Retiree Spotlight
Orland School District 135 extends our heartfelt gratitude to the following educators who will be retiring from District 135 at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year. Their years of service, dedication, and positive impact have shaped the lives of countless students. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them all the best in their well-deserved retirement.
*Please note: these are not all of the 2025-2026 retirees. The staff members filled out an optional survey if they wanted to be included.Deb Arseneau
Deb Arseneau is retiring from Park School as a Resource Teacher, fulfilling a "little girl's dream" that began with playing school and admiring her own teachers. Over a remarkable 33-year career, Deb has maintained a genuine love for her profession, proving that while teaching is "not for the weak," it remains incredibly rewarding when approached with the right spirit. She credits her longevity to the daily fun she shared with her students and the unwavering support of the friends she made along the way.
Her advice to those just starting out is rooted in connection and adaptability. Deb encourages new teachers to focus on building strong relationships with both students and colleagues, emphasizing that "not one size fits all" when it comes to education. She also highlights the importance of humility and collaboration, reminding peers to be flexible and to never hesitate to ask for help, noting that some of the best advice can be found just across the hall.
As she prepares for this new chapter, Deb reflects on her time in the district with a sense of deep gratitude. Rather than pointing to a single event, she cherishes the collective memory of three decades spent laughing and working alongside people she truly respects. While she is ready for the relaxation of retirement, she admits she will most deeply miss her colleagues, who over the years have transitioned from coworkers to her true "work family."
Sue Berry
Sue Berry is retiring from her role as the Art Teacher at Century Jr High, leaving behind a legacy of color and imagination. Her path into education was paved by a simple yet powerful mission: to share her own artistic gifts with children and provide them with the encouragement they need to explore their own creative potential.
To the next generation of educators entering the field, Sue offers the seasoned wisdom of staying patient, making intentional time for self-care, and—perhaps most importantly—maintaining a sense of humor throughout the journey. While she finds it impossible to narrow down her time in the district to a single favorite memory, noting there are simply too many to list, she knows exactly what she will miss the most. The daily spark of inspiration and the vibrant creativity that filled her classroom every day are the parts of the job she holds most dear.
Beth Cascio
Beth Cascio is concluding an impressive 30-year career as a kindergarten teacher at Centennial School, where she has spent three decades welcoming the district’s youngest learners. Her path to the classroom was inspired by a genuine love for child development—specifically the joy of helping children discover their unique strengths and the magic of teaching them to read. She also credits her sister, a fellow educator, as a primary influence whose guidance helped shape Beth’s career from her early years through to today.
To those just starting out in the profession, Beth emphasizes the vital importance of collaboration and community. She advises new teachers to invest time in getting to know their team, describing colleagues as a "lifeline to success" and a true work family. For Beth, the most rewarding part of her tenure was witnessing the profound transformation in her students as they grew socially, emotionally, and academically throughout their first year of school.
As she prepares for retirement, Beth looks back with immense gratitude for the relationships she built within her school. While she is ready for her next adventure, she admits she will truly miss her "Centennial Family" and the close-knit bond of the "Kindergarten Dream Team." Her legacy of nurturing both her students and her professional peers will be felt at Centennial for years to come.
Geralyn Greenfield
Geralyn Greenfield is wrapping up a remarkable 25-year chapter as a paraprofessional at Centennial School, a journey that began with a lifelong love for working with children. Her path to Orland was a blend of passion and practicality, as she chose the district to ensure she could remain on the same schedule as her own children while they grew up. Over a quarter-century of service, she mastered the delicate balance of the classroom, offering new educators the wise insight that success comes from intuition—knowing exactly when to be strong and stern and when to lead with a softer touch.
While the work itself was deeply rewarding, it was the people who truly made the years fly by. Geralyn’s favorite memories are a collection of "lots of laughs" shared with colleagues, and it is these bonds that she treasures most. As she steps into retirement, she admits she will deeply miss the daily presence of the "wonderful and beautiful" people who became her work family at Centennial. Her legacy of laughter and dedicated support leaves a lasting mark on the students and staff she served for over two decades.
Wendy Marinier
Wendy Marinier is concluding an impactful tenure at Jerling Junior High, where she has served as a dedicated science teacher. Her decision to enter education was rooted in a desire for her work to carry deep meaning; she truly believes that education has the power to change lives. Wendy’s mission has always been to help young people discover their confidence, curiosity, and voice. Over the years, she found that the process was reciprocal, often noting that the greatest gift of her career was the many ways her students taught her in return.
