Noreen Hyslop photo Dexter School Retirees in the bottom row from front to back are: Cheryl Boggess, Shirley McRoy, Debbie McKay and Vicki Matthes. On the top row, from front to back are: Pam Horton, Marsha Lovelady, Phyllis Howard and Betsy Taylor.

A retirement tea was held in the high school library Thursday afternoon to honor the retiring staff. They include Cheryl Boggess, who has taught first and second grade for the past 27 years; Debbie McKay, who taught the first Learning Disabilities class at the high school level and remained in that position for 30 years; Vicki Matthes, who has taught on various levels in the elementary level for the past 27 years; Pam Horton, who served as librarian at both the high school and middle school levels for 20 years; Marsha Lovelady, whose entire 31 year career has all been spent teaching kindergartners, Phyllis Howard, who instructed in the Title I Reading program and taught in the elementary classrooms for a total of 34 years; and Betsy Taylor, who has spent the last several years of her 23 year career in education at the Alternative School in Bloomfield. Also honored was Shirley McRoy, who has served as a paraprofessional for the past 14 years in Dexter in the area of Special Education.

The retirees were each presented with an honorary plaque from the Board of Education at Thursday's event, and Board President Herman Morse extended thanks to each on behalf of the board, stating that the Dexter School System was a finer place for having had their expertise within the district for the past several years. A large crowd of fellow staffers from Dexter Schools, as well as family and former students were present to honor the retiring eight.