Signal Hill teacher’s retirement noticed by generations of families
On the first day of school, Elizabeth Kammann remembers, Ms. Lippert stood with her for a picture. The nervous girl knew she was in good hands for third grade, though, because she already knew the teacher had long been an affectionate and nurturing presence at the school.
“In Pre-K, I think I sat on her lap during the eighth grade play,” Elizabeth — called Eliza by her classmates — said softly as she fingered her loom-band bracelets and talked about reading “Hardy Boys” books while her classmates finished a test.
Debbie Lippert retires this year after 28 years with the Signal Hill School District — long enough to teach Elizabeth along with thousands of others over several generations. Lippert taught at Collinsville, William Holiday and Whiteside schools before moving to Signal Hill initially as a physical education aide.
She recently reminisced while her last class of 13 third graders, among her smallest classes, worked at word searches after a test.
“From chalkboards to white boards to Promethean to chrome books — it’s amazing how it’s all changed,” she said. Lippert has worked with three superintendents and four principals at Signal Hill.
“She has the ability to connect with kids; she develops relationships with students,” Signal Hill Principal Kelly West said. She cited a former eighth grade student who had received a leadership award and needed an influential teacher at the ceremony.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s a junior high teacher (that the student would choose),” West said. “And this student picked Lippert, a third-grade teacher.”
“A lot of students who have her come back, year after year after year. They know that she wants them to be successful,” West said.
One such former third-grader is Wesley Turner, 25, now an accountant coordinator at Enterprise’s corporate headquarters. In third grade, Lippert taught him math.
“Her classroom was very welcoming, it felt like home,” he said. Turner said when he was in third grade, students went to different classes — “We felt grown up because we had binders” — and Lippert was only his math teacher, yet “she was such a big part of my childhood.”
“The main thing I remember is doing multiplication tables, and they were timed ... I always did pretty well,” he said. “I’d hope so, doing accounting now!”
Lippert “was such a big help at making my kids successful,” said Turner’s mother, Julie Maxwell. Wesley is the oldest of three; his brother is attending SIUE and his sister is attending SWIC.
“She was a wonderful teacher, such a nurturing teacher to my kids,” Maxwell said. “They loved her, they loved going to school every morning.”
Lippert said third grade is her favorite grade to teach, and always keeping a steady and cheerful presence helped her cope with the problems everyone faces in their own lives.
“As soon as those kids come in, you’ve got to put it behind you,” she said.
Contact reporter Mary Cooley at mcooley@bnd.com or 618-239-2535. Follow her on Twitter: @MaryCooleyBND.
Metro-east teachers retiring
Each year, the BND salutes employees in public and private schools who are retiring. The list was provided from various sources but may not be a complete list. The number of years listed is the number of years served in that district or last position, not necessarily their full career.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative
Sharon Walker, individual care aide, 19 years
Belle Valley District 119
Pam Kniepkamp, teacher, 25 years
Belleville District 118
Connie Barre, teacher, Jefferson Elementary, 20 years
Norma Bassler, supervisor, Westhaven, 26 years
Chris Bersett, teacher, Abraham Lincoln, 30 years
Carl Carson, crossing guard, Douglas Elementary, 24 years
Gloria Cotton, teacher, Jefferson Elementary, 10 years
