Retired teachers Sue Bear and Faye Nance worked together as first grade team teachers at Parkview Elementary in the 1970s. They remain good friends to this day, whether traveling together, playing Bunco or sharing stories from their classroom days.
Bear and Nance were among those in attendance at the 23rd reunion of the CVESD Alumni Association. The event was held on Sept. 10, 2014, at the Chula Vista Golf Course. Teachers, administrators, classified, and non-represented employees attended. Honored guests were retired Supt. John Vugrin, current Supt. Francisco Escobedo, and Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox. Retirees were presented a Certificate of Appreciation for their many years of dedicated service to the educational needs of the Chula Vista community. Retirees shared memories of their years in service of students.
Dick Slaker, a founder of the association and former music instructor, talked about the importance of bringing back music education to our schools. When someone asked who could recall the days when each teacher used to have to know how to play the “autoharp,” more than a few hands shot up. Of course, some of the more recent retirees didn’t exactly know what an autoharp was! The attendees very much appeared to be enjoying their retirement, and organizers hope more alumni will join and attend next year’s event.
There are many to thank for making the event a success. Kudos go out to the organizing committee: Linda Robertson, Lonna Webster, Jane Strawn, Lee Woldt and Dick Slaker.
“What a sight to behold,” Slaker said of this year’s reunion. “When you think back to 1991, we started off with just 8-9 CVESD Alumni showing up at the harbor for coffee and breakfast.” Times have changed, he added. “If we get any bigger,” he quipped, “we might have to have Mayor Cheryl Cox build us a Chula Vista Convention Center overlooking the bay.”
