Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Schools bid farewell at the end of this school year to 20 retiring educators who dedicated three decades or more to Catholic education, including seven who served for 40 or more years.
In total, the archdiocesan Catholic schools office reported that 71 educators retired this year.
The seven educators who are retiring after having served for 40 years or more in Catholic schools are:
- Lois Fugit retired after 46 years of service to schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Most recently she was a seventh- and eighth-grade teacher at Ascension School, where she taught for 27 years. She began her career in 1966 at St. Louis Bertrand School, where she taught for two years. She spent two years at Popes Paul and John Consolidated School. She spent 15 years at St. Pius X School where she served as a teacher and principal.
- Mari Hammer, assistant principal at Presentation Academy, retired after a 46-year career as a Catholic educator. She taught at Loretto High School for three years and has spent the last 43 years at Presentation. At Presentation, she has taught theology, world history, U.S. history and psychology. For the last six years she has served as the assistant principal of the school.
- Sheila Mattingly retired as a first-grade teacher from St. Joseph School in Bardstown, Ky. She has worked as a Catholic educator for 46 years. From 1965 to 1969 she taught at St. Joseph. She then taught at St. Francis of Assisi School in Loretto, Ky., from 1970 until 1991. She came back to St. Joseph and taught an additional 22 years at the Bardstown elementary school.
- Pat Wheeler retired from St. Nicholas Academy after 40 years as a teacher in Archdiocese of Louisville schools. She taught at Sts. Simon and Jude School for 32 years and at St. Nicholas for eight years.
- Margie Middleton, a technology teacher at St. Nicholas Academy, retired following a 41-year career as an educator in the archdiocese. She taught at St. Barnabas School for 34 years and St. Nicholas Academy for seven years.
- Sharon Roberts retired from St. Xavier High School after a 45-year career as a teacher in Louisville Catholic schools. She taught for two years at Presentation Academy and for 15 years at Holy Rosary Academy. Since 1985 she has been a science teacher at St. X.
- Nelson Nunn, also a teacher from St. Xavier High School, is retiring following 41 years of service to archdiocesan schools. He taught at St. X from 1972-1984. He went to Holy Cross High School and taught there until 1990. He came back to St. X and taught for 23 additional years.
Educators who are retiring after 30 or more years include:
Connie Higdon, a teacher at St. Edward School, who served for 39 years.
Linda Guild, special needs teacher, Ascension School, 31 years.
Carolyn Medley, study coordinator, Assumption High School, 37 years.
Joe Hoban, technology coordinator, Holy Cross High School, 32 years.
Susan Foley, teacher, Sacred Heart Academy, 31 years.
Timee Keys, teacher, Sacred Heart Model School, 30 years.
Bill Wilson, teacher, St. Andrew Academy, 38 years.
Bev Forst, resource coordinator, St. Gabriel School, 33 years.
Linda Thompson, teacher St. Gregory School, 37 years.
Mary Gardner, assistant principal, St. Patrick School, 32 years.
Mary Lee Lanning, principal, St. Rita School, 39 years.
Chuck Servino, teacher, Trinity High School, 33 years.
Don Switzer, teacher, Trinity High School, 39 years.
There are also 13 who retired after 20 or more years. They are: Brenda Gonzalez, Rebecca Mayes, Janice Gunderson, Phil Higdon, Carol Sherman, Mary Jones, Karen Bickel, Sally Humphreys, Pat Hagan, Donna Cooper, Rita Rogers, Elaine Steinberg and Charlotte Miller.