Chesapeake Beach, MD – Calvert County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Curry told the roomful of retirees and well-wishers that this was “a time to be glad.” Over 30 of the system’s 50-plus retirees had much to be glad for, too, Thursday, June 9. They were being recognized for their careers with Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) at a dinner/ceremony held at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. Each retiree received a framed certificate, watches from the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE), enjoyed a sumptuous buffet supper with dessert and heard the documented praises from their colleagues read aloud. Plus, they got to hear their erstwhile boss sing.
As if his rap performance at graduations wasn’t enough to make him a legend, Curry sang a parody of the Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things” to the gathering of outgoing employees. Although they didn’t really need to, they applauded the superintendent’s performance. He and other speakers returned the accolades.
“You will be missed,” said BOE President Pamela Cousins. “Relax and enjoy retirement with your family.”
“You are not losing your friends here,” said CCPS’ Director of Human Resources Dr. Victoria D. Karol. The retirees this year include 15 teachers, 12 instructional assistants, eight maintenance employees, five administrators, four food service employees, four secretaries, two safety advocates and one school nurse.
Douglas Lyons, a paint foreman with the School Facilities Department, closed out a 42-year career with CCPS. “You won’t soon be forgotten,” his coworkers stated.
Sunderland Elementary School (SES) teacher Coleene McBryde ended her 32-year career with CCPS and was saluted as a “consummate professional” by her peers. McBryde plans to travel now that her teaching career is over.
It was noted that Patuxent High School building services worker Daniel Jones “could often be heard singing while he worked.”
It was said of Patuxent Appeal Elementary Campus school nurse Patricia Dutcher that “she could probably write a book about funny things kids say to nurses.”
Northern High School Vice Principal Bruce Hutchison, who started with CCPS as a teacher before a lengthy career as an administrator, was described as someone “who has touched the lives of a lot of students.”
The retirees also include a husband and wife team—Donna and Alan McCrory—who worked in the School Facilities Department.
The St. Leonard Elementary School staff stated that longtime school secretary Beverly Buehler had “trained principals and provided guidance.”
The SES assistant building services manager Roy Smith started at the school 25 years ago and will always be remembered by staff for retrieving a parent’s lost set of keys from a drainage ditch.
Karol told The BayNet more retirements from the school system are likely to occur in the next several weeks prior to the August start of the next school year. Those new retirees would be invited to next year’s formal celebration. Unlike some recent years, CCPS offered no special retirement incentives for eligible employees in 2016.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
