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Retiring elementary teachers reflect on careers

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By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Poway Unified School District will be saying goodbye to 36 teachers and one administrator who are retiring, including 20 at the elementary level when school dismisses for the summer next week.

Teachers with the district for 25 or more years were invited to share their thoughts on reaching this career milestone. Featured this week are those at the elementary level. Teachers at other levels will be featured in an upcoming issue.

Karon Michele Gentry

has taught in PUSD for 38 years, most recently first grade at Los Penasquitos Elementary, where she has taught for the past 36 years. She was Los Penasquitos’ Teacher of the Year in 1997, its SST Coordinator and a team leader.

Gentry earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Cal Western University and said she became a teacher because “teaching was my dream ever since I can remember.”

She added, “(Teaching) far exceeded my expectations (because) I did not realize the impact and influence I would have on so many, as a teacher. Teaching is a fine reward.”

According to Gentry, since entering the profession “teaching is far more disciplined now. Technology has made data access and use a potent tool for tailoring the curriculum to individual student needs.”

Gentry said “every year” is a special memory to her and in retirement she plans to continue living in Poway. “I will sleep and wash my car. Then I’m going to spend as much time as possible with my husband and family,” she said.


Kristie Szentesi

has taught in PUSD for 37 years, most recently fourth grade at Los Penasquitos Elementary, where she has taught for the past 11 years. She previously taught at Westwood, Chaparral, Turtleback, Highland Ranch and Shoal Creek elementaries. Szentesi has held various positions, including student council adviser, running club coordinator, mentor teacher and for three years assisted new teachers through the Poway Professional Assistance Program.

Szentesi was named Highland Ranch, Poway Unified and San Diego County Teacher of the Year.

The Poway High graduate earned her bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University and master’s degree at United States International University. Szentesi said she became a teacher because “from the moment I began coaching the Rancho Bernardo swim team, lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons at a young age, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. Coaching, knowing that kids were listening and ‘looking up’ to me, and watching the wonder of their faces while learning something new, motivated me to pursue a teaching career.”

Szentesi added, “I have loved every single minute of my teaching career. I can’t imagine a more rewarding profession. I’ve learned more about life from my students and families than I could have ever imagined.”

According to Szentesi, “today’s greatest educational challenge is with the students who walk in our classroom doors each day. In my first year of teaching, I had one student out of 32 students with divorced parents. Today, many students come from single family homes, parents who struggle financially and many who face language barriers. These issues greatly challenge parenting skills that directly impacts students and learning.”

Szentesi said one of her most memorable moments was when a 9-year-old student being raised by her grandparents because both parents were in prison said, “Mrs. Szentesi. I love you.” due to the extra time she gave the girl. “It was then, I realized the powerful impact teachers have on students if we just let them know we care, believe and value them.”

While retired from the classroom, Szentesi said she plans to co-author a book on teaching and be the director of teacher quality for No Excuses University Schools. She will also travel, exercise, ride her bicycle and spend quality time with family and friends.


• Nancy Parker

has taught in PUSD for 36 years, most recently third grade at Midland Elementary, where she has taught for the past 17 years. She previously taught at Garden Road, Rolling Hills, Sundance and Deer Canyon elementaries. Parker has held various positions at these campuses, including GATE coordinator, lead teacher and yearbook adviser.

Parker earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and reading specialist credential at San Diego State University, and said she decided to become a teacher during her junior year in college. “A last minute decision ... (but) one of my best because I met the love of my life and married another teacher,” she said. “I have thoroughly loved teaching.”

She said teaching exceeded her expectations because “when school ended in June I was still ready to teach and did not want the school year to end. Teaching has been the greatest profession for me. I chose to change grade levels and schools to enhance my career in education. After 39 years of teaching, I still love it.”

The most noticeable change during her career is technology. “(In) 1978, (there were) only two phones in the office area for staff to use,” Parker said. “In 2014, we use iPads in the classroom for learning, attendance, report cards, etc.”

Parker said her favorite memories include taking her Rolling Hills classes to tour the Poway News-Chieftain office. “We would come back to class and make our own newspaper for the school,” she said. “At Deer Canyon the students learned about the history of Cinco de Mayo and learned Spanish. I would walk them to the Mexican restaurant, Anitas, and order in Spanish for their free food.”

She called retirement “an endless summer vacation” and said since her husband retired from PUSD five years ago and their youngest is in college, they moved from Rancho Penasquitos to Ocean Beach. “So now I belong to a book club, Zumba, boogie boarding club and will take cooking classes and help the community on the planning board.”


Dennis Jay Servetter

has taught in PUSD for 30 years, most recently fourth grade at Park Village Elementary, where he has taught since it opened 20 years ago. He previously taught at Los Penasquitos Elementary, where he was student council adviser and Teacher of the Year.

Servetter earned his associate’s degree from Southwestern College, plus his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and teacher credential from San Diego State University.

“I didn’t want to go into teaching at first. ... I loved kids but my father was too well known in the world of education having been a teacher, principal and superintendent of Chula Vista School District.” While Servetter initially worked for Chula Vista’s Parks and Recreation Department, Proposition 13-related cutbacks made him chose a new career, he said. “I decided to put my fears of being compared to my father aside and go into teaching, hence my credentialing program at SDSU.”

