Suffern Central honors dozens of retiring teachers and staff at June recognition

The Suffern Central School District on June 2 held a retirement recognition honoring more than two dozen employees who have spent decades in district classrooms and programs. Superintendent Dr. Gunderson opened the evening by explaining the district’s intent to acknowledge each retiree individually after recent staffing and structural changes at the elementary level.

The program highlighted teachers, specialists and athletics staff from across the district. Veronica Burkhall was recognized for 24 years at Cherry Lane Elementary as a teacher and student support specialist who championed elementary mathematics. Michelle McKarnen — described by presenters as a pioneer of the district’s first inclusion classroom in 1994 — was honored for a 32‑year career that included roles as a math curriculum coordinator, team leader and creator of a Makerspace program. “If that’s what people remember about me … that I cared, then I’ll consider my career a success,” McKarnen told the audience.

Other retirees singled out included Jan (Jen) Rosenlum, who spent 13 years supporting students in the district’s Therapeutic Support Center; Travis Jackson, the district’s first elementary counselor who was praised for anti‑bullying work and recent efforts with the My Brother’s Keeper group; George Mugno, who built the high‑school robotics program and led teams to state and world competitions; and Rob Shelling, a longtime guidance counselor and the head boys varsity hockey coach with multiple state championships.

Presenters also recognized long service in multilingual education and enrichment: Allison Metscroft was thanked for 23 years teaching ENL students at Montabello Elementary; Linda Brennan was honored for three decades of math and STEM work that included NASA Sparks participation and math‑ambassador programs; and Dawn Bean received praise for student enrichment and coding initiatives developed during a 34‑year career.

Speakers repeatedly framed the evening as both celebration and institutional memory: presenters and retirees recounted early mentors, first classroom assignments, and the ways district programs grew — for example, the spread of inclusion classrooms and the expansion of elementary counselors to every building. Several retirees described plans to relocate, continue part‑time teaching or volunteer with district programs after retirement.

The recognition concluded with the superintendent thanking the retirees for their service and inviting the public to remain for the regular board meeting. The board reconvened shortly after the program for its regular June session.