Rochester Assistant Superintendent Geraldine Moore to Retire in January

Geraldine Moore, Rochester Community Schools' much-loved Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, will retire next month.

Moore, who came to Rochester in 2006 after decades of teaching and working as a school administrator, officially announced her retirement to Board of Education members on Monday night. Board members approved her retirement, effective Jan. 31, and then heard words of praise and gratitude from the district's school leaders.

"What is fair and best for all Rochester students is what drives you," said Teresa Simonetti, principal of Brooklands Elementary School, in a video tribute played during the board meeting. "Thank-you for leading us with grace, integrity and class during difficult times."

The video featured all of the district's elementary, middle and high school principals and other administrators who spoke to Moore's compassion, ability to inspire and people-centered leadership.

"I do care about kids and I do care about people," said Moore. "The core of anything I look at has to do with how we deal with people. It doesn't matter the size, the age, the gender, the orientation, the color of skin or the socio-economics.

"Those are all very important pieces to me."

Moore said her strong belief in social justice has driven her during her career.

"What was said to me when I was a girl — a short girl in seventh grade —was that I would never amount to anything because I was too tiny," said Moore. "That made me decide I was going to take on the world and do whatever I could." 

Moore has taught preschool, elementary school and middle school and has been a school administrator for 24 years - outside Michigan and also at Chippewa Valley and Clarkston schools. 

During the 2010-2011 school year, she was one of three finalists for the Superintendent job that eventually went to Fred Clarke.

Board members also shared their well-wishes and thank-yous on Monday night.

"You always had student learning first: you preached it, you modeled it and you reminded us of it," said Board President Jennifer Berwick. "What you have contributed to our district will go on for many, many years."

District purchasing supervisor to retire

MaryBeth Garcia, Rochester Schools' purchasing agent, submitted her letter of resignation effective Jan. 4, 2013. Garcia has been with the district since 1997. 

Under Garcia's direction, Rochester has one of the strongest school supervising programs in the state, said Dan Romzek, Assistant Superintendent of Business. 

Romzek offered his "sincere gratitude" for Garcia's can-do attitude, professionalism and strong customer service skills.