Catasauqua Area School District had a few districtwide employees who retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

Dawn Fisher grew up in Catasauqua and graduated from Catasauqua High School before graduating from Kutztown University. She also did graduate work at Lehigh and Wilkes universities.

She started her education career at Catasauqua for sixth months.

“When it became clear there wasn’t going to be permanent work, I was hired by Catty grad Brad Cressman at Northwestern Lehigh, where I taught third grade and then gifted education for 14 years,” she said.

She returned to Catasauqua for 17 years and was serving on the gifted task force when Mr. Neumoyer was ready to retire in 2004. Two years later, they began to access online courses for accelerated students.

“That evolved over time to being the acceleration coordinator and online facilitator,” Fisher noted of her current job. “COVID-19 took that online facilitator role to a different level.”

She reflected on the importance of creating strong relationships. She said it was normal to have a constant flow of people - family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, church members, foster children, her father’s students - coming through her home while growing up in Catasauqua.

“Forging solid relationships with my students, families and colleagues has been one of the driving forces of my career,” she noted. “I strive to quickly find what I love about each and every one of my students. Catasauqua is a wonderful place to grow up.”

Those relationships are what Fisher will miss most.

“My job doesn’t look anything like it did when it started all of those years ago. That’s good because I like change and get bored with the same thing over and over again,” Fisher said. “The constant has always been the ability to connect with people.”

She reported having a long list of home projects to keep her busy during retirement. She added her father was handy with projects and passed that on to her. To continue growing her skills, Fisher wants to take a carpentry course.

She lives in the Poconos with her husband, Phil.

“We love living in our cottage in the woods near a beautiful lake,” she noted.

They have two children, Max and Katie, and a rescue Maltese named Erick Little Bear. Many of her retirement plans include kayaking on the lake, gardening, reading and spending time around the fire pit with friends and family.

According to Fisher, she had a trip to Ireland planned before the COVID-19 pandemic and is hoping to get that back on the calendar. There is also a beach trip in the works, as well as visits with her children.

Fisher is not done with her work in the community.

“I’ve recently become involved in the Diversity Task Force in our community,” Fisher noted. “That work is important to me.”

Her final thoughts reflected on how much she enjoyed her time in the district.

“It has been my great pleasure to live and work in the Catasauqua community,” Fisher said.

Lois Morrissey grew up in Wescosville and went to school in Parkland. She purchased a home in Catasauqua with her husband, Mike, because of the small-town feel.

“We wanted a small school district where our children would know all their classmates and we would know their friends,” she said. “Welcoming neighbors proved us right.”

She noted she began working and volunteering in the district more than 22 years ago when her children - Amber, Megan and Nathan - started at Sheckler Elementary School. She made connections with Michele Bolza, Sue Connor and Shannon Wanko.

Morrissey said Connor asked for her help in the learning support classroom while she was out on maternity leave. After that, Connor started the Life Skills class and asked Morrissey to work with her.

“That was the end of my 25 years working at Kmart and the beginning of the best days at Sheckler,” Morrissey said. “We were a team, and that was my calling.”

She also became involved with the Parent Teacher Association. At the urging of Bill Nothstein, she became PTA president.

“Being able to help the wonderful teachers at Sheckler and work with some awesome children was a dream come true,” Morrissey said.

She reminisced about taking courses at Lehigh Carbon Community College with Sheckler teacher Kim Labezius and Sheckler secretary Lisa Meckes. With Morrissey working as an instructional aide at the school, “we had awesome times together.”

Morrissey speaks fondly of her days at Sheckler, but she has worked in all three schools and with every grade level over the years.

“I made many new friends in each school, but my heart was mostly with the Life Skills class, kindergarten and Sheckler,” Morrissey admitted.

She served as the yearbook adviser for two years at Catasauqua Middle School and for four years at Sheckler.

“I loved the energy it gave me and the advantage to get to know everyone on a new level,” she said.

Many of her favorite memories are of getting pictures for the yearbook, including the first day of school, holidays, Santa visits, field trips and more. She also reflected fondly on her work with the Life Skills classes.

“My best memory was doing a word wall with a high school student who couldn’t read, and by the end of the year, he was reading a Dr. Seuss book,” Morrissey said.

She noted how strong the connections are that she was able to make through her work in the district.

She will miss working with the kindhearted, appreciative and caring students.

“They are what make my day and help me leave with good memories of why I started as a volunteer in the first place,” she said.

Morrissey is planning to spend her retirement doing what she really loves to do - be with small children. She has a 3-year-old grandson, an 8-month-old granddaughter and a third grandchild on the way.

Additionally, one of her daughters is set to get married in October 2022. She is also planning a trip or two, spending time with family, gardening, crafts and balancing playtime and naps.

“Best wishes to all the educators who care and give of themselves in this time of so many changes and to the students who need someone to listen, someone to care, someone with extra smiles and love,” Morrissey said. “We are all different and care in different ways and learn in different ways. Thank you for the opportunity to grow.

“Keep one eye open, one ear listening, one hand reaching, one step closer, and no one will be left behind,” she added.