ROCK HALL — Community members who provided outstanding support for Kent County Public Schools and staff who are retiring after decades of service were honored by the Kent County Board of Education at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting June 8.
The celebrations began with Standing Ovations Awards presented to John Schratwieser and Bob Ortiz.
Schratwieser has long been a champion for the school system’s arts programs, providing support in his role as executive director of Kent Cultural Alliance.
Superintendent Mary McComas called Schratwieser “a relentless advocate” for children, artists and teachers.
Ortiz is a renowned woodworker and furniture maker. He has decided to retire and donated many of his tools and equipment to Kent County High School for carpentry students in the Career and Technical Education program.
McComas praised Ortiz for his exceptional generosity. She said Ortiz’s donation will allow students to further their education in woodworking “in his spirit and his legacy.”
The celebrations included recognizing the seven staff members who are retiring at the end of the year: from Kent County High School, custodians Charlotte Blackston, Justine Skinner and Valerie Sorrell and instructional assistant Cheryl Hartmetz; from Kent County Middle School, secretary Laura Barrett; and from H.H. Garnet Elementary School, cafeteria worker Michelle Atkinson.
Director of Teaching and Learning Gina Jachimowicz is retiring after 35 years with Kent County Public Schools, and nearly 40 years overall in education. She was recognized at both the board meeting and earlier in the day when she was presented with a Lighthouse Award from McComas and Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion.
At the board meeting, Hushion said the annual retirement celebration is always a special night.
“We say ‘goodbye,’ but it is a good ‘goodbye,'” Hushion said. “We have seven folks tonight that we will be celebrating who combining their years of experience have over 225 years of service. So that is outstanding.”
Board President Trish McGee gave special recognition to Atkinson.
McGee said that while schools were shuttered during the COVID pandemic, Atkinson was on the front line ensuring that even with classes being virtual, students were still receiving meals prepared by the schools.
Hushion himself was surprised with a Navigator Award for exceptional leadership presented by McComas. He is transitioning to a new position outside of Kent County Public Schools next month.
Kent County Board of Education President Trish McGee is owner and publisher of The Evening Enterprise. She did not contribute to this report.
