For Finance Director Dotty Bavin, it's almost 33 years. For School Nurse Joann Boulden, it's 15 years. For Jeffrey School Principal Mona Goodman, it's 12 years. For Catherine Harris, executive secretary at Daniel Hand High School, it's 34 years. For Karen Kaufman, mathematics teacher, it's 34 years. For Special Education Teacher Sandra Marinuzzi, it's almost 29 years. For Suzanne Paulson, a secretary at Polson Middle School, it's 15 years. And for special education teacher Carolyn Stephan, it's 18 years.

These eight Board of Education employees are all retiring this year after many, many years of service. All were honored by the school board at a reception recently, and each heard specially prepared remarks, not about their professional careers, but instead about their dedication to Madison's students.

Here are brief excepts from those remarks.

Dotty Bavin, director of finance, hired Sept. 1, 1979. Remarks by Assistant Superintendent of Schools Anita Rutlin. "Her work ethic and integrity combined with her incredible attention to detail are what make Dotty the 'Wizard' of Connecticut business officials?Dotty began following the yellow brick road of her career in Madison when she joined the central administration in 1979 as the bookkeeper." For the past 15 years she has served as director of finance for both the Board of Education and the town. "During those years, Dotty has set a standard few will meet?She made herself available?Never a call for help or a question has gone unanswered or was dismissed as unimportant."

Joann J. Boulden, R.N., school nurse at Jeffrey Elementary School, hired Aug. 20, 1997. Remarks by Mona Goodman, Jeffrey School principal. "Joann was the 'real deal,' a school nurse that not only understood the medical needs of children, but really understood the role of the school nurse in the education process." She served as the district's coordinator of nursing for 11 years and for a time was nurse at the district's former kindergarten center. "Although the center represented the smallest population of students, its needs in the area of nursing were great; five-year-olds and first-time parents are a pretty needy group. Joann accomplished both these roles?with competence, intelligence, compassion, and noteworthy thoroughness."

Mona B. Goodman, principal, Jeffrey Elementary School, hired Aug. 1, 2000. Remarks by Rachel Weiss, Jeffrey School assistant principal. "Mona has touched the lives of thousands of Madison students who will associate their start in school with her positive spirit?Although Jeffrey is the largest elementary school in town, there is a true sense of family and belonging that bears the mark of Mona's approach. She greets students each morning by name and recognizes the importance of learning opportunities outside the classroom walls as she delivers early morning messages that promote lessons of character?Mona leaves a legacy of passionate, visionary, caring leadership."

Catherine G. Harris, Daniel Hand High School executive secretary, hired Aug. 28, 1978. Remarks by Barbara Britton, Hand principal. "Cathy Harris is defined by her personal qualities: unflappable, friendly to everyone, great listener, kind, generous, great sense of humor, and humble?Daniel Hand is always a buzz of activity. Cathy is able to keep that buzz to a pleasant hum?She is also everyone's confidante?Veteran and beginning teachers will pour their hearts out to Cathy because she is such a good listener. She makes a difference in everyone's life without bringing attention to herself?Cathy's legacy will be leaving a school whose culture reflects her strong work ethic, kindness, and caring for all."

Karen V. Kaufman, Brown School mathematics teacher, hired Sept. 1, 1972. Remarks by Julianne Phelps, Brown School principal. Karen taught math to grades 3, 4, and 5 during her 25 years at Academy School and "over the many years of 'redistricting' in Madison, Karen taught at Academy, Jeffrey, and Island Avenue elementary schools. In 2004, she was hired as a grade 5 middle school math teacher?She has always shared with students her love of reading, math, critical thinking, and Pez dispensers?Karen's natural ability to differentiate and tap into the hidden potential of every child is most definitely a quality worth of emulation?Karen's legacy?lies in her unwavering belief in the gifts of each individual child placed in her classes each year?Madison's Teacher of the Year for 2008."

Sandra A. Marinuzzi, Island Avenue School special education teacher, hired Sept. 1, 1983. Remarks by Island Avenue School Principal Kathy Nutley. "Sandy's educational philosophy is simple and straightforward. She believes the key to improved learning lies in enhancing each student's self-esteem and self-confidence. She consistently uses praise and incremental steps in her teaching in order to promote success and, when things get difficult, she sprinkles it all with her special brand of humor. Sandy's passion and enthusiasm for teaching struggling readers to enjoy reading has provided additional inspiration to students and colleagues alike. We all have benefited from her knowledge, experience, and dedication."

Suzanne H. Paulson, Polson Middle School secretary, hired Jan. 1, 1997. Remarks by Frank Henderson, Polson principal. "Over the last nine years at Polson and the six years prior to that at Brown Middle School, Suzanne Paulson has welcomed, assisted, cared for, and supported thousands of middle school students, parents, and teachers. In 2003 Suzanne became a general secretary at Polson, a title that falls short?She is our general, directing the troops with the ease of Patton himself?Nothing fazes Suzanne, who effortlessly deals with each emergency?friendly, trustworthy, a problem-solver, kind, caring, always smiling?If teachers and paraprofessionals are the arms and legs of our organization and the administration is the body, then Suzanne is the heart, quietly pumping life-blood to all its vital organs."

Carolyn M. Stephan, Brown School special education teacher, hired Aug. 29, 1994. Remarks by Julianne Phelps, principal, Brown School. "Carolyn began her long and impressive career as a special education teacher at Jeffrey School. During those years, she defined herself as a compassionate and skillful advocate for her students?A hallmark of her career has been her dedication to continual learning and growth and promotion of an inclusionary model for all students, especially special education students?Her departure is a loss, but we know that she has left us better for her time with us and left the lives of many students more enriched for having known her."