Middle school teachers ending long Poway Unified School District careers

Eleven middle school teachers are retiring from Poway Unified School District.

Those who taught in the district for 25 or more years were asked to share their thoughts on this career milestone. All others whose names were provided by the district have been mentioned as well.

Retiring teachers at the high school and elementary levels will be recognized in upcoming weeks.

• Dave “Coach” McCoy is retiring after 38 years with PUSD, with the last 20 at Mesa Verde Middle School, most recently teaching physical education. He previously taught at Meadowbrook Middle School (1989-95), Mount Carmel High (1986-89) and Poway High (1977-86). Over the years he coached water polo at Poway High plus middle school volleyball, wrestling, cross country and flag football.

McCoy earned his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, his teaching credential from National University and master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University.

McCoy said he became a teacher because “I enjoyed coaching and playing a lot of different sports. And of course, I love summers off. I loved my job and it exceeded my expectations.”

Regarding changes to the profession, McCoy said, “Now when a student gets into trouble the parents usually ask what the teacher did wrong.” As for a special memory, he said, “I got a chance to work with a lot of wonderful people.”

McCoy said he plans to stay in San Diego and do a lot more golfing, hiking, water sports and traveling.

• Kathy Ondler is retiring after teaching in PUSD for 36 years, with the last 33 at Black Mountain Middle School where most recently she was the physical education department’s head teacher. She has also been the gymnastics coach, dance coordinator and Advancement Via Individual Determination program adviser. She previously taught at Poway High School, where she was the gymnastics coach.

Ondler graduated from San Diego State University with her bachelor’s degree in physical education and lifetime credential. Her honors include being named San Diego State Graduate Teacher of the Year in 1999.

As for why Ondler became a teacher, she said, “I was a gymnast and track athlete growing up, I really enjoyed participating in all sports. I always dreamed of a career where I could help kids and have fun. Knowing that I was also planning on starting a family, I knew being a teacher would be the perfect job.

“Being a teacher for over 36 years has exceeded all my expectations. When you have students who are often intimidated by sports and their physical activity abilities, it is extremely rewarding to help that individual meet those goals and most often exceed them. Every single one of my students make a lasting impression and I must be doing the same because even after 30-plus years, students will recognize me and stop me to say hello. This is by far the biggest reward of being a teacher.”

Ondler said education has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. “(There is) more funding for textbooks and tutoring. We have computers and cell phones now, more security programs and anti-bullying programs. The impact of the curriculum changes are more advanced as well.”

When asked to share a special memory, she said, “I have so many special memories with students, teachers, the administration. I would just like to share my gratitude ... (to those) who have made the last 36 years so special and rewarding. ... I have made lifetime friends while working for PUSD and only wish the new teachers the same memories.”

Ondler said she plans to travel, enjoy her granddaughter, sleep in and continue to have lots of fun.

• John Lundeberg is retiring after 35 years in PUSD, with the last 31 as a math teacher at Meadowbrook Middle School. He previously taught at Chaparral and Pomerado elementary schools. At Meadowbrook he also coached boys and girls basketball, the Math Team; and advised the Math Fair, Skateboard Club and Ocean Fishing Club.

Lundeberg earned his bachelor of science degree (science emphasis) at Western Illinois University plus his master of science degree (learning handicapped emphasis) at National University. He is a former Meadowbrook Teacher of the Year and San Diego County Math Teacher of the Year.

Lundeberg said he became a teacher because “the summer of my freshman year of college I worked as a camp counselor for inner city youth in Chicago. I knew that’s what I wanted to do (so) I went back to school and changed my major from environmental science to education. It’s one of the most rewarding professions I could imagine. I’ve been blessed with getting to meet and know close to 5,000 students, athletes, peers and their families throughout my teaching career. It has definitely exceeded any expectations.”

