Rancho Bernardo Schools Bid Farewell to Retiring Teachers, Staff

Rancho Bernardo-area high schools have said goodbye to hundreds of seniors over the past week, but a number of their staff members are leaving behind their days as Broncos and Sundevils, too.

The teachers and staff members retiring have served in a number of roles, from nursing to teaching Spanish to helping kids get fit in P.E. classes. Most leave, taking decades of education experience with them. An example is Black Mountain Middle School's Denise Menk, who has spent 40 years in education experience, according to information provided by the Poway Unified School District:

These are the names of others retiring this month or over the next several months:

• Diane Bilardello-Linton, Bernardo Heights Middle, seventh-grade teacher (34 years of service)
• Denise Menk, Black Mountain Middle, basic education (40 years)
• Pamela Dorward, Mesa Verde Middle teacher (20 years)
• Laura Brady, Oak Valley Middle teacher (11 years)
• Susan Houle, Rancho Bernardo High social science (32 years)
• John Valles, Rancho Bernardo High math (32 years)
• Eileen Tebbetts, Rolling Hills Elementary teacher (25 years)
• Patricia Marvin, Sundance Elementary (28 years)
• Charmilyn Quinn, Turtleback Elementary (26 years)
• Melanie Farinholt, Turtleback Elementary teacher (37 years)
• Cynthia Dorr, Chaparral Elementary (34 years)
• Mary Spain, Bernardo Heights Middle choir (28 years)
• Miriam Wiese, Oak Valley/Black Mountain Middle librarian (25 years)
• Michael Parrinello, Rancho Bernardo High Spanish (37 years)
• George Pantana, Abraxas High counselor (7 years)
• Lorrie Speights, Bernardo Heights Middle physical education (24 years)
• Gary Jolk, Mount Carmel High health (36 years)
• Beth Cormier, Westwood Elementary (15 years)
• Patricia Barroga, Sunset Hills Elementary (39 years)
• Norma Helper, Mount Carmel High science (24 years)

• Sally Flournoy, assistant director of Learning Support Services (14 years)
• Shirley Day, Learning Support Services teacher (28 years)
• Bill Chiment, associate superintendent of Personnel Support Services (38 years)
• Janet Speer, school nurse (24 years)