Catasauqua Area School District ended the 2021-22 school year by saying goodbye to a number of employees, including retirees from the district schools and transportation department.

Retirees include Margaret DeMarchi, districtwide English language program teacher; Vicki MacLaughlin and Sally Brong-Hillman, from Catasauqua Middle School; Alexis Johnson-Sziy, from Catasauqua High School; and Diane Daubert and Fred Knauss, from the transportation department. The Sheckler Elementary School retirees were featured in an earlier story.

DeMarchi is from Sussex, N.J., and stayed in Pennsylvania after graduating from Kutztown University with degrees in special education/elementary education. She then received certification to teach secondary English and English as a Second Language.

She began her time in the CASD as an emotional support teacher. She changed positions and taught English in ninth and 11th grades, as well as the ESL classes.

DeMarchi reported she has served as the district ESL teacher for eight years.

“My days consisted of traveling between the three Catasauqua schools to help English-language learners,” she said.

Her favorite memories revolve around her students and watching them grow and receive their diplomas. She also enjoyed “meeting new students who have come to Catasauqua from countries throughout the world, helping them navigate a new school and watching them progress.”

Her goal before retirement was to write a children’s book. “When You Write p I See d” is about a young boy who struggled in school because of a reading disability. She has been featured by the American Dyslexic Association. The book is for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

DeMarchi’s retirement plans include spending time with her family and in her garden. She wants to travel and do volunteer work as well.

“I have spent my entire 35 years at Catasauqua Area School District and will miss my students, colleagues and the many families I have had the privilege of getting to know,” she said.

MacLaughlin graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School and earned a degree in elementary education with a minor in math from Kutztown University. She also attended Wilkes University for her master’s degree.

She noted her children, Shayne and Samantha, also graduated from Northwestern Lehigh.

According to MacLaughlin, she’s spent her entire 35-year teaching career in the CASD. She has taught the gifted fifth-grade students in all subjects and sixth grade when at Lincoln Middle School on Howertown Road. She has been a sixth-grade teacher since 1999.

Despite teaching different subjects throughout the years, her favorite has been social studies. She ended her career as a math and social studies teacher at CMS.

“I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure with the school district,” MacLaughlin said, noting she has worked for several principals over the years who have been supportive and “looking out for the best interest of both staff and students.”

Some of her favorite memories include coordinating the Fiesta for the last 20 years as well as the teacher sumo wrestling assembly. She has enjoyed working with outside agencies, teachers and students to plan assemblies and raise money for various causes as a Student Forum co-adviser.

She will miss her team of sixth-grade teachers the most.

“Over the years, we have become a ‘family,’” she said. “Although I may not see them every day, our bond will continue for years to come.”

She also said she will miss the staff at CMS, as well as working with the students.

“Thousands of students have entered my classroom over the years, and so many of them have left an imprint in my life that I will cherish forever,” MacLaughlin said.

Her retirement plans are to “relax, rejuvenate and figure out where my next chapter will lead me.”

She shared a Facebook post announcing her retirement and commenting on her time in the CASD.

“From day one, I knew I had found my home,” she said.

Daubert said she is from Parkland and currently lives in Northampton.

She got her commercial driver’s license in 1976. She drove for Slatington and Jim Thorpe for 12 years and Transbridge for 11 years. She worked as a driver in the CASD for 11 years.

“I am going to rest my weary body,” she added.

Daubert noted the students in the district were great. She also reported loving the pay, as well as her supervisor, David Cressman.

She said she is happy she no longer needs to get up 5 a.m. for work.

The other retirees did not respond.