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Saying goodbye is never easy.

Because of that, La Conner schools softened the departures of those retiring or leaving the district for other jobs with a two-hour farewell celebration heavy on humor at the elementary campus Thursday afternoon.

District Maintenance Director Brian Masonholder set the tone in paying tribute to his aunt, custodian Sandy Rowland, retiring after 24 years at La Conner Schools.

“She’s the only La Conner Schools employee,” said Masonholder, “who has changed my diaper.”

Superintendent Rich Stewart, leaving after serving in an interim role this year, also kept the mood light.

Presented a farewell gift of a shiny glass globe, Stewart held it up and removed the cap from his shaved head.

“Does it look familiar?” he quipped.

And upon receiving an embrace from school board president Susie Gardner Deyo, who praised his leadership on several levels during a levy election year and the COVID-19 pandemic, Stewart wisecracked: “I love hugging IBM executives.”

Joking was set aside, however, when it came to earnestly praising the work done by La Conner staff during a year Stewart, with more than four decades experience in public education, said was like no other.

“The way you guys came together in a calm, relaxed manner was amazing,” said Stewart.

He was especially appreciative of the yeoman work turned in by middle and high school principal Kathy Herrera, who has taken a leave of absence to accept an athletics director position at a California charter school.

“She is one of the best principals I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” Stewart said. “Through this pandemic, she took on a lot of responsibilities. I can’t say enough about her.”

La Conner High teacher Bryan Milliren voiced similar sentiments.

“Kathy stepped into so many uncharted waters,” he said. “She has led with her heart and made a big difference at the secondary level.”

The praise left Herrera speechless.

“I’m not saying anything,” she explained, “because I’m not crying today.”

Her audience would not let Herrera off that easy, though.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated being at La Conner,” said Herrera, her voice cracking with emotion. “La Conner will always be in my heart.”

In addition to Rowland, retirees Melanie Graham, Patty Weber and Bill Schaarschmidt were recognized. Graham taught Spanish for 24 years. Weber instructed art for 14 years and Schaarschmidt served 13 years as a paraeducator.

Herrera said Graham and Weber were exceptional, adjusting their teaching styles and course content to distance learning, employed fall semester in response to the virus crisis. Loran James, the Swinomish tribal education student advocate supervisor, said Schaarschmidt – who regularly guided students on winter camping treks – built relationships to last a lifetime.

“The students always come back to see him,” James said. “And we’re going to miss him.

“We’re all in a canoe,” James added, “and our job is to make the canoe go forward. Bill made that ripple in the water.”

Those making career changes who were individually recognized were: Stewart, Herrera, preschool director John Haley, occupational therapist Kasey McKnight, paraeducator Sam Alumbres Frazier, high school teacher Emily Anderson, paraeducator Jill Cofer, school nurse Morgan Driscoll, LAP/ Title teacher Brook Hatfield, substitute teacher Sarah McCormick Hippenstiel, paraeducator Ashley Janz-Geffe, elementary teacher Carly Johnson, paraeducator Joreen McDonald, paraeducator Lindsay Osborne, substitute teacher Josie Slattery, paraeducator Brittany Stacy, classified staff member Jeff Stamback, elementary remote teacher April Stewart, assistant cook Debra Stuller, paraeducator Cindy Summers and paraeducator Elissa Wauford.

Prior to adjournment, Stewart reminded all staff present of how well they had done this year under trying conditions, saying, “regardless of the pandemic, we made it work.”