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St. Mary's County Public Schools honors staff with 3,021 combined years of service; several retire after decades
Summary
St. Mary's County Public Schools held a recognition ceremony at the Forest Center honoring retirees and length-of-service awardees whose combined service totals 3,021 years, including several employees with 30-plus years and one with 50 years.
At a recognition ceremony at the Forest Center this evening, St. Mary's County Public Schools honored current and retiring employees whose combined service to the district totals 3,021 years, district officials said. The event included length-of-service awards and retiree acknowledgments and featured remarks from board and district leaders.
The ceremony matters because it highlighted institutional continuity across classrooms, support services and administration: officials said the honorees include employees with 25, 30, 35 and 50 years of service, and the roster includes classroom teachers, paraeducators, administrators and operations staff whose work spans instruction, student services and operations.
Dale Farrell, chief of staff for St. Mary's County Public Schools, opened the event and thanked staff, families and community members for attending. “We are streaming tonight's ceremony live on our school system website, and we'll post it on our YouTube channel as well,” Farrell said. Farrell listed district leaders in attendance and noted that each honoree would receive a certificate and a length-of-service pin.
Kathy Allen, vice chair of the Board of Education, delivered remarks reflecting on retirement and service. Citing Fred Rogers, Allen said, “There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” She offered personal observations about retirement transitions and congratulated honorees on their service.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Smith closed with thanks and a note about recent graduations. “Last week, we celebrated the commencement of over 1,300 students,” Smith said, and he told the honorees their work helped students reach that milestone. Smith also quoted Theodore Roosevelt to emphasize gratitude, saying, “comparison is the thief of joy.” He concluded with a George Bernard Shaw line: “You don't stop laughing when you grow old. You grow old when you stop laughing.”
District officials provided numerical totals for the recognitions: the ceremony honored employees whose combined service totals 3,021 years, of which 1,436 years represent retirees and 1,585 years represent length-of-service awardees. The district noted that some honorees could not attend the event.
Among highlighted honorees, Terry Fenwick was recognized for 50 years of service in the Department of Operations. Lisa Bauchner, chief academic officer, was recognized for 36 years with the district and concluded her service as chief academic officer; Dr. Kelly Hall concluded 39 years as chief of equity engagement and early access. The ceremony also named multiple teachers, paraeducators and staff retiring after 20–37 years of service.
The recognition was ceremonial: board members Dr. J. R. Beavers, Tammy McCourt and Dr. Scott Smith presented certificates and pins to honorees; no policy actions or votes were taken during the event. Farrell thanked Michael Egan and the Forest Center staff for hosting and thanked the district's Department of Strategic Initiatives and student video-production staff for streaming the event.
The evening combined formal acknowledgement of service milestones with personal remarks from board and district leaders; district staff will post the video of the ceremony on the school system website and YouTube channel for those who could not attend.