Regarding changes he said, “I used to get to my classroom, get a football, go outside and toss it around with my students. Now I go in and boot up my computer. I remember walking to the office ... to get my mail and messages out of my box, use a phone, get my lunch out of the refrigerator. Now there’s a phone in my room, email and until recently I had a refrigerator in my room. (I) used to able to play some good pranks with the messages. Now everyone has access to info or makes a quick call to the office. (I) wrote every single assignment grade in a grade book and calculated each grade individually (for) 120 to 150 students at the end of the quarter. Now it’s a computer grading program.”

As for special memories, he said, “coming out of college I certainly didn’t have any experience and wasn’t very crafty when it came to decorating my classroom. I put up a few sports posters, but that was the extent of my interior decorating skills. Cutting out designs, letters and putting a border around bulletin boards wasn’t a strength. So as I was walking around campus my first day at Meadowbrook, I wandered into another first year teacher’s room and noticed that her room was completely decorated and very well done. I asked the young lady if she could do my bulletin boards for me, but she refused. She did, however, agree to marry me two years later.”

His retirement plans are to travel with his wife, Donna, spend time with their grandkids, hike, go to sporting events, volunteer and enjoy southern California.

• Donna Lundeberg is retiring after teaching for 32 years in PUSD, all at Meadowbrook Middle School where most recently she taught seventh grade science. She was also a mentor teacher for PUSD and the district’s Science Fair coordinator.

Lundeberg earned her bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University, master’s in secondary education at United States International University and master’s in administration at California State University San Bernardino. She is a former Meadowbrook Middle School Teacher of the Year plus a Science Alliance Teacher of the Year.

Lundeberg said she became a teacher because she wanted to work with kids. “This has been the most rewarding, amazing and fun career. It also turned out to be a great profession, allowing me freedom with holidays and summers to raise three wonderful children.”

Regarding changes in teaching, Lundeberg said, “I think the most impactful thing over the years has been the increase in class size.”

As for a special memory, she said, “I had a troubled student who came back over 10 years after being quite a mischievous young sixth grade boy. He was tall and lean and I couldn’t recognize him. After reading his name tag, indicating he had followed the rules and checked in through the office, I realized (with whom) I was talking. ... He informed me that he had graduated from high school, joined the Marines and in a month was going to get married. ... So many things ran through my mind. As he left he said, ‘Mrs. Lundeberg promise me one thing. Don’t give up on the bad kids.’ Through tears we hugged and left.”

Lundeberg said she and her husband, John, plan to travel and spend time with their grandchildren and daughters. She will also volunteer at church and possibly teach a college class.

• Kenneth “Kenny” Carr is retiring after 37 years of teaching, the last 31 in PUSD, all at Meadowbrook Middle School where most recently he taught seventh grade life science. Over 20-plus years he coached boys volleyball, girls basketball plus track and field; was science department chairman for 20 of the last 21 years; and a mentor teacher for the district.

After six years of teaching in Sandy, Utah, Carr said he returned to his hometown of Poway. While growing up he was a student at Midland Elementary, Valley Intermediate, Meadowbrook Intermediate — where he was in its first eighth grade class 50 years ago — and Poway High.

Carr earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology from Brigham Young University. His master’s degree and additional graduate classes were earned while attending BYU, Point Loma Nazarene University and United States International University. Three times he was named Teacher of the Year and three times the student body dedicated its yearbook to him.

“I cannot remember not wanting to be a teacher,” Carr said. “I had two great mentors who were my inspiration and provided tremendous influence toward my career decision. My dad, also a Kenneth, who taught for 31 years at Poway High; and Terry Campbell, my eighth grade teacher ... at Meadowbrook.

“Teaching has been everything I could have hoped it would be and more,” he added. “Each and every year for that past 37 has been amazing and each year just kept getting better and better. Teaching has been so rewarding and fulfilling, exceeding my expectations exponentially.”

When asked to speak about changes to the profession, he said, “Kids are kids and I find them to be as wonderful now as ever. Individual needs have changed but the nature of the kid, their desire to learn and their love of life remain strong. They continue to be very impressionable young people and so much fun to be with, around and a part of their lives.”

As for special memories, Carr mentioned the five summers he spent in Peru with 80 or more middle school students from all PUSD middle schools and the year and a half of preparations that went into each travel group.

