Celebrating Our 2024-2025 Retirees

Spring Lake Park Schools held its annual retirement reception on May 20 to honor and recognize the staff members who retired during the 2024-2025 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 in attendance 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. View the retirement reception photo album.

Congratulations to our SLP retirees!

Sheila Bourassa

Westwood Schools
Duplication Technician Assistant
2018-2025

I have really loved my job. The people I work with are extremely kind. I would like to thank the entire technology department. Steve Halvorson has always been a wonderful manager. All tech department staff have always had fun and I’ve been impressed by their knowledge. I value their friendship and wish them all the best! During retirement, I hope to spend as much time as possible at our lake property and traveling. Most importantly, spending time with my family and mostly my mom. We have a lot of plans!

Kevin Elfers

Northpoint Elementary
Head Custodian
2020-2024

The SLP school district has been the greatest place to work! Northpoint Elementary and its staff will always be a part of my heart. It’s been a career highlight to be a part of a team that cares. During retirement, I will be relaxing, traveling, woodworking and gardening :)

 

Karen Kendzora Forman

Park Terrace Elementary
Special Ed. Paraprofessional
1999-2025

While at SLP Schools, I worked as a Special Education Paraprofessional in our EBD, ASD, DCD and Reach Program at Park Terrace and Northpoint. My Panther Pride started with enrolling our three kids in the district, and all three are now grads of SLP. I will miss all my coworkers and I’ll especially miss the kids. I have always been proud to say I work at SLP! I have many fond memories and experiences. So many laughs and a few tears. I am grateful for having been part of SLP! This next chapter of my life brings more time with family and friends, reading more books, volunteering and spending time outside.

Ana Patricia Moreno Gamez

Spring Lake Park High School
Spanish Teacher
2022-2024

Martha Ochs-Efraimson

Early Childhood
EC Special Education Teacher
2017-2025

Working with my colleagues and the families has been great!

Janelle Todd

Spring Lake Park High School
Innovative & Personalized Learning Specialist
2013-2025

I worked as an English Language Arts teacher 2013-2020, then a Curriculum Lead for ELA 2016-2021, a part-time CIIC 2018-2020, then as an IPL/CIIC 2020-2025. I am proud of all the course offerings we have developed at the high school to meet students’ interests. A career highlight has been supporting initiatives such as 12 x12 beginning with College Writing and Critical Reading, Competency Based Learning, and integrating SPED students into Theatre class. During retirement, I’ll be traveling around the USA (in a yet to be purchased camper van), occasional big trips outside of the lower 48, cooking, gardening, reading, and making mosaics.

Douglas Witt

Westwood Schools
Custodian
2018-2025

I worked at Centerview for 6 years then came over to Westwood my final year. I’m proud of the job I’ve done taking care of the children and staff - and meeting great coworkers. I’d like to thank Mike Callahan. It’s been a career highlight to meet all the children I had been with at Centerview and seeing them again at Westwood. During retirement, I will be relaxing and spending time at our lake place fishing. Also, lots of house projects!