Longtime Teachers Honored

The Coeur d’Alene School District is honoring three teachers who have taught for 30 consecutive years.

Russell Bailey, Ray Mikelson and Joy Fitzpatrick will be recognized today for their service along with nine employees who have worked in the district for 25 consecutive years.

Bailey began his career as a Central fourth-grade teacher and taught at Bryan and Winton elementary schools before becoming a Title I teacher in 1983. He returned to the regular classroom this fall to teach fifth grade at Bryan.

Mikelson is the Lake City High technology teacher. He began his career teaching industrial arts at middle schools before moving to Coeur d’Alene High. He became the technology teacher at the school in 1988 and then transferred to Lake City High in 1994.

Fitzpatrick started as a high school English and debate teacher before transferring to Lakes Middle School, where she taught English for three years before becoming a counselor. In 1986 she became a counselor at Coeur d’Alene High until transferring to Lake City in 1994.

The district will also recognize 22 employees with 20 years of service, 17 employees with 15 years and 54 employees with 10 years. There are also 36 employees with 5 years of service.