Wareham Public Schools honors longtime employees and retirees at May recognition ceremony

The Wareham School Committee and district leaders recognized employees marking career milestones and several retirees at a recognition ceremony held May 1 at Wareham High School.

Superintendent Matt DeAndrea opened the event and introduced school leaders who presented awards to staff with 20- and 30-year tenures and to retirees. DeAndrea listed employees who could not attend and named four retirees: Andrea Schwarm, Sue Johnson, Paul Barnett and Deb Ballard.

Principals and department heads described honorees’ work. Bethany Chamler (elementary principal) highlighted Sarah Davis and Lindsay Wolf for their 20 years and their work on the district’s science-of-reading professional development. Chamler praised Deanna Semple for 20 years as a physical-education teacher and for union leadership as Wareham Education Association president. Other presenters included middle- and high-school leaders who recognized teachers, custodial staff and paraprofessionals for two or three decades of service and recounted examples of their school roles and school-community impact.

At Wareham High School, speakers recognized Ricky Cleveland (20 years) for custodial work and student engagement; Marie Kavicki was honored for long-term special-education paraprofessional service and one-on-one support that helped students progress to advanced coursework. Several school leaders described retiring staff as influential in programming, technology integration and student supports.

The ceremony concluded after brief remarks from Superintendent DeAndrea and a five-minute recess before the regular meeting continued.

The event was ceremonial only; no committee votes or policy decisions were taken as part of the recognition ceremony.