous Improvement and Innovation Coach. Every day is different as I travel between our 4 elementary schools, the District Services Center and a variety of homes in the district, helping teachers teach, reflect, improve, and celebrate their successes! I am proud to be part of a district that not only puts students’ learning first, but also supports teachers in their learning. I have felt that support as I’ve grown as a teacher and as I’ve gained leadership skills in the coaching role. I’d like to thank Kristin Goessel-Seery, my mentor, colleague and friend! I’m grateful she saw both my passion for helping young children learn, and the potential in me to be a leader. Early Childhood is about building relationships, creating a place where every child belongs, and fostering a love for learning. You know you’ve made a positive impact on a student when you are shopping at the local Target, and you hear a child yelling, “MISS SUE!  MOMMY, THERE’S MISS SUE!” as a three-year-old runs towards you with open arms, ready for a hug! Or when you see the proud smile on a four-year-old’s face as they show you how they can finally write their name without help, zip their coat, finish a puzzle or help a friend. During retirement, my husband, Tom, and I purchased a travel trailer and have two trips planned to go south next Winter. Between trips - spend more time with family and friends and relax!

Christina Ybarra

Westwood Schools
Paraprofessional
2011-2023