Celebrating Centuries of Service to the Belmont School Community

They were teachers who read, taught math, made music, showed students the world and who were the first teacher for many children who attended the Winn Brook. They were the High School librarian, a cook, secretaries, the person who ran food services and who cleaned the Butler school as well as a professional who supported those students with speech difficulties. 

The group of talented professionals all had one thing in common: being part of the life of countless students, administrators and residents over decades of service to the Belmont School District. 

And at the Chenery Middle School on Tuesday, June 19, family, friends, colleagues and a grateful School Committee celebrated a collective 369 years educating generations of Belmont students at a Recognition Ceremony for the 14 employees retiring at the end of the school year. 

Certificates were read by committee members for each of the retirees and a small gift was presented by School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Kingston. Handshakes and hugs were given out and cake and other treats were served as stories were told and futures discussed.

The retirees included:

Paul Browne, Director of Food Services

Carolyn Bunyon, Administrator, Belmont High School

Nancy Derdeerian, Secretary, Butler School

Jasmine Giromini, Head Cook, Butler School

Richard Kleponis, Social Studies Teacher, Chenery Middle School

Donna LaRoche, First Grade Teacher, Winn Brook School

Maura McNiff, First Grade Teacher, Winn Brook School 

Alix Pollack, Music Teacher, Burbank School

Susan Rayner, Fifth Grade Teacher, Chenery Middle School 

Martha Reagan, Head Librarian, Belmont High School 

Roy Rivers, Assistant Custodian, Butler School 

Nancy Smock, Speech Language Pathologist, Wellington School 

Toby Vogel, Reading Teacher, Wellington School

Sara Weiner, Secretary, Administration Building