RSU 10 honors retiring employees

DIXFIELD — Twelve retiring staff members of RSU 10 were honored Monday night for their longtime service. They were presented with brass-plated plaques and served supper prior to the regular board meeting.

Marge Kennedy, longtime food service director for the former SAD 21 in Dixfield and assistant food director for RSU 10, catered the affair.

“She makes it look so easy,” RSU 10 food service director Jeanne LaPointe said.

Superintendent Craig King said the the board wanted to recognize those who had given the district so much.

Particularly difficult for the district in the retirement of speech and language pathologists Crystal Pineau and Douglas Topper.

Dirigo Elementary School Principal Charlie Swan said Pineau had taught at neighboring SAD 44 in Bethel before coming to RSU 10.

Melanie Chasse, Meroby Elementary School principal, said Topper has had a special way with children and helped train two speech and language assistants.

“He’s a talented clinician,” she said.

Ryan Casey, principal of Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, said his heart is full of love for Elizabeth Kelley, a longtime educational technician who has served as a mentor for other educational technicians as well as for teachers.

“She has taught us all the lessons of life,” he said.

Also cited for their many years of service were Jane Gaudette, longtime elementary teacher at Meroby Elementary School in Mexico; Catherine Charles, French teacher at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford; Tom Wilie, middle school science teacher; Dorothy Peters, Mountain Valley High School English teacher; Bob Staples, Dirigo Middle School teacher and athletic director; Chris Galgay and Jackie Stevens, Hartford-Sumner Elementary School teachers; and Maureen Desjardins, longtime nutrition employee.

: Dirigo Elementary School Principal Charlie Swan presents a plaque to speech and language pathologist Crystal Pineau for her many years of work at RSU 10. The recognition was made at the school board meeting Monday night in Dixfield.

: Meroby Elementary School Principal Melanie Chasse hugs retiring speech and language pathologist Douglas Topper during a recognition program Monday night by the RSU 10 board at Dixfield.

: RSU 10 food service director Jeanne LaPointe, right, honored retiring assistant food service director Marge Kennedy at the school board meeting Monday night in Dixfield.

: Mountain Valley Middle School Principal Ryan Casey hugs retiring educational technician Elizabeth Kelley during a recognition ceremony Monday night at the RSU 10 board meeting at Dixfield.