Debbie Etling, paraprofessional, Douglas Elementary, 19 years
Duane Hausmann, custodian, Abraham Lincoln, 13 years
Mary Jo Huber, teacher, District, 29 years
Pam Kaffer, teacher, West Junior High, 14 years
Susan Patterson, administrative assistant, Washington Elementary, 24 years
Bill Podhrasky, custodian, Washington Elementary, 29 years
Jim Slater: principal and director of building and grounds, Franklin Elementary, 16 years
Pat Wright, administrative assistant, Westhaven Elementary, 24 years
Belleville District 201
Kathy Beyer, teacher assistant, Belleville East, 7 years
Linda Germann, administrative assistant, Belleville East, 9 years
Fred Hoef, teacher, Belleville East and Belleville West, 20 years
Ann House, administrative assistant, district office, 26 years
Paul James, teacher, Belleville West, 30 years
Ric Johns, teacher, Belleville East and Belleville West, 8 years
Teresa McGee, teacher, Belleville East, 8 years
Stacy Mcllwain, teacher, Belleville East and Belleville West, 21 years
Sheila Misselhorn, teacher, Belleville East, 29 years
Angeles Moran, teacher, Belleville West, 26 years
Glen Mueller, custodian, Belleville East, 25 years
Joan Mudge, teacher, Belleville West, 22 years
Arnold “Gabby” Rujawitz, teacher assistant, Belleville West, 14 years
Kim Stamps, teacher, Belleville East, 10 years
Brooklyn District 188
Cathy McDonald, teacher, Lovejoy Technology Academy, 12 years
Cahokia District 187
Beverly Blevins, custodian, Oliver Parks Sixth Grade Center, 18 years
Shirley Coleman, paraprofessional, Oliver Parks Sixth Grade Center, 26 years
Karen Dawson: Secretary, board office, 30 years
Robin Hammonds, teacher, Morris Elementary, 30 years
Beverly Hunter, secretary, Special Education, 20 years
Rosie Johnson, paraprofessional, Maplewood Elementary, 18 years
Deborah Leeling, teacher, Morris Elementary, 21 years
Sue Mayberry, teacher, Lalumier Elementary, 21 years
Carolyn Meyer, secretary, board office, 29 years
Kim Mueller, teacher, Estelle Sauget School of Choice, 23 years
Betty Scharf, head cook, Estelle Sauget School of Choice, 26 years
Michael Thompson, teacher, Cahokia High, 12 years
Doug Turley, maintenance, 7 years
Jerry Utley, custodian, Huffman Elementary, 22 years
East St. Louis District 189
Genyne Akins, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 27 years
Deborah Anderson, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 9 years
Bernice Beasley, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 29 years
Eartha Brown, speech therapist, Wright Elementary, 17 years
Andy Bell, clerk, Technology Department, 12 years
Deborah Cobb, teacher, Officer Elementary, 29 years
Isabelle Crockett, clerk, Wright/Bush Elementary, 16 years
Sharon Crockett, teacher, Lincoln Middle, 35 years
Thomas Edwards, teacher, East St. Louis Senior High, 20 years
Mildred Fort, teacher, East St. Louis Senior High, 10 years
Sandra Fowler, custodian, Wright Elementary, 16 years
Jean Hardges, teacher, Miles Davis Kindergarten Center, 29 years
Sandra Haynes, teacher, Miles Davis Kindergarten Center, 46 years
Joyce Hickman, custodian, Lincoln Middle, 19 years
Marjorie Howard, teacher, Dunbar Elementary, 15 years
Shirley Hughes, ausiliary aide, Lincoln Middle, 34 years
Harriett Jackson, teacher, Dunbar Elementary, 20 years
Sherry Jeffries, clerk, Vivian Adams Early Childhood Center, 27 years
Thelma Jennings, teacher aide, Avant Elementary, 24 years
Edith Laktzian, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 15 years
Edith Marion, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 14 years
Lorraine Mattox Brooks, teacher, Wright Elementary, 22 years
Betty McIntosh, teacher, Miles Davis Kindergarten Center, 26 years
Bobbie McNeese, teacher, Bush Elementary, 15 years
Johnella Meitzenheimer, custodian, Bush Elementary, 28 years
Clarence Nolden, teacher, Bush Elementary, 23 years