In retirement, Carr said he and his wife plan to stay in the area, but also spend a lot of time in Utah where five of their seven children and eight of their 12 grandchildren live. “We will also be looking forward to serving a mission for our church,” he said.

• Michael Anella is retiring after 26 years with PUSD, the last six at Oak Valley Middle School where most recently he taught sixth grade math and science. He previously taught at Midland Elementary and was its Safety Patrol coordinator for 18 years of his 20 years there.

Anella earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Western Michigan University. At San Diego State University he earned his master’s in elementary curriculum and instruction plus a master’s in education administration. He was a San Diego County Office of Education’s 2003 Hats Off To Teachers Award recipient.

“I decided to become a teacher while working with kids in Little League baseball during summer vacation from high school,” Anella said. “I enjoyed working with kids on their baseball skills, and realized teaching was a true passion of mine. The teaching profession far exceeded my wildest expectations and I would highly recommend teaching as a fulfilling career to anyone.”

As for changes, Anella mentioned the readily available technology that has taken students and teachers to far better places few could have imagined many years ago.

“In 1991, while teaching third grade at Midland Elementary, I told my students they would be the last graduating class of the millennium in nine years and that the time would go by quickly. I put a class project together and we buried a time capsule on the playground and celebrated the event looking to the future. The Poway Chieftain even published an article about the project. We filled the time capsule with letters written to our future selves, made drug free pledges (and) included signs of the times ... There were about 20 of my former third grade students assembled in June of 1999 when we dug up the time capsule, students collected their items, we all reminisced about the experience and concluded this fun event. The Chieftain also published an article about (it). Those graduating seniors told me they looked forward to digging up the time capsule over the years. For me, it is a lifelong memory.”

Anella’s plans are to continue his author presentations at schools about his 2009 book, “Midland Magic — A Journey Through the World of Figurative Language.” He also wants to continue working with teachers on professional development, will continue living in San Diego and wants to travel.

• Karen Zinser is retiring after 25 years with PUSD, most recently as a physical education teacher at Black Mountain Middle School where she has also helped choreograph for its show choir. Her first 20 years were at Rancho Bernardo High, where she taught dance, aerobics and gymnastics; was the cheer and gymnastics coach and dance team director. “My main focus and passion was being adviser for the RB Tour De Force Dance Team.”

Zinser said she started her career at Glendale Community College in Arizona, where she taught dance, aerobics and weight lifting, and coached the gymnastics team. In 1981, she started teaching high school dance in Peoria, Arizona. In 1989, she moved to San Diego and taught dance in the Grossmont District for a year.

Zinser earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University.

“I have had many great memories through the years of college gymnastics, high school gymnastics and most of all the RB dance team,” Zinser said. “The first year I had the dance team, the girls asked if they could call me ‘Z’ and I said that would be fine. The name stuck and the memories of being ‘Z’ and doing countless dance concerts will always be very special to me.”

Zinser said she became a teacher because her whole family was in the educational field and due to her passion for physical activity, especially dance and gymnastics. “I have found that the students in general have changed very little in that 30 years and it has been a joy teaching them and watching them succeed.”

As for retirement, Zinser said she plans to stay in San Diego and promised the Black Mountain show choir she will choreograph for at least one more year. “I plan on skiing until I can ski no more and might try teaching some senior aerobic classes,” she said. “Maybe I will join a grannies dance company and dance my way into my golden years. My husband would like me to play more golf so maybe I can also work that into my busy retirement schedule.”

Other retiring middle school teachers are:

• Teresa Heaslet has been with PUSD for 30 years. She most recently taught eighth grade at Meadowbrook Middle School.

• Jo Anne Hudson has been with PUSD for 24 years. She most recently taught math at Black Mountain Middle School.

• Sharon Snelling has been with PUSD for 23 years. She most recently was a RSP/Special Education teacher at Twin Peaks Middle School.

• Katherine Cowart has been with PUSD for 18 years. She most recently taught seventh grade at Black Mountain Middle School.