Kewanee Community School District #229 said goodbye and offered well wishes to several district employees who retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

Retiring employees include Sarah Titlow, Bob Dybdal, Kim Ellenberger, Steve Hill, Becky Henkins and Rose Schmidt. Also honored for their service was Henry-Stark Special Education retirees Christine Gustafson and Robin O’Connor.

Sarah Titlow worked for the school district for 34 years, 16 of those years were spent teaching for Henry-Stark Special Education. Titlow was also a cheerleading coach for the district, directed some of the school plays and was a girls track coach. She retired May 24, 2023.

Robert “Bob” Dybdal taught for 16 years with the KCSD, as both a Title 1 teacher at Irving and then as a Jr. High Science teacher at Central. His other activities with the school district include assistant track coach, assistant girls’ basketball coach, seventh grade girls’ basketball coach, jr. high track coach and assistant golf coach. He retired on May 24, 2023.

Kim Ellenberger has worked for 24 years with the Kewanee School District. Her experience included teaching kindergarten and first grade at Central; first-grade teacher at Lyle; second grade teacher at Irving; fifth grade teacher at Central and kindergarten teacher at Belle. She also was a Jr. high basketball coach. She retired on May 24, 2023.

Rosalie Schmidt worked for 19 years with the Kewanee School District, 10 years at Central and 7 years in special education at Kewanee High School. She also worked for Brimfield CUSD. She retired on May 24, 2023.

Becky Henkins worked 23 years for the Kewanee School District as a playground supervisor and aide at Central, then later a secretary at Central and worked as an aide, office and lunchroom worker at Belle. She was a track coach for the district as well. She retired May 24, 2023.

Steve Hill worked 37 years for the Kewanee School District. He started in 1978 in the work program as a part-time custodian. In 1980, he began part-time work during summer and breaks in the custodial department. He was an aide from 1986-93 and returned to custodial work in 1993 to 2023. He also worked as a bus driver for the district from 2008 to 2009. Other activities include an assistant basketball coach and AV duties. He will retire May 31, 2023.

Kewanee High School also honored two of its retirees at a luncheon on Thursday. KHS Principal Rebecca Baney presented plaques to Sarah Titlow and Steve Hill.