Board Of Education Honors Retirees
A moment of silence in honor of Willie Baker accompanied the invocation prior to Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting. Baker, who was currently serving in his 10th year on the Wetzel County Board of Education, passed away Friday.
As business moved forward, 26 retirees with a combined 764 years of experience were then recognized for their service to Wetzel County Schools.
Cathy J. Amos is retiring as a fourth grade teacher at Paden City Elementary School with 32 years of experience. Amos began teaching at New Martinsville School in 1977; she also taught at the Wetzel County Career Center and Paden City High School.
Linda K. Barth is retiring as a secretary at the county office with 34 years of experience. Barth began working for Wetzel County Schools in 1978 as a teacher’s aide at Reader Grade School. She later worked at Short Line School, New Martinsville School, and Paden City Elementary School. In 1985, Barth was hired as a secretary at Hundred High School. She also worked as a secretary at Valley High School, Paden City High School, and PCES before coming to the county office in 2000.
Donna J. Borders is retiring as a guidance counselor at SLS and PCES with 15 years of experience. Borders began working in 1989 as a vocational counselor in Kanawha County. She also worked at the Pressley Ridge School as a counselor until coming to Wetzel County in 2003.
Jean R. Bowser is retiring as a kindergarten teacher at New Martinsville School with 31 years of experience. Bowser began working for Wetzel County Schools in 1978 at NMS. She later worked at SLS before returning to NMS.
Douglas A. Bucher retired in January 2012 as a bus operator with 17 years of experience. Bucher began driving school bus for Wetzel County Schools in 1995 and drove bus routes in the Hundred and Short Line areas.
Mary L. Calvert is retiring as an art teacher and technology coordinator at Magnolia High School with 36 years of experience. Calvert began teaching in Wetzel County in 1976 at MHS where she remained for her entire career.
Frank Cibik is retiring as a sixth grade teacher at NMS with 34 years of experience. Cibik began teaching at Reader Grade School in 1978. Frank also taught at VHS and SLS before going to NMS in 1985. Cibik has also been a coach during his career.
Rhoda R. Fitzsimmons is retiring as a mathematics teacher at PCHS with 33 years of experience. Fitzsimmons began her teaching career in Tyler County in 1979 as a biology teacher at Tyler County High School. She later taught at Sistersville High School and St. Marys High School before coming to PCHS in 2007.
Allison J. Goodrich retired in January 2012 as a cook at SLS with 15 years of experience. Goodrich began working as a cook at NMS in 1996. She began working as a cook at SLS in 2002 and later became cafeteria manager.
Howard M. Henderson retired in August 2011 as a vocational agriculture teacher at VHS with 34 years of experience. Henderson began teaching for Wetzel County Schools at VHS in 1976 and worked his entire career at VHS. Henderson’s FFA program at VHS was recognized statewide and his students won many state and national awards.
Keith A. Herrick is retiring as assistant principal at New Martinsville School with 38 years of experience. Herrick began teaching social studies at MHS in 1974. In 1984, Herrick became assistant principal at MHS. He became principal at PCHS in 1989 and principal at MHS in 1992. Herrick became assistant principal at NMS in 1998.
Helen (Jeanie) Higgins is retiring as executive secretary to the superintendent at the county office with 39 years of experience. Higgins began working as a secretary at Hundred, Littleton, and Burton Grade Schools until 1978 when Long Drain School opened. She worked for Bill Jones the entire time as school secretary at Hundred, Littleton, Burton, and Long Drain. In 1997, HIggins transferred to MHS and NMS as a secretary half-time at both schools. In January 2000, Higgins became executive secretary for the superintendent working for Martha Dean, Butch Barcus, Bill Jones (again), and Diane Watt.
Jay T. Himmelrick is retiring as a custodian at LDS with 20 years of experience. Himmelrick began working for Wetzel County Schools at New Martinsville School in 1986 as a custodian and resigned in 1989 to work in private industry; he returned to Wetzel County Schools in 1994 as a custodian at LDS.
Sharla J. Himmelrick is retiring as a first grade teacher at LDS with 36 years of experience. Himmelrick began teacher for Wetzel County Schools at Steelton Elementary School in 1976. She then worked for the next 18 years at NMS as an elementary teacher before going to LDS in 1995.
Rhonda D. Hostuttler is retiring as a custodian at VHS with 15 years of experience. Rhonda began working for Wetzel County Schools at New Martinsville School as a custodian in 1997. She later transferred to VHS in 2006.
Theresa A. Hucik is retiring as a second grade teacher at LDS with 27 years of experience. Hucik began teaching special education at LDS in 1985 before switching to elementary education. Hucik has been at LDS her entire career.
Denise A. Huggins is retiring as a special education teacher at LDS with 33 years of experience. Huggins began teaching for Wetzel County Schools in 1972 at Littleton and Hundred Grade Schools. She then took eight years off for family reasons and returned to teaching at LDS in 1984 as a special education teacher.
James (Dave) Kimble is retiring as a technology education teacher at MHS with 40 years of experience. Kimble began teaching industrial arts in 1972 at Federalsburg, Md. In 1977, he began teaching for Wetzel County Schools at Paden City High School. Kimble also taught at New Martinsville School before going to MHS in 1989. Kimble’s TSA program at MHS is state and nationally recognized. Many of his former students have won awards in technology education.
Nora L. McDiffit is retiring as the accounts payable coordinator at the county office with 23 years of experience. McDiffit began working for Wetzel County Schools in 1989 as a secretary at SLS. McDiffit later worked as a teacher aide at VHS and as a secretary at NMS; she started working at the county office in 1993.
Deanna L. Myers is retiring as Director of Elementary Education, Pre-School, and Title I at the county office with 33 years of experience. Myers taught in Gilmer and Wood counties for 28 years before coming to Wetzel County.
Theresa L. (Terri) Patterson retired in July 2011 as a custodian at PCES with 32 years of experience. Patterson began working for Wetzel County Schools as a custodian at NMS in 1979 and moved to SLS in 1988. Patterson later worked at Wetzel County Career Center and PCHS as a custodian before going to PCES in 2000.
Patricia S. (Patty) Potts is retiring as a special education teacher at SLS with 31 years of experience. Potts began teaching for Wetzel County Schools as a physical education teacher at SLS in 1979. Patty also taught at the Wetzel County Career Center before returning to SLS in 1995 to teach special education.
Gerald F. Rice retired in January 2011 as a custodian at NMS with 21 years of experience. Rice began working for Wetzel County Schools in 1991 as a bus operator in the Hundred area. He began working as a custodian at NMS in 1993 and later became the painter for the school.
Gregory W. Richmond is retiring as physical education/health teacher at NMS with 33 years of experience. Richmond began teaching PE/Health/Driver Education for Wetzel County Schools in 1979 at PCHS. He later transferred to NMS for several years. He is also an OVAC football and track official which he has been for many years.
Susanna Villers retired in February 2012 as attendance director and student support services coordinator at the county office with 29 years of experience. Sue began teaching music for Tyler County Schools in 1974 before coming to Wetzel County Schools in 1975 as a music teacher and choir director at HHS. She also worked as a substitute and homebound teacher from 1978 through 1986. Villers became attendance director at the county office in 1989.
John C. Watson is retiring as a third grade teacher at PCES with 33 years of experience. Watson began teaching for Wetzel County Schools at PCES in 1978. John has worked his entire career at PCES teaching at various grade levels.