11 retire from HUSD

The Healdsburg Unified School District last week said goodbye to
11 retirees and named longtime elementary school teacher Stephanie
Feith as the new principal at Healdsburg Elementary School.
Feith replaces Peter Fong, who is leaving the district this June
to take a job in Sunnyvale. The district began its search for a new
principal shortly after Fong accepted the job, and announced last
week that it was hiring from within.
Feith grew up in Healdsburg and attended Healdsburg Elementary
School. She later graduated with a degree in history from UC
Berkeley and a teaching credential from Dominican University in San
Rafael. She’s taught in Healdsburg for 14 years in various grades
ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade.
“She’s passionate about the school,” said district
Superintendent Jeff Harding. “The school has provided excellent
education to its students and Stephanie will step in and continue
this service to students.”
While the district is welcoming Feith to her new role, the
educational community is also saying goodbye to 11 retiring from
public education. Retirees include seven teachers.
Fifth grade teacher Kathleen Seisdedos and immersion teacher
Chris King are retiring from Healdsburg Elementary School’s Fitch
Mountain campus. Principal Amber Stringfellow described King as a
calming presence on campus who is well liked by students and
Seisdedos’ willingness to take on extra projects including the
campus recycling program.
First grade teacher Margaret Jackson, reading specialist Edna
Lucero and custodian Frank Enciso are retiring from Healdsburg
Elementary School’s HES campus. “All three have served the district
faithfully for many years,” said school principal Peter Fong. “They
have numerous accomplishments to their names, we appreciate
everything they’ve done and we wish them well.”
Healdsburg Junior High School only has one retiree this
June—food services worker Donna Watson—, a woman school principal
Deborah Hall believes will be well remembered by all. “Not only has
she been at the junior high for years and years, she graduated from
the junior high,” said Hall. “She has fed countless junior high
kids. Everyone just loves her. We’re going to miss her very
much.
Five are retiring from Healdsburg High School and Marce Becerra
Academy. George Hoyer taught math at the junior high and high
school for many years and served as a department chair. Kay Webb
most recently taught English, but Healdsburg High School principal
John Curry said she also taught computer literacy and English
Language Development earlier in her career. Vicki Brewer taught in
special education and Ruth Stadnik taught adult education at Marce
Becerra. Also retiring is custodian Tekeste Bahre, who spent
countless hours preparing for sporting events.
While years of experience and expertise leave with each
retirement, the turnover does help the district’s reserves. “It
does help the budget situation a little bit,” said Harding. “In
general, when someone retires they retire at the higher end of the
salary schedule. When we hire someone new to replace them, if we
replace them, they tend to be on the lower end of the salary
schedule, so there is a savings.”