Lasting impact: Retiree notes ‘beautiful career’ at Silver Creek
Retiree notes ‘beautiful career’ at Silver Creek
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At a recent meeting, Abigail Janca officially retired from her teaching position at Silver Creek Elementary School after roughly three decades. Janca, right, is pictured with Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, left.
By BRADEN CARMEN
bcarmen@observertoday.com
SILVER CREEK -- After roughly three decades of teaching young students at Silver Creek Elementary School, Abigail Janca offered a tearful goodbye to the district upon retirement. At a recent Board of Education meeting, Janca was recognized as she officially retired from the role of Elementary Teacher at the district she called home for most of her life.
Fighting back tears, Janca said to the Board of Education and the district, "Thank you so much for this beautiful career."
Janca was officially employed as a teacher for 29 years, but she began at Silver Creek in 1993 as a long-term substitute. When writing a goodbye speech, Janca recalled her very first class of students. Janca said, "I'm struck by how vividly I remember that time."
Janca said she never lost her love for the job of teaching, noting that her job was just as much about content lessons as it was to treat people well, with the hearts and minds of her students always under consideration.
"I wanted every student to know that they matter, and that they could be successful. It is my hope, when they look back and think about their time with me, that they will think of it as a very good year of their life," Janca said.
Speaking to Janca's sentiment that she hoped her students remembered their time in her classroom fondly, Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston responded, "There's no way they couldn't." Ralston said it is Janca's kindness and compassion that will last as her legacy with the district.
Janca retires in the same year as her longtime friend and colleague, Albert VanDette, a High School Spanish Teacher. VanDette graduated in 1988 from Silver Creek High School alongside Janca. He prepared a statement to be read aloud at the meeting, handled by Karen Bogosian, another graduate of the same Silver Creek class.
"It is hard to believe that we started out as classmates all those years ago, and eventually had the good fortune of becoming colleagues. It has been wonderful sharing both of those chapters with you. As you begin this new one, I wish you nothing but happiness, good health, and many years ahead," VanDette wrote. "It means a great deal to me that after all of these years, we can look back on our graduation together, and now share the milestone of retirement, as well."
Board of Education President Matt Bogosian presented Janca with a plaque to commemorate her service to the district.
The Board also approved several probationary appointments at its recent meeting, including George Fox and Mikayla Goodway as Cafeteria Monitors, Ryan Carpenter as a 12-month Cleaner, Patricia Newton as a 10-month Cleaner, and Ashlynn Powers as a Teaching Assistant. Powers resigned as a Teacher Aide.
The Board approved Siera Porpiglia, Zachary Waterman, and Andrew Kennedy as Substitute Teachers. Randall Pike and Ian Hodkin were appointed as volunteer coaches. Community Education Instructors for Fall 2026 were also approved.
The Board acknowledged Shauna Foster and Michael Hoerbelt as Bus Drivers in Training, while James Castiglia resigned as a Bus Driver and Russ Civiletto earned permanent status of employment as a Bus Monitor.
Emily Racinowski, Secretary to the Superintendent, was appointed as the district's Public Relations Manager. Cheryl Smith was appointed as a Teacher Mentor. Scott Pound, Director of Facilities, was granted approval to attend the 2026 New York State Facilities Association Conference and Expo.
The next meeting of the Silver Creek Board of Education will be on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.