Drawing from her vast experience, Wendy offers grounded advice for the next generation of educators. She emphasizes that solid classroom management is the foundation of success, noting that "a simple, well-run class beats an amazing lesson in chaos." She encourages new teachers to be clear, consistent, and calm—reminding them that it is possible to be both kind and firm. Above all, she advises resilience: learn from the bad lessons, let them go, and remember that one rough day does not define your worth as an educator.
Throughout her 35 years with Orland 135, Wendy’s favorite memories center on the tradition of the Washington, D.C. trips. These excursions allowed her to bond with both students and colleagues in a unique environment outside the classroom. As she moves into retirement, Wendy will miss the "breakthrough moments" when a student finally grasps a complex concept or trusts her enough to open up. The daily connections with her school community and the witness of intellectual growth are the treasures she holds most dear.
Elly Rochowicz
Elly Rochowicz is bidding a fond farewell to Prairie School after an incredible 35-year career spent entirely within its halls. While she is retiring as a Math Interventionist, Elly’s versatile tenure saw her teaching kindergarten, first grade, and enrichment, leaving a lasting mark on nearly every corner of the school. Her path to education was almost instinctual; having started babysitting at a very young age, she always felt at home with children. In fact, her father often teased her that no matter what she was doing with her nieces and nephews, she was somehow turning it into a "teaching moment."
For the next generation of educators, Elly offers two vital pieces of wisdom. First, she emphasizes the importance of making learning fun by stepping "out of the box" and being creative rather than simply following a script. Second, she advocates for a healthy work-life balance, reminding teachers not to let the job define them. She encourages staff to take a genuine social interest in one another, suggesting that building real friendships with coworkers is the key to a fulfilling career.
Beyond the classroom, Elly was a cornerstone of staff morale, famously planning "Mystery Bus" trips for the entire Prairie School staff to celebrate the end of each year. These adventures created a vault of amazing memories that she will carry with her forever. As she prepares for this new chapter, Elly admits she will deeply miss the special connections she shared with her students. Though she always aimed to impact their lives, she realizes now that these "littlest learners" have had an equally profound and lasting impact on her own.
Peggy Roedl
Peggy Roedl is concluding an impressive 34-year tenure as an 8th-grade science teacher at Century Junior High, a role that allowed her to come full circle within her own community. Having grown up as a student in Orland 135, Peggy’s decision to pursue education was fueled by the inspirational and impactful teachers she encountered in these very same hallways. Driven by those positive experiences, she dedicated over three decades to ensuring she could provide that same level of influence and encouragement to her own students.
Science came to life in Peggy’s classroom, and she is best known for her hands-on approach to learning. Her favorite professional memory is one shared by many of her former students: the annual tradition of building and launching rockets. She fondly recalls these experiments as being a "blast," serving as the perfect highlight to each school year. This spirit of engagement helped foster a love for discovery in her 8th graders as they prepared for the transition to high school.
As she prepares for her next chapter, Peggy looks back with deep appreciation for the relationships she built along the way. While she is ready for the relaxation of retirement, she admits she will truly miss her favorite students and coworkers from across her career. In a heartfelt nod to those she worked with, she notes that while she can't name everyone, "you know who you are." Her legacy at Century Junior High will remain as bright as the rockets she launched with her students.
Cathy Wrigley
Cathy Wrigley is concluding a distinguished tenure as a Spanish teacher at Jerling Junior High, where she has been a mainstay of the language department. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Cathy was drawn to education through a natural affinity for working with children and a desire to continue a family tradition of service. Throughout her years in the classroom, she maintained a clear-eyed and pragmatic philosophy, advising new teachers to remember that they are the "adult in the room" rather than a peer to their junior high students. Her seasoned approach—starting off strict and only loosening the reins once a firm foundation is established—has served as a reliable guide for navigating the unique dynamics of the middle school environment.
When reflecting on the lighter side of her long career, Cathy fondly recalls the camaraderie of the early nineties, specifically the Friday Happy Hours at The Rocking Horse or Sluggers between 1992 and 1994. While she prepares for the freedom of retirement, she will truly miss the daily interactions with students who showed up ready to work. For Cathy, the most rewarding part of the job was always the students who put forth genuine effort and possessed a sincere hunger to learn. Her presence at Jerling will be missed by colleagues and motivated students alike as she moves on to her next adventure.