Servetter said, “teaching has exceeded all my expectations, having been able to impart not only knowledge to the kids ... but by also imparting my philosophy on learning, that being that ‘all children are gifted, some just open their gifts later in life.’” This he taught to parents at back to school night so they would refrain from pushing children who were not yet ready, and create an environment where their children would come to them during times of joy, despair and hopelessness, he said.

“In some ways (teaching) has changed for the better, both as I dealt with the educational process and with the students, in terms of desire to learn and classroom respect,” he said. “In other ways, it has not been pleasurable, for the same reasons mentioned above as being good.”

Servetter said he is “most proud of all the collaboration with the many wonderfully dedicated teachers that I have worked with over my 30 years.” To thank the district for all it has given him, Servetter said he donated a learning garden for the Park Village Elementary playground. There classes can learn outside under the shade of three mulberry trees.

His retirement plans include going on a southern Caribbean cruise with his wife of 31 years and in the future traveling overseas to visit family and friends.


Lynn Bartlett

has taught in PUSD for 27 years, most recently kindergarten at Park Village Elementary. She previously taught at Rolling Hills, Deer Canyon and Canyon View elementaries.

Bartlett earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California Los Angeles, teaching credential from the University of San Diego and master’s degree from Chapman University.

“I became a teacher to continue working with children after years at home with my own family,” she said. “I had previously worked with children who were institutionalized due to serious emotional/social problems.”

Bartlett said teaching “definitely exceeded my expectations. As a parent, prior to teaching, I did not realize the time and energy that teachers put into their day and students. I have been rewarded by the wonderful parents who have assisted me each year and by the amazing students who show me each day the challenges they can meet.”

She said teaching has become more challenging because “in the beginning the expectations were not as high as now and assessments were not as lengthy and intense. Kindergartners are doing what first graders used to do. They are reading various levels of books — not just learning their ABC’s; writing an opinion and informative paragraph; spelling; and math benchmarks — much more than just counting. And now technology is a critical piece of the academics.”

Bartlett said her favorite memories occurred when there were only 20 students in a class, students went half days and she had a room partner. “We were able to give more assistance to students, especially with two teachers in the room. Also, I could have written a book with the many times the children made me laugh.”

During retirement, Bartlett said she plans to continue living in Ramona, do a lot of group walking and bicycling, traveling, volunteering with various organizations and “of course, now I can read more books of choice rather than academic information.”


Karen Bryan King

has taught in PUSD for 27 years, most recently fourth grade at Monterey Ridge Elementary, where she has taught for the last eight years. She previously taught at Park Village and Canyon View. Besides becoming one of the first National Board Certified Teachers in PUSD, she has also been a grade level and technology mentor teacher, named Master Teacher and in 1999 was nominated by Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel to be a California State Legislature Woman of the Year for her service and dedication to California’s children.

King earned her bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University and master’s degree at National University. “My reasons for becoming a teacher were completely selfish,” King said. “I wanted to experience the joy of playing a role in children becoming happy, high-achieving, productive, college-bound members of society. I’m proud to say many of my students are well on their ways to doing so.”

She added, “I love what I do. My expectations for this profession have been far exceeded.”

As for changes in teaching, King said, “When I first became a teacher, I was handed a pile of books and told to teach from them. There were no grade-level Standards and there were certainly no Common Core standards. We are much better teachers today and we are much more accountable for our students’ achievement. Those are both good things.”

King said her special memories have formed when former students come back to visit and say “thank you” or “You were my favorite teacher. I remember when...” She called them “special moments (because) a teacher seldom sees the impact they have on their students’ lives,” she said. “It’s affirming to see former students leading productive lives and accomplishing their life’s goals.”

As for retirement, King said she and her husband, Jeff King, a former PUSD administrator, have sold their home, bought a fifth-wheel trailer and plan to travel “all around our beautiful country.”


Also retiring are:

• Karen Ogden, who taught in PUSD for 29 years, most recently third grade at Tierra Bonita Elementary. In 2013-14 she was Tierra Bonita’s Teacher of the Year.

• Patricia Haslet, who taught in PUSD for 28 years, most recently third grade at Turtleback Elementary.

• Deanna Bates, who taught in PUSD for 27 years, most recently third grade at Pomerado Elementary.

• Jan Gray, who taught in PUSD for 25 years, most recently first grade at Rolling Hills Elementary.

• Vickie Bakki, who has been with PUSD for 24 years. She is principal at Canyon View Elementary.

• Nancy Breisch, who taught in PUSD for 24 years, most recently first grade at Painted Rock Elementary.

• Daniel Daellenbach, who taught in PUSD for 24 years, most recently kindergarten at Pomerado Elementary.

• Pamela Pacilio, who taught in PUSD for 24 years, most recently second grade at Sundance Elementary.

• Deborah Bayley, who taught in PUSD for 23 years, most recently fourth grade at Pomerado Elementary.

• Sharon Rosenthal, who taught in PUSD for 20 years, most recently fifth grade at Monterey Ridge Elementary.

• Sharon Wood, who taught in PUSD for 20 years, most recently first grade at Pomerado Elementary.

• Katherine Kakacek, who taught in PUSD for 17 years, most recently first grade at Pomerado Elementary.

• Eileen Tael, who taught in PUSD for 10 years, most recently third grade at Painted Rock Elementary.

• Marcia Helzer, who taught in PUSD for nine years, most recently as a resource specialist at Valley Elementary.

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