Longtime employee retires from school district
AVERILL PARK, N.Y. » After a lifetime of being involved in the Averill Park Central School District, Phyllis Scheeren is packing up and heading to North Carolina.
Scheeren attended Algonquin Middle School and Averill Park High School as a student, and her children graduated from APCSD.
Prior to working for the district, Scheeren ran her own plant business in Poestenkill. One day she was selling mums and saw the buses driving by and thought she would try working within the school system.
Scheeren began in childcare with APCSD and eventually worked her way into the kitchen as a Cook and then a Food Service Worker at West Sand Lake Elementary School. Her career spanned 18 years.
“The kids are my favorite part of the job,” Scheeren said in a news release. “Once you understand that each kid is different, you can begin to work with them and befriend them.”
“I found ways to teach them a bit. It was fun to see them grow and understand change and money, and how much they can purchase for a certain amount,” Scheeren added.
As a Food Service Worker, Scheeren works the cash register, makes sandwiches and salads, helps serve and works as the snack lady.
“The high school kids come here and help us out and it always felt great to assist in that, too,” she said. “Several of them have come a long way in learning about working in the kitchen and that’s been fun to be a part of.
“I’ll miss a lot of the staff and working with the kids,” she added. “I have made a lot of friends here.”
Scheeren owns property in North Carolina and plans on having a house built there after retiring. She will join a number of family members who reside in the state.
“Phyllis Scheeren has played an integral role in the kitchen and has found ways to connect with our students over the last 18 years,” APCSD Superintendent Dr. Franchini said in the release.
“We are thankful for her hard work and dedication, and wish her the best of luck in retirement!” Franchini added.