Posted June 12, 2023
The Plymouth School District bids farewell to a number of faculty and staff who are retiring. Together they have 197 years of service to the district!
Horizon reading specialist
Years with the Plymouth School District: 35 (Paul and I met at the new teacher in-service 35 years ago, got married, and now we're retiring together!)
Career: I was hired as a third-grade teacher at Parkview and taught third and fourth grade there for 15 years. I've spent the past 20 years at Horizon as a reading specialist.
What will you miss most? I will miss the students the most! Where else do little kids show you their wiggly teeth on a daily basis?
What makes you most proud: I have had two generations of students pass through my classroom doors. I'm immensely proud of that!
Funny story: Paul gets recognized and approached by former PHS students quite often. We joke and say he gets "mistered"! They will say, "Mr. K?!" and begin a conversation. It's very heartwarming, actually. We've bumped into former students and Paul has gotten "mistered" many times in Wisconsin, but it has even happened in New York and Florida!
Plans for retirement: Part-time jobs, some traveling, spending more time with parents
PHS physics, engineering, and math teacher; Science Department chair; assistant varsity softball coach
Years with the Plymouth School District: 35
Career: I spent my first year teaching physics and math and coaching basketball and baseball at Kewanee High School. The next 35 years were at PHS where I taught Physics, Physical Science, Applied Science, Foundations of Algebra, Algebra 2, Intro to Stats, Intro to Electronics, and Principles of Engineering. I coached JV volleyball for 10 years, JV softball for 25 years, and now I've been the varsity assistant softball coach for 6 years.
What will you miss most? There will be a lot of things I will miss. At the top of the list are the people that I have worked with these past 35 years. If you needed help with anything, the people in this building were there to lend a helping hand, to support you in a crisis, to laugh with you and at you, to let you vent, and to give you a hug. Whatever was needed, this staff (administration, teachers, custodial, lunch crew, and support staff) were willing to jump in and help. There is a lot of isolation being an educator, and having quality people around you makes coming to work a lot easier. I thank them and I'll miss them.
Plans for retirement: Spending more time with aging parents, traveling some, working part-time, reading for pleasure, and spending more time bowhunting this fall.
Paul and Lisa Krzyzaniak
Occupation therapist
Years with the Plymouth School District: 29
Career: 1982-94 Lightfoot School (servicing Plymouth student who attended that special education school); 1994-present Plymouth School District hired me directly when Lightfoot School closed and all special education students came to their "home schools"
What will you miss most? Working with students ages 3-21. There were a few students that I actually worked with that long! Best part was working with 3-year-olds and seeing what they became as they moved through elementary school, middle school, and high school.
Plans for retirement: Spending time at our Lake Gogebic cottage in the UP, traveling throughout the US, and spending time with our 16 grandkids.
PHS special education aide
Years with the Plymouth School District: 27
Parkview physical education teacher and health & wellness ambassador
Years with the Plymouth School District: 24
Career: I started my teaching career in Bradley, Ill., at Bradley Middle School in the fall of 1993. I taught there one year before deciding to stay home with my newborn son, Taylor. We moved to Plymouth in 1995 and I was a substitute teacher in the area until getting my position at Fairview Elementary in 1999. I worked there for 6 years before moving to the high school for 4 more years, finally ending up at Parkview for my final 14 years.
What will you miss most? I will miss the friends I have made along the way, not seeing them on a daily basis. The joy on most of the kids faces as you greet them in the morning. And the unbelievable look on a kid's face when they make the most incredible, unmakeable play and the whole class rallies around them and they are the hero in that moment!
Plans for retirement: I say I am retiring from teaching. I have several very flexible, very part-time jobs lined up to supplement my time for now. The flexible part is needed so I will be able to travel with my husband, Jerry, at different times of the year than I have ever been able to before – like October and February! Also, give more attention to my own personal needs ... like losing that 15 pounds I found in my middle! Yikes! And lastly, I will be able to be more attentive to my Mother's needs and possibly my Mother-in-Law's going forward.
Christine Vetter
Instructional leader
Years with the Plymouth School District: 23
Career: 20 years as a math teacher at PHS, then 3 years as a part-time Instructional Leader also at PHS.
What will you miss most? I will miss many things from my 23 years at PHS, but mostly the relationships with students and staff. I have enjoyed watching so many students as they make the journey from incoming freshmen to graduating seniors. It's been a privilege to witness their growth, support them in their struggles, and celebrate their successes. I'm so thankful for social media so that I can keep in touch with so many wonderful humans!
Plans for retirement: I plan to spend even more time with my 5 kids and 5 grandchildren. I also hope to stay active by volunteering, taking advantage of the great outdoors, and working on my pickleball game!
Thanks: Thank you to everyone who I've had the opportunity to work with over the last 23 years. Thanks for your support and encouragement and for believing this girl could live out her dream of being a math teacher!
Kay Tharp
Parkview teacher’s aide
Years with the Plymouth School District: 19
PHS alternative education teacher
Years with the Plymouth School District: 5
