2017 Retirees have combined 216 years at DD Schools

Delavan-Darien’s “Class of 2017” retirees has 216 years of combined experience serving our community’s youth.

Retiring during or at the end of this school year were:

• Kenneth Blanke
• Elizabeth Christianson
• Karen Combs
• Patricia Enger
• Peggy Fleck
• Cheryl Maisonneuve
• Patricia Schlicher
• Terri Brown
• Melodie Wisdom

Their service to Delavan-Darien schools was celebrated at a reception prior to the Monday, Jun 12, school board meeting. The board gave formal recognitions at the start of the meeting.

About the retirees:

Ken Blanke was a longtime custodian for our district, working here nearly 40 years. He started at Darien Elementary and was the custodian at Turtle Creek Elementary from its opening in 1993 until his retirement earlier this school year.

Elizabeth “Lisa” Christianson taught first grade at Turtle Creek Elementary for many years before moving over to Darien Elementary to teach fourth grade. She spent 17 years at Delavan-Darien and 27 years in teaching. She previously taught at the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, Spring Grove. Ill., and several other Wisconsin districts before coming to Delavan-Darien in 2000.

Karen Combs spent her entire teaching career with Delavan-Darien in the English Department at DDHS. She came here 20 years ago and also listed Drama advisor, Academic Decathlon advisor and Cometeer student newspaper coordinator among her many roles as a high school teacher. She was the keynote speaker at this year’s Academic Awards night.

Patricia “Patti” Enger was a longtime physical education teacher at Phoenix Middle School She was an integral part of bringing a $1 million grant to the district that reinvented and updated the entire physical fitness curriculum with cutting-edge technology, new fitness centers and weight rooms, a high ropes course, adventure sports and more. She spent her entire 33 year teaching career with Delavan-Darien, but for a stint as a long-term substitute in the Elkhorn Area School District. She taught generations of students the importance of fitness and healthy living. And, her camera was never far away as she captured the moments as the school’s yearbook advisor.

Peggy Fleck finished her 18-year career at Delavan-Darien as the Library Media Specialist, keeping our libraries stocked with the latest equipment and research materials. She was also a  third- and fourth-grade classroom teacher at Wileman and Darien before moving to head our libraries. Prior to coming to Delavan-Darien to start a career in teaching, she was the Aram Public Library director for five years and an aide their for an additional 15 years.

Cheryl Maisonneuve was was a satellite kitchen staffer for the district, having worked across the street from Phoenix Middle School at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with School. She started with the district’s food service program in 2003.

Patricia Schlicher was a special education aide for both Walworth County and the Delavan-Darien School District. She was a county special education employee since 1986, and became a district employee in 2010 when the county stopped providing in-district special educational services. Schlicher, who said there was never a dull moment in our schools, spent her entire career in Delavan-Darien Schools. She had experience working at every one of our five buildings.

Terri Brown taught students essential life skills as a Family and Consumer Education teacher at both Phoenix Middle School and DDHS. Most of her time was spent at Phoenix, where she started in 1993-94. She taught for seven years at Elkhorn Area Middle School and for five years at Gateway Technical College. Brown, an alumna of DDHS, included teaching about and having students perform community service as a part of her curriculum.

Melodie Wisdom kept students’ bellies full as a cafeteria worker at district for 10 years. She worked for the district from 1998-2001, and moved out of the area. She returned to the district in 2010 and has worked here since. Her last role was a kitchen staffer at Darien Elementary School.

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2017 Retirees who attended the reception included, from left, Melodie Wisdom, Pat Schlicher, Peggy Fleck and Terri Brown.