Courtesy photo

ALAMOSA — At their latest meeting, members of the school board recognized six individuals who are retiring from their positions with the Alamosa School District.

The service record of each individual reflects a decades-long, significant commitment to the education and well-being of Alamosa students with, as a group, their combined experience totaling more than 136 years spent in education.

The retirees and their years with the district are as follows: Sheryl Josselyn (1991 – 2021), Kathy West (1994 – 2021), Kenneth (“Mr. Shim”) Shimamoto (1999 – 2021), Gloria Tammy Espinosa (2010 – 2020), Benita Herrera (2001 – 2021) and Marie Medina (1994 – 2021).

All were able to attend the meeting with the exception of Espinosa and Herrera.

As a token of the district’s appreciation, Marsha Cody, Interim Superintendent, presented each person with a glass apple engraved with their name and years of service.

In a few cases, she tossed in a personal connection out of her past with some of the retirees, reflecting not only their years of service but her long tenure, as well.

Cody will also be leaving the district at the end of June, having taken a superintendent’s position with the Haxton School District.

There is a Tibetan proverb that says, “A child without education is like a bird without wings.” The community of Alamosa extends its deepest gratitude to Josselyn, West, Shimamoto, Espinosa, Herrera, Medina and Cody for the years of time, energy and tireless effort they devoted to enabling thousands of Alamosa’s children to fly.