The Golden Girls

I spent last weekend in Nicolosi, with my friend Rob. I went mainly to attend a dinner on Saturday in honor of the three teachers who are retiring from their jobs at the Department of Defense (DOD) school at the Sigonella U S Naval Air Station. One of them, Maryellen Pienta, has become a dear friend of mine, and I sat next to a second one, Jan Stroyan, at a Phi Delta Kappa
dinner two years ago.


Jan


The DOD schools are interesting creatures, as far as I can tell. There is a community developed among the teachers at the various US bases overseas, a community that moves as the teachers move. I have not met very many teachers who started their career with DODs, however, I have met some very good teachers who picked up and moved overseas to become DODs teachers.

Indeed, when I was working in Fulton, one of my teachers resigned to take a position with DODs, and then returned to our district three years later. She lasted another two years before she again felt the urge to join her community in DODs.

Maryellen was an English and Reading teacher, but more than that, she was an AVID teacher. AVID is a program that prepares students to go to college, including students who do not initially feel that they want to go or have the fiscal or mental wherewithal to go to college. From everything I can see, it is a great program.

Maryellen

Once I was in the Frankfort airport, waiting for a plane, and sitting next to me was a woman who was doing some paperwork. I could not help but notice the AVID letterhead, so I asked her about it. She was amazed that I even knew about AVID, but when I mentioned Maryellen's name, she smiled and said: 'Oh my, she is famous within the AVID family.' I could tell by her smile that the fame was a good sort of fame.

Maryellen will be moving on to her retirement life in Atlanta, where she owns an apartment. I will miss her. I used to stay at her house when I visited the area, and many were the nights that we stayed up late just talking. She is a sharp and perceptive woman, and she was very helpful to me after Fran died. I will miss the fact that she is now going to be an ocean away, instead of just an island away.

I wish all three retirees the best in their retirement. From the testimonials at the dinner, they touched the lives of many, many children, and will be remembered for years to come by the children, the parents, and the staff at the Sigonella school.

Nina