Teresa Ransom, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 9 years
Gracie Robinson, teacher, Lincoln Middle, 14 years
Regina Rush, teacher, Miles Davis Kindergarten Center, 16 years
Michelle Simms, teacher, Wright Elementary, 14 years
Homer Simmons, teacher, East St. Louis Senior High, 35 years
Franklin Simpson, teacher, East St. Louis Senior High, 15 years
Sarita Smith, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 34 years
Victoria Smith, clerk, Lincoln Middle, 43 years
Susana Solis, executive assistant, Board Office, 3 years
Denise Thomas, teacher, Mason Clark Middle, 26 years
Karen Walker, bus monitor, Transportation Department, 36 years
Willie Ward, custodian, Mason Clark Middle, 17 years
Earl Williams, personal care aide, Mason Clark Middle, 36 years
Jacqueline Wright, clerk, East St. Louis Senior High, 39 years
Freeburg District 70
Mary Endsley, food service, 26 years
Brenda Stein, administrative assistant, 28 years
Genie White, teacher, 24 years
Freeburg District 77
Pam Irwin, teacher, 37 years
Rochel Means, teacher, 17 years
Steve Sergesketter, teacher, 16 years
Grant District 110
Cheryl Fehrmann, teacher, Illini Elementary, 25 years
Deborah Loehr, teacher, Illini Elementary, 22 years
Harmony-Emge District 175
Li Anderson, food service, Ellis School, 5 years
Edie Ash: District Bus Driver, 6 years
Elaine Brown, teacher, Emge Jr. High, 14 years
Debbie Glueck: Secretary, Ellis School, 20 years
High Mount District 116
Lynn Eckert, teacher, 28 years
Lebanon District 9
Polly Tillman, classroom aide, 25 years
Linda Trame, nurse, 30 years
Marissa District 40
Ronald Gilley, Jr., custodian, Junior/Senior High, 8 years
Patricia Knop, teacher, Junior/Senior High, 22 years
Eric Schaeffer, bus driver, 8 years
Mascoutah District 19
James Carmody, teacher, Mascoutah High, 33 years
Patrick Cook, teacher, Mascoutah Middle, 29 years
Jean Jackson, executive assistant, Administrative Support Center, 10 years
Barry Parks, teacher, Mascoutah High, 27 years
Vanchtie Waddell, teacher, Mascoutah Elementary, 33 years
Kathryn Wesselman, executive assistant, Administrative Support Center, 35 years
Julie Williams, teacher, Mascoutah Elementary, 22 years
Millstadt District 160
Gay Otten, teacher, 29 years
New Athens District 60
Lynda Reed, teacher, New Athens Elementary, 23 years
Tim Weible, teacher, New Athens Jr. High, 22 years
O’Fallon District 90
Tina Ballard, teacher, Fulton Jr. High, 18 years
Randi Brown, teacher, Fulton Jr. High, 14 years
Von Jones, teacher, Carriel Jr. High, 29 years
Lynnetta Leftwich, aide, Carriel Jr. High, 23 years
Bev Shaffer, aide, Kampmeyer Elementary, 8 years
Woody Sullivan, teacher, Carriel Jr. High, 13 years
Colleen West, teacher, Hinchcliffe Elementary, 23 years
O’Fallon District 203
Milton Albert, paraprofessional, 7 years
Mary Kay Newman, instructional media center assistant, 19 years
Mark Strube, custodian, 9 years
Pat Tassello, administrative assistant, 22 years
Pontiac District 105
Susan Gerstenecker, district librarian, 13 years
Brenda Hayden, paraprofessional, Wm. Holliday, 6 years
Janice Nester, teacher, Wm. Holliday Elementary, 18 years
Anong Petty, cafeteria, Wm. Holliday Elementary, 24 years
Barbara Schmitt, secretary, Wm. Holliday Elementary, 20 years
Linda Vujnich, paraprofessional, Pontiac Jr. High, 18 years
St. Clair County Regional Office of Education
Cheryl Hood: Vocational Education Director, 25 years
Hee-Ju Piper: English as a Second Language Teacher’s Aide, 20 years
St. Clare Catholic School, O’Fallon
Peggy Moeller, teacher, 19 years
Dorothy Price, teacher, 35 years
Donna Riley, teacher, 23 years
Joan Sparks, teacher, 36 years
Bernadette Zittel, teacher, 43 years
St. Libory District 30
Katherine Robinson, teacher, 21 years
St. Mary-St. Augustine Catholic School, Belleville
Mary Kay McGinnis, teacher, 23 years
Signal Hill District 181
Debbie Lippert, teacher, 28 years
