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JUSD Lauds Retirees

Kind, friendly, helpful, hardworking, dedicated, devoted, passionate, tireless, irreplaceable, the best.  Those are some of the words supervisors and colleagues have used to describe Jurupa Unified's 2019 retirees.

 At a May 6 celebration at Patriot High, the district offered praise, admiration and appreciation for the 118 employees in the district's retiree class of 2019. 

“As superintendent, I am humbled by the passion and commitment each of you has modeled for our students over your many years of service in our district," Superintendent Elliott Duchon told the retirees.  “Our children, our schools and our community are stronger because of your hard work."

 

 

Many of the 2019 retirees spent years or decades serving Jurupa students and ensuring smooth district operations.  These VIPs include bus drivers, cafeteria assistants, clerk typists, counselors, health care aides, instructional aides, school psychologists, speech and language pathologists, teachers, tutors and many others.  

Supervisors and colleagues offered a few heartfelt words – shared in the event program – about each retiree's skills, strengths and contributions.  

                                       

For example:

  • Cara Chavez, a guidance coordinator at Rivercrest Preparatory middle/high school (2006-19), “is empathetic with all, and has the ability to establish rapport with everyone."   ​

  • Harrison Cole Jr., a teacher at RHS (2000-19), “is a tireless advocate for students.  If they are in any trouble, he always gives them a piece of advice they can take with them for the rest of their lives."

  • Geraldine Kalt, a Cafeteria Assistant II at RHS (1999-2018), “is a woman of excellence and integrity."

  • Gayle Ravenscroft, a teacher at Camino Real Elementary (31 years), “is able to remember every single student who ever entered our gate."​

  • ​Michael Wasinger, a teacher at the Pacific Avenue Academy of Music elementary/middle school (30 years), “has turned the cacophony of squeaks and tweets at the beginning of the year into melodious melodies by the end of the year."                    


These educators, and dozens of other retirees like them, have spent their careers helping Jurupa students learn without limits.  Indeed, the gala itself relied on talent from students, including Rubidoux High floral designers, members of the RHS Air Force ROTC, and RHS photographers Joseph Pimentel and Marie Stump, both seniors.


As Robert Garcia, JUSD Board President, wrote to the retirees: “Your service to a greater cause will live on forever in the hearts and minds of our children.  Thank you for your contributions to a better world."

To see more photos from this event: Photos

Or click on the QR Code 



 

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