Midview Local Schools proudly hosted its 3rd Annual Staff Recognition Celebration, honoring employees marking milestone anniversaries and celebrating those entering retirement. The morning was filled with gratitude, laughter, and a few happy tears, as the district came together to recognize the contributions of its outstanding team members. Thank you to the Midview Compass Committee, who generously volunteered to provide staff with breakfast before the ceremony.
This year, 58 staff members were recognized for their years of service, including 12 retirees who are closing their Midview chapters after years of commitment to education and the community. Honorees included:
5 years of service: Jack Armstrong, Myranda Barak, Zachary Cousins, Colleen Crayton, Jonathan Cupedro, Mary Kate Dusek, Cody Florian, Kevin Gardella, Jennifer Gates, Chad Heuser, Emma Kovach, Michael Resar, Breana Roberts, Derek Townsend
10 years of service: Susan Binder, Rhonda Blackburn, Ashley Cruz, Brett Mattingly, Megan Poelking, Tayler Rogerson, Kelsey Styrt, Paul Tanner, Susan VanderSluis, Crystal Walker
15 years of service: Larissa Betka, Gregory Dickson, Joanne Hollis, Jennifer Lorber, Jane Urig, Megan Viers, Janet Winslow, Lynette Zeman
20 years of service: Donald Caramell, Elizabeth Cooksey, Dawn Galant, Lisa Gilchrist, Nancy Grau, William Lawton, Monica Mason, Heather Maxwell, Kimberly Mullins, Joann Presnell, Traci Schubert
25 years of service: Laurel Clarke, Anne Marie Eakins, Kelly Groomes-O'Donnell, Sabrina Kiser, Susan Krezman, Rebecca McMillen, Shona Overy, Amanda Passerrello, Janet Reyes, Karen Weir
30 years of service: Aimee Hamm, Shannon Krajewski, Renee Moore, Lisa Shinko
Retirees: Mary Ann Kardos, Rhonda Eye, Kim Phillips, Sue Homoki, Melanie Dougall, Mercedes Szuch, Sheila Priddy, Annette Thompson, Sherryl Surman, Johna Ray, Roberta Plas, Elizabeth Reams
Service award recipients were presented with certificates and anchor “M” pins to display proudly on their school badge lanyards. Each retiree was gifted a personalized, engraved cutting board as a keepsake and was given the opportunity to share a few words during the celebration. Brief biographies—prepared by their supervisors—were read aloud, highlighting their career achievements and lasting contributions (shared below). Midview is grateful for the time, care, and energy each of these individuals has dedicated to the district. Their impact will continue to resonate for years to come!
Mary Ann Kardos, Central Office Secretary: Today, we celebrate and recognize Mary Ann Kardos for her 13 years of dedicated service to Midview Local Schools.
Mary Ann began her time with the district as the clinic secretary at North Elementary before transitioning to Central Office, where she spent the last several years serving as an exempt administrative assistant. Throughout her career with Midview, Mary Ann has been a constant source of support, positivity, and professionalism.
Mary Ann is truly one of the kindest and most genuine people you will ever meet. Even during the most challenging situations or interactions, she consistently treated everyone with grace and compassion. No matter the circumstances, she always greeted others with a smile and a willingness to help.
She has continually gone above and beyond to support her colleagues, administrators, staff, students, and families. Her caring nature and calm presence have made a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.
Mary Ann will truly be missed by the Midview community. While we are excited for her as she begins this next chapter, her presence in our district will leave a void that will be difficult to fill.
Mary Ann, we want to thank you for your years of commitment to Midview Schools. We wish you nothing but happiness, relaxation, and many wonderful memories in your retirement.
Rhonda Eye, Cook: Rhonda Eye is retiring after 28 years with Midview. Throughout her career, Rhonda worked in various kitchen positions across multiple schools and currently helps manage food and stock distribution from the high school.
Many staff members will miss hearing her cheerful “GOOOOD MORNING!” on the phone each day, always delivered with a smile in her voice. She was also known for keeping everyone updated with her daily weather reports.
In retirement, Rhonda looks forward to spending more time with her family, especially her soon-to-be grandbaby. You will also find Rhonda taking care of her ponies.
Thank you for your service to Midview Schools, Rhonda. We wish you all the best.
Kim Phillips, Cook: Kim Phillips is retiring after 28 years with Midview. Over the years, Kim served in a variety of kitchen roles throughout the district and currently assists the head cook. She is always searching for new recipes and loves introducing students and staff to new lunch options. Whenever she had a new recipe, Kim eagerly awaited feedback — often standing nearby with her hand on her hip, ready to hear what everyone thought.
She has always been dedicated to providing the best for our students and their likes.
In retirement, Kim looks forward to spending more time with family and doing some traveling. Thank you for being a valued member of the Midview Food Services team, Kim. You’ll be missed!
Johna Ray, Cook: Johna Ray is retiring after seven years with Midview. During her time in the district, Johna primarily worked at East Intermediate but was always willing to lend a hand at North when breakfast help was needed. She especially loved those 5 am phone calls from the kitchen asking her to come in.
Johna is well known for her contagious laugh and the joy she brought to those around her each day.
As she enters retirement, she is looking forward to spending more time with her family. We wish you all the best, Johna. We’re grateful to have spent the last seven years together.
Sheila Priddy, Bus Driver: After 27 years of service to Midview Local Schools, Sheila Priddy is retiring from a career defined by her dedication to students, families, and fellow staff members. Sheila began her career driving one of the district’s most challenging routes (which she somehow managed to make run smoothly) and later spent many years in special transportation, building strong relationships with the students and families she served. She was known for going above and beyond, often visiting new students’ homes to introduce herself and help families feel comfortable from the start. She also has an incredible memory and will often recognize former students and recall exactly what years they rode her bus.
