OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Jake Carrol, Middle School Physical Education Teacher, was approved for tenure at a recent meeting of the Board of Education.

The Fredonia Central School District will be losing two veteran teachers, each with three decades of experience with the district, at the end of the school year.

Teresa Nobles and Laura DePue are set to retire from Fredonia High School, effective July 1. Nobles has served the district for 31 years, while DePue has spent 30 years at Fredonia.

Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox said Nobles is the type of teacher that gets involved in many things outside of the classroom, including exam preparation, department planning, and greeting students in the morning. “We appreciate everything Teresa has done for the district,” Zilliox said.

High School Principal Darrin Paschke said Nobles was always prepared and “she keeps her kids first place.” He also noted her work with the Pride Committee, as well as freshman orientation programming and support for teachers and students when switching schedule formats.

“It’s going to be sad to enter the school without her being here, but she will be missed,” Paschke said.

Zilliox said DePue, a Business Teacher, is “absolutely is in tune” with what is happening in the industry and what that means for students in the real world. He credited DePue for her work with Jamestown Community College and an internship program for students.

Paschke highlighted the “care and concern” DePue has for Fredonia students. He credited her for building the district’s internship program into what it is today.

“She’s going to be sorely missed and difficult to replace,” Paschke said.

While two teachers are set to move on, one Fredonia teacher will now be around for the long haul. Jake Carrol, Middle School Physical Education Teacher, was approved for tenure at the most recent meeting of the Board of Education.

“Thank you for giving me a chance four years ago,” Carrol said to the Board of Education. “I’m excited to continue being a teacher and being a part of the Fredonia community for years to come. I really appreciate it.”

Middle School Principal Jamie Polhamus highlighted Carrol’s passion for health and physical education, but also credited him for immediately moving to Fredonia after taking the job to immerse himself in the community. She said, “His enthusiasm and his energy are just simply contagious.”

Zilliox used several adjectives to describe Carrol, including polite, positive, friendly, welcoming, outgoing and accommodating. “He checks all of those boxes,” Zilliox said.

Zilliox also credited Carrol for taking over the varsity tennis program after the retirement of Lisa Johnston, the wife of Board of Education President Steve Johnston, who also credited Carrol for carrying on the standard the program had set. Johnston’s father also previously coached tennis at Fredonia.

“I’m thrilled that you’ve taken it on, both the boys and the girls, and kept it going. We really appreciate that,” Johnston said.

The District also appointed Gregory Holmberg to a probationary teaching position as a Science Teacher.

Holmberg was a student teacher at Fredonia High School who then transitioned to the Middle School through an agreement with SUNY Fredonia. He completed his studies while taking over an open position at the district as a long-term substitute teacher. Holmberg received his teaching certification this past month, and his appointment is retroactive to that date, Dec. 21. His probationary period ends Dec. 20, 2028.

“He is certainly delivering and doing a nice job,” Zilliox said.

Polhamus called Holmberg a hard worker and credited the relationships he has built with his students. She said, “We’re glad that he can continue with us. He has done a great job.”

The Board of Education also approved the appointment of Jill Lundin as an aide to the Unified Bowling team; Aurora “Jack” Foreman and Destiny St. George were approved as substitutes; Shane Murphy was appointed as a Certified Extended Leave Substitute; and a leave of absence for Diane Krystofiak, Teacher Aide, was approved.

A contract for tutoring services by Shaw Academic Institute, located at Dunkirk School No. 4, was also approved at a rate of $23 per hour for educational services and $45 per half-hour of therapy services.

The next meeting of the Fredonia Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. in the High School Library.