Whiteside District 115
Sheryll Kosydor, teacher, Whiteside Elementary, 26 years
Annmarie McIntyre, instructional aide, Whiteside Elementary, 19 years
Verdell Peterson, teacher, Whiteside Middle, 18 years
Tamara Pirmann: Instructional Coach, Whiteside Elementary, 9 years
Colleen Smith: Instructional Aide, Whiteside Elementary, 8 years
Zion Lutheran
Dave Kniepkamp, principal, 4 years
MADISON COUNTY
Collinsville Unit 10
Marcia Bedard, teacher, Collinsville High, 15 years
Robert Reeves, teacher, Collinsville Middle, 21 years
Maureen Schreiber, teacher, Kreitner Elementary, 6 years
Nancy Becher, teacher, Renfro Elementary, 31 years
William Craft, teacher, vocational center, 20 years
Anna Musso, teacher, Webster Elementary, 41 years
Mary Ann Bitzer, teacher, Collinsville High, 16 years
Linda Jeeinga, teacher, Collinsville High, 11 years
Fred Dominick, custodian, Maryville Elementary, 18 years
Karen Doherty, Title I, Jefferson Elementary, 16 years
Christine Bell, secretary, Collinsville High, 9 years
Geraldine Ayes, health attendant, Maryville Elementary, 6 years
East Alton Elementary District
Leo James Mize, behavior modification teacher, Eastwood, 19 years
East Alton-Wood River District 13
Sue Dawson, guidance counselor, 20 years
Edwardsville District 7
Susan Diel, teacher, Midway Elementary, 22 years
Deborah Gray, teacher, Liberty Middle School, 25 years
Ed Hightower, superintendent, 19 years
Beth Jennings, teacher, Glen Carbon Elementary, 28 years
James Kelih, custodian, Columbus Elementary, 35 years
Tresa LaBoube, teacher, Liberty Middle, 20 years
Carolyn Lautner, head cook, Midway Elementary, 14 years
Cynthia Overby, teacher, Edwardsville High, 22 years
Maggie Roney, teacher, Glen Carbon Elementary, 19 years
Carol Sachtleben, teacher, Woodland Elementary, 17 years
Linda Schermer, psychologist, Edwardsville High, 17 years
Mary Hunt, teacher, Lincoln Middle, 20 years
Teresa Visintine, social worker, Liberty Middle, 29 years
Steven Emerson, teacher, N.O. Nelson Elementary, 18 years
Christine Prager, program assistant, Hamel Elementary, 18 years
Randolph Fox, custodian, 8 years
Betty Byrd, secretary, Woodland Elementary, 26 years
Mary Burn, media specialist, Edwardsville High School, 15 years
Granite City District 9
Dennis Burnett, director of finance, 13 years
Lynette Burnett, special education coordinator, 7 years
Mary Ann Gamblin, teacher, Coolidge, 27 years
Lori D. Silva, assistant principal, Coolidge, 21 yearws
Dee Wright, teacher, Prather Elementary, 25 years
Frank McHugh, guidance counselor, GCHS, 18 years
Ricky Wickham, teacher, GCHS, 20 years
Hyland Q. Harris, teacher, Coolidge, 20 years
Carla Elliott, teacher, Maryville, 20 years
Mary Ann Young, occupational/physical therapy, 22 years
Cathy Gaines, secretary, board office, 18 years
Deborah Passig, paraprofessional, GCHS, 20 years
Helen Robbins, cook, GCHS, 14 years
Nelda Sanders, paraprofessional, GCHS, 30 years
Gail Kindle, secretary, board office, 25 years
R. Brad Eavenson, director of building services, 25 years
Steve Nikonovich, custodian, GCHS, 22 years
Danny Bone, custodian, Mitchell, 21 years
Highland District 5
Shirley Bellm, teacher, Highland Middle, 36 years
Jan Cryder, teacher, Highland Primary/Alhambra, 21 years
Patti Swank, teacher, Highland High, 29 years
Barb Tally, teacher, Highland Middle, 27 years
Donna Munie, secretary, administration, 36 years
Steve Lanxon, assistant principal/athletic director, Highland High, 29 years
Lynn Holtkamp, bookkeeper, administration, 38 years
Madison District 12
Ray Stewart, utility custodian, 32 years
Evelyn Kelly, superintendent, 16 years
Sue Skoklo, secretary, administration, 8 years
Alice Farrar, bus driver, 21 years
Don Kary, custodian, Long Elementary, 18 years
LaVarn Murray, paraprofessional, Madison High, 18 years
Sylvia Woodson, paraprofessional, Madison High, 19 years
