Sandy Hook School Honors Retiring Teachers
Sandy Hook School Honors
 Retiring Teachers
By Larissa Lytwyn
Sandy Hook Elementary School recently honored its two retiring faculty members â math specialist George Stockwell and special education teacher Deborah Stakel ââ with a day all their own. June 21 was declared âGeorge Stockwell and Deborah Stakel Day.â
Both teachers were picked up that morning on a school bus carrying 25 colleagues.
âThey were very surprised,â said Assistant Principal Kathy Mazzariello, laughing. âIt was really cute!â
As the honorees reached the schoolâs front entrance, they were met with a reception of more cheering co-workers.
Mr Stockwell has enjoyed a long, distinguished, 31-year career at Sandy Hook school, first as a fourth grade teacher, then as a fifth grade teacher and lead teacher, and eventually as the schoolâs math specialist.
According to Ms Mazzariello, he has been the past recipient of the Celebration of Excellence for Creativity in the Classroom. Ms Mazzariello was also among the honorees.
He also has served as head of the Technology Committee and was a member of the Sunshine Committee.
âThe Sunshine Committee honors colleagues that have reached various milestones in their lives, like weddings or births of children or birthdays,â Ms Mazzariello explained. âThe Sunshine Committee organizes parties or gifts that are given, things of that sort.â
The Sunshine Committee, she was quick to note, played an integral role in the creation of âGeorge Stockwell and Deborah Stakel Day.â
Mr Stockwell, who usually serves morning bus duty, was excused from service â instead greeting buses from a lawn chair in the parking lot while another teacher served in his stead.
Ms Stakel, who usually does afternoon bus duty, received the same honorary treatment that afternoon.
âMr Stockwell and I have worked together for a long time,â said Ms Mazzariello, reflecting on their many memories.
âHe was always on hand when there was any kind of technological problem,â she said, smiling. âIn fact, at his retirement party, [Principal] Donna Pagé jokingly called him to her office to address a technical problem on the overhead speaker!â
Ms Stakel, meanwhile, has been a very active faculty member at Sandy Hook school.
She was instrumental in her involvement with the communityâs PROBE and CAN special education programs, as well as on the Sunshine Committee.
During Ms Stakel and Mr Stockwellâs retirement party, students sang them special âGood Byeâ songs.
Lyrics included, âOur Debbie Stakel is the best/Itâs not just special ed who will miss you.â
Lyrics for Mr Stockwellâs song referred to his technical prowess: âOh Georgie, Oh Georgie, We love you so/You Helped With Our Videoâ and âYou made that camera pan and zoom/And you got the kids to look real busy as you toured the room.â
Both Mr Stockwell and Ms Stakel seemed a bit startled by the outpouring of attention.
âThe bus ride to school was definitely a surprise,â said Mr Stockwell.
âThere have been a lot of good memories here,â said Ms Stakel. âOur bus ride was a new, wonderful one.â
âThey will definitely both be missed,â said Ms Mazzariello.