In addition to her daily work, Sheila helped lead the transportation department’s outreach efforts, including Stuff the Bus and our adopt-a-family holiday initiative. She worked hard to make sure families had enough food to last them through the break and plenty of gifts. She would even go as far as to make sure the parents got a gift, too.
She also served for many years as a Union Officer.
Sheila, you are one of the best, and you will truly be missed. Those who know you know how much you care about people and the impact you have made throughout your career. We wish you all the best wherever retirement takes you.
Annette Thompson, Bus Driver: After seven years of service to Midview Local Schools and a total of 18 years in transportation, Annette Thompson is retiring from a career dedicated to supporting students and families.
Annette finished her career in special transportation, where she and her monitor handled one of the district’s largest special transportation routes. The partnership between Annette and her monitor was truly amazing and helped provide consistent care and support to the students they served.
Annette will also be remembered for the positivity she brought to work each day. Her contagious laugh made an impact on coworkers and families alike.
As she begins retirement, Annette looks forward to relaxing and spending more time with her grandchildren. Annette, thank you for your service to Midview. We wish you all the best in retirement!
Elizabeth Reams, 4th Grade Teacher: After more than 25 years at Midview, Elizabeth Reams is retiring from a career that included serving as a reading interventionist, third-grade teacher, and fourth-grade teacher.
Ms. Reams brought energy and enthusiasm to every subject she taught, but science was always her favorite. She had a talent for making learning hands-on—whether her students were conducting experiments or exploring the world around them. She challenged her students to think critically and gave them opportunities to discover things for themselves.
While she will certainly be missed, we couldn’t be happier for her as she begins this new chapter in retirement.
Sherryl Surman, Paraprofessional: After first serving as a substitute for four years, Sherryl Surman joined Midview North full-time in 2008 and quickly became a cornerstone of the self-contained classroom. She is described by her colleagues as being organized, a hard worker, deeply compassionate, and always bringing laughter to those around her. Whether she is bringing joy to a tough day or exercising right alongside students, she has been a model of commitment during her time with Midview.
Her colleagues said it best: 'We would be completely lost without her.' Sherryl, thank you for your incredible dedication, your laughter, and the massive impact you've made. We wish you the absolute best in your well-deserved retirement. Congratulations!
Roberta Plas, Library Paraprofessional: Roberta Plas is retiring after 19 years with Midview. She was a Parapro at West and North, a Library Parapro at the High School for a couple of years, but spent the last 13 years at East as the library para.
While at East, she worked hard and helped promote a love of literacy among Midview East's students. She took pride in promoting our library and making sure our students found books that interested them.
She was always flexible, welcoming students into the LRC throughout the day while also supporting our specials teachers and classes when we needed her.
We will miss Roberta's kind personality and willingness to step in and help in so many ways. She and Matt plan to travel, and she hopes to become a master gardener.
Melanie Dougall, Physical Education Teacher: After 32 years of instruction, we say goodbye to an amazing educator in our district. Mel has worn many hats throughout her career — teacher, volleyball coach for both our girls and boys teams, track coach, Resident Educator Mentor, and class advisor — but through every role, she brought the same consistent dedication and genuine love for her students and colleagues.
Her mission was always clear: to share her passion for fitness and help young people build habits that would serve them for a lifetime. She accomplished that and so much more.
What many of us will remember most, though, isn't a title or a trophy; it is her unwavering smile. No matter how tough the day, Melanie had a way of keeping things positive and lifting the people around her. Thirty-two years of kindness, generosity, and steady encouragement, that is her legacy that will be left behind.
As she steps into this new chapter, we have a feeling Dougall won't be slowing down anytime soon. Look for her on a hiking trail in a National Park, tending her garden, diving into a good book, chasing down a pickleball, or setting off on her next great adventure.
Melanie Dougall, thank you for everything. You will truly be missed within our halls, but we couldn't be happier for what lies ahead. Enjoy every moment of it!
Mercedes Szuch, Media Specialist: Mercedes has been a huge asset to Midview for over 20 years. She is supportive, professional, and always puts people first. One of her peers said it well, “Mercedes truly wants the best for everyone she meets… she is incredibly supportive, kind, and fierce when she needs to be.”
From my end, I’ve always appreciated working with her. Any time we needed to sit down and talk through something, the conversations were productive and focused on getting it right. I’ve always respected her approach to working through issues.
She’s been a steady leader as MEA president, making sure people are treated fairly and respectfully, even during challenging times. Mercedes also “brought the maker movement to Midview,” as another colleague shared.
Mercedes will be missed and leaves big shoes to fill. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Midview, and we wish you the best moving forward. We hope you continue checking off those National Parks and keep chasing new adventures throughout retirement.
Sue Homoki, Counseling Secretary: We are proud to recognize Sue Homoki and thank her for her nearly 20 years of service to Midview High School.
She has done an outstanding job running the counseling office and handling the nonstop needs that come through every single day from students and families. Honestly, if we listed everything Sue handles for the MHS building, we’d be here all day. She has also been a huge support with graduation and our senior events, helping make sure everything comes together and runs smoothly.
Sue is someone staff could always count on. She leaves big shoes to fill, and as Mr. Heuser said at last week’s senior ceremony, we hope she picks up the phone if we are swimming, trying to do all that she was able to do.
Sue, thank you for everything you’ve done for Midview. Congratulations on your retirement, and enjoy spending time with your new grandson.