Kim O’Dell, teacher, Long Elementary, 26 years
Roxana District 1
Pam Hale, teacher, Central Elementary, 25 years
Susan Eatmon, bus driver, 21 years
Rita White, nurse, 26 years
Janet Hoehn, accounts payable, 15 years
Regina Chappell, food service director, 26 years
Candace Long, secretary, 30 years
Kathy Sidwell, teacher, Roxana Junior High, 28 years
Mary Morgan, teacher, South Roxana, 23 years
Triad District 2
Debra Dachsteiner, teacher, St. Jacob Elementary, 22 years
Claudia Hofer, teacher, Henning Elementary, 30 years
Donna Hooper, teacher, Henning Elementary, 22 years
Debby May, teacher, Silver Creek Elementary, 14 years
Peggy McGinness, teacher, Silvery Creek Elementary, 19 years
James Perkins, teacher, Triad High, 11 years
Sandra Perkins, teacher, Triad High, 24 years
Debra Trice, teacher, Henning Elementary, 22 years
Georgiann Burcham, secretary, Henning Elementary, 20 years
Patt Pettus, secretary, Triad Middle, 25 years
Cindy Gorsage, secretary, central office, 20 years
Susie Brundage, secretary, central office, 25 years
Kathy Finley, secretary, central office, 22 years
Carol Peebles, secretary, central office, 6 years
Mary Anne Moorleghen, library aide, Henning Elementary, 20 years
Kathy Mersinger, paraprofessional, Henning Elementary, 25 years
Kim Bietchert, paraprofessional, Silver Creek Elementary, 22 years
Vickie Jarrell, paraprofessional, Silver Creek Elementary, 23 years
Roxanne Garber, paraprofessional, Silver Creek Elementary, 20 years
Diane Gibbs, paraprofessional, Triad Middle, 20 years
Deb Schmalz, custodian, Triad High, 15 years
Mike Rehkemper, custodian, Triad High, 19 years
Mark Bullard, custodian, Henning Elementary, 28 years
Roger Barr, custodian, Marine Elementary, 13 years
Phyllis Hamilton, custodian, Marine Elementary, 20 years
Brent Porter, custodian, Silver Creek Elementary, 29 years
Charles Stroff, custodian, Silver Creek Elementary, 32 years
Venice District 3
Janet Nolan-Peranich, teacher, Venice Elementary, 29 years
Wood River-Hartford District 15
Brian Paynic, teacher, Lewis & Clark Junior High, 29 years
Rose Stormer, teacher, Lewis & Clark Junior High, 21 years
Private schools in Madison County
R. Greg DeCourcey, Marquette Catholic High School, 43 years
Paula Malone, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, 20 years
Sandra M. Balsters, Zion Lutheran School, 40 years
Sandy Lehl, Holy Cross Lutheran School, 29 years
CLINTON COUNTY
Wesclin School
Marilyn Meyer
Patricia Ritzheimer
Lydia Crow
Aviston
Susanne Albers
Carlyle District 1
JoAnn Albers
Randy Dooley
Rita Winkeler
Bob Wilson
Breese District 12
Beth Grapperhaus
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Prairie du Rocher District No. 134
Mary Boyer, 44 years
Coulterville District No. 1
Patti Berry, 33 years
Cookie Campbell, 21 years
Ted Batteau, 28 years
Red Bud District No. 132
Rhonda Black, 34 years
Anthony Ringering, 30 years
Mary Ringering, 35 years
Perandoe Special Education District
Dr. Emily Krohn, 38 years
Christ Our Savior Lutheran High-Evansville
Debbie McBride, 29 years
MONROE COUNTY
Immaculate Conception School-Columbia
William Rileyn, 17 years
Barbara Greenfield, 36 years
Karen Waterman, 41 years
Waterloo District No. 5
Cherry Horn, 32 years
Tamara Huggins, 18 years
Kathy Perkins, 18 years
Kathleen Naumann, 35 years
Priscilla Grommet, 36 years
Columbia District No. 4
Dr. Michael Beczkala, 35 years
Kim Osland, 35 years
Melanie Cornish, 21 years
Sue McBroom, 21 years
Valmeyer District No. 3
Sue Fiedler, 15 years
Howard Heavner, 33 years
Career Center of Southern Illinois (Beck Vocational)
Patti Miles, 23 years
Deb Forsythe, 35 years
List compiled by reporters Mary Cooley and Elizabeth Donald.
This story was originally published May 30, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Signal Hill teacher’s retirement noticed by generations of families."