OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured are Forestville’s 2026 retirees, from left to right: Rich Franklin, Bus Driver; Pat Valvo, Bus Driver; Teri O’Connor, Floater Monitor Aide; Gary Worosz, Elementary Teacher; Michele Dolce, Elementary Teacher; Kristin Britz, Art Teacher; Nadine Donovan, Elementary School Nurse; and Jay Hagen, Band Teacher. Not pictured: Sandy Muck, Food Service Helper.

FORESTVILLE — While roughly 30 high school seniors are ready to move on from the Forestville Central School District as the year comes to an end, nine employees of the district are also saying goodbye once summer hits. The Board of Education wished those nine employees well in retirement with a ceremony at the final Board meeting of the school year.

The district is losing Elementary Teachers Gary Worosz and Michele Dolce; Art Teacher Kristin Britz; Band Teacher Jay Hagen; School Nurse Nadine Donovan; Floater Monitor Aide Teri O’Connor; Food Service Helper Sandy Muck; and Bus Drivers Rich Franklin and Pat Valvo. At the recent ceremony, Superintendent Dr. John O’Connor, Middle/High School Principal Dan Grande, District Clerk Melody Voigt, and Head Bus Driver Kris Richter spoke highly of the departing members of the district.

Richter introduced the outgoing members of her department, Franklin and Valvo. She said that between the two drivers, they completed over 10,000 safe trips to and from the school. Richter stated that safety and relationships with students are the two biggest priorities of her department, and both retirees were great examples of those priorities.

“You could not ask for better bus drivers to commit to their children,” Richter said. She called it “a privilege to work alongside of” Franklin and Valvo.

Voigt recognized Donovan for her efforts as a School Nurse, especially dating back to the pandemic. Donovan retired from a career in the medical field and joined the district as a substitute School Nurse. Donovan then covered the maternity leave of another School Nurse, but when the pandemic hit, she stayed onboard while the permanent Nurse was unable to return to work. She was then permanently hired in 2022.

Donovan and Voigt worked closely together during the pandemic, especially when contact tracing was required to document the potential spread of Covid. Both Grande and Voigt commended Donovan for her efforts during such a challenging time for medical professionals.

“We just went through such a crazy time together,” Voigt said. “… I just really appreciate everything that we did together. We had quite the bond.”

Britz started at Forestville in 1993 as an Elementary Art Teacher, then eventually transitioned to the Middle/High School. She witnessed students grow from kindergarteners to high school graduates in her time at Forestville. Grande highlighted how she has always focused on allowing students to explore their interests through art, rather than pigeonholing them with a strict curriculum. She has also been involved in musicals and plays at the district over the years with set design.

“We’re really grateful for everything that Kristin has done,” Grande said. He later said to Britz, “From the bottom of my heart, and all the faculty up here and all the students, congratulations. We’re certainly going to miss you.”

Dr. O’Connor spoke about Dolce, a teacher he has known dating back 25 years. Over that time, Dolce has taught third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, while also taking on several advisory roles and a leadership position with the Forestville Teachers’ Association. She also was a dedicated chaperone of many events each year. Dr. O’Connor said, “If there’s work to be done at the school that involves kids, Michele has always been a big fan of that.”

Dr. O’Connor said that when you walk into Dolce’s classroom, the command she has over the setting is evident. He said that the district’s new teachers should aspire to be like Dolce. “Kids are engaged, they feel supported, they are excited about learning, and the expectations and standards are very high,” Dr. O’Connor said.

Grande spoke highly of Hagen’s leadership of the Forestville band program. Hagen was hired in 2019, just prior to the pandemic. Despite all the restrictions on band activities to limit the spread of Covid, Hagen reached out to other band instructors to find ways to keep the program going.

As numbers dropped off when kids returned to school, Hagen shifted the focus to recruiting younger students to participate in band in their early years. Hagen’s shift to rebuild the program for the future has led to some of the highest numbers at the middle school level. “When these kids in the next couple years make it to high school, we’re going to be back and better than we ever were before,” Grande said.

Dr. O’Connor commended Muck for her dedication in a variety of roles with the district dating back to the early 90s. “Sandy has been one of the most positive people I know,” Dr. O’Connor said. “She is always a ray of sunshine, and she’ll definitely be missed.”

Dr. O’Connor also spoke highly of Teri O’Connor’s versatility in a variety of roles with the district. He said, “I don’t know how you do it, but you’re always smiling, always positive, and always happy.” Dr. O’Connor also credited Teri O’Connor’s service as a union representative and called her “a very good advocate for her people.”

Finally, Dr. O’Connor reached the last name on the list, Gary Worosz. By the end of his speech, Dr. O’Connor was holding back emotions as he spoke of all Worosz has done for the district dating back to the early 90s.

Worosz wore many hats at Forestville, as an Elementary Teacher, a part-time Art Teacher, and a Reading Specialist. Worosz was the driving force behind the annual PARP reading initiative at Forestville for more than three decades.

Dr. O’Connor said that even on the way out, Worosz has kept his high standards in place throughout the year. “When you walk in that room, you see magical things happening,” Dr. O’Connor said. He said that when it comes to students, Worosz, like Dolce, has “empowered them to learn to be better than they are.”

The district held a reception for the retirees with desserts and refreshments after the conclusion of the regular portion of the Board meeting.