Laura Riley

The summer season marks a new chapter for several Powell school employees as they begin retirement.

The Park County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees recognized six retiring employees who have a combined 173 years of service to the district.

The following retirees were recognized in May:

Laurie Zwemer, 34 years

Laurie Smith, 31 years

Jocelyn Frame, 25 years

“These three that are retiring out of Parkside are leaving a big hole, with combined experience of 90 years,” Board Chairman Greg Borcher noted during last month’s meeting.

Parkside Elementary School Principal Jason Hillman said the three employees — Laurie Zwemer, Jocelyn Frame and Laurie Smith — have influenced an entire generation of kids in Powell.

Hillman said all three have really big hearts and show kindness to everyone in the building.

“They’re good people,” he said. “... Our culture at Parkside is going to have to rebuild without those three, because they’re such kind ladies.”

Hillman also described them as hard workers.

“It’s uncanny, but if you ever go to Parkside, one of them is there. One of them is holding down the fort,” Hillman said, whether it’s the weekend or an evening.

He described fourth-grade teacher Jocelyn Frame as humble with a great sense of humor.

“When things aren’t going exactly the way we want it to go, she’s able to laugh and lighten it up a little bit,” Hillman said.

He said he also appreciates her humility. When Frame does something great, she deflects the compliments.

Frame is also able to navigate the stressful situations.

“She always has a friendly hello,” he said. “And she says it in a certain way that sticks with you.”

Speaking about special education teacher Laurie Smith, Hillman said she cares a lot about kids.

“In fact, at Parkside, you will very rarely see her by herself,” he said, adding that she’s with kids whether she’s in the classroom or walking down the hallway.

“She’s always working with kids, always caring for kids,” Hillman said.

He said he admires how Smith takes real ownership of her kids. As Parkside figured out testing arrangements during the school year, Hillman suggested they could split up Smith’s students and he could take some of her kids.

“She didn’t say much, but I could read her body language that that wasn’t going to happen,” he said.

Smith cares for all kids, he said.

“She seems to have a big heart for the kids who need the biggest heart,” he said.

Second-grade teacher Laurie Zwemer’s passion for teaching and kids also stands out, Hillman said.

“She’s a teacher that kids absolutely love,” he said. “... and those kids know that she loves them.”

Zwemer is always prepared, he said, and her students make great growth.

“I’m not joking about this at all — I don’t know when Laurie sleeps,” Hillman said.

He described Zwemer as a “huge caregiver, in every aspect of what she does.”

That’s evident in the way she works with her students and at team meetings, especially when there’s a new employee, he said.

“She’s going to make sure they have everything they need to be successful,” Hillman said. “We’re really going to miss that leadership.”

He said Zwemer is one of the kindest people he knows.

“Laurie goes the extra mile for everyone,” Hillman said, adding that includes his own family, as Zwemer sent them cards when they were going through difficult times.

Zwemer said it’s been a blessing to work at Parkside, and each retiring teacher thanked the district.

Hillman said he knows that the three are “truly going to be missed.”

Gloria Randall, 37 years

In her 37 years as an accountant for the Powell school district, Gloria Randall has been known as a hard-working, quiet and dedicated employee.

“She does her job very, very well,” said Mary Jo Lewis, business services coordinator.

With the district’s payroll, “I will put her against anyone in the state for getting it done and getting it done properly,” Lewis said.

Randall isn’t an attention-getter and faithfully shows up for work, Lewis added.

“When Gloria takes time off, she takes it off to support her family,” she said. “She does things for her kids.”

Randall also is funny and has nerves of steel, Lewis said. Outside of work, she has branched out into new interests, including beekeeping. Randall also enters baked goods and sugar beets in the Park County Fair.

As an employee, Randall is loyal and doesn’t like the spotlight, Lewis said.

“What I’d like to do is recognize her as one of our most outstanding employees,” she said, adding, “we’re going to miss her.”

Deb Eckhardt, 30 years

As the district’s food service director for the past 30 years, Deb Eckhardt made sure that “our kids are well-fed [and] they’re loved,” Lewis said.

She also makes sure things are done right and is “highly respected” in the state and by her staff, Lewis said.

“We have school districts come to our school to find out how our food service program is run,” Lewis said.

She also has ensured co-workers were well fed.

“I’ve been at the middle school for seven years, and I haven’t missed a meal,” said Principal Kyle Rohrer. “Deb takes care of us. It’s great food.”

He described Eckhardt as “an extremely hard worker” and said she also has a good sense of humor.

Eckhardt makes time with her family a priority and also volunteers in the community.

“I think that’s reflective of the kind of person she is,” Lewis said.

Eckhardt doesn’t like the limelight focused on her, she added.

As the district searched for a new food service director, Eckhardt “made a commitment that she would never leave us in a lurch. She was going to take care of us,” Lewis said.

Eckhardt thanked the school district for all of their support.

“I know there’s a lot of schools that don’t get that, but we do,” she said.

Laura Riley, 16 years

Laura Riley started in September 2003, as the administrative assistant at Westside Elementary School for former principal Brent Walker. 

She then transferred to the administrative assistant in the district’s technology department for the 2 1/2 years before her retirement. 

“Laura was always helpful to staff and students alike. When she moved from Westside she deeply missed the kids and the kids missed her,” said Joyce Ruward, the executive administrative assistant. “She was kind to everyone, always had snacks and candy on her desk, and randomly sent fun little thank you’s to co-workers.”

Riley left the district to spend time with her grandchildren.

(Editor’s note: The district also recognized two other longtime employees, Ken George and Sudie Thormahlen, whose retirements were announced after the May school board meeting. They’ll be featured in a future Tribune story.)