Cda Honors Teachers, Bids Adieu To Retirees

Before honoring retirees and teachers Tuesday night, Coeur d’Alene School Superintendent Doug Creswell told a joke about a youngster who, two days into kindergarten, proclaimed he didn’t like school.

“And I just found out I have to stay until I’m 16!” the boy said.

His teacher replied: “You think that’s bad, I have to stay until I’m 65!” Despite the laughs that line got at the district’s awards banquet, spending a lot of years with school kids apparently isn’t so bad.

Sandy Medved, who teaches fourth grade at Sorensen Elementary, beamed upon receiving the Teacher of the Year award.

The 18 retirees in the spotlight were beaming, too.

They included Lois Rasmussen, who’s retiring after 35 years in the classroom - 29 of those in Coeur d’Alene. Also retiring is her husband, Gary Rasmussen, a longtime coach described as “a booster membership hit man and big daddy to all.”

Well-wishers heard not only about teachers but staff members like Ken Finney, a district bus driver who’s braved snow chains, sports tournaments and winding roads for 25 years.

Then there were the four cooks, who, by someone’s calculation, served up 26 million lunches in their combined 84 years of service. They are Patricia Blakney, Arvella Layson, Jeanette Michalak and Beverly Phillips.

The other retirees honored were: Roger Hansen, Mary Jo Allen, Don Arthur, Yvonne Davis, Jim Lynn, Warren Bakes, George House, Cliff Jantz, Dean Lundblad, Paul Stinnette and Bill Zales.

Medved began her teaching career in Boise 21 years ago. She’s been with the district for 18 years.

Also on Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene Education Association recognized three area residents with “Friends of Education” awards. They were:

Cathyanne Lavins, founder and executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Youth Symphony

Dennis “Denny” Burt, owner of Burt’s Music, for his work on behalf of music programs

Lola Hagadone, whose support includes $1,000 donations to each elementary school library.

, DataTimes