2021 Retirees
Dusk is falling on the 2021 academic year and with it brings the joy of celebrating graduation, warm summer days, and the promise of a new year. Let us also take a moment and pause to celebrate the staff who are moving on to the next chapters of their lives. The people you see here may have ensured you got to play your favorite sport, facilitated donations be taught you something text books alone just couldn't, helped you get back on track so you could graduate on-time, or helped to keep everyone in the district healthy without anyone being any the wiser. More so, the people you see here have been doing these things and so much more for years, and in some cases... decades. In this moment of celebration, let us also honor and acknowledge their service and commitment to the Warden students, staff, and community. They're neighbors, families, and friends. To the Warden School District, these people are family and will always be grateful they chose Warden as home.
Gary Brandt
Mr. Gary Brandt has been serving the Warden School District for decades, in more roles than you could ever hope to shake a stick at. Teacher, advisor, and coach to name a few. Even after retiring, Mr. Brandt returned to continue to serve as the district athletic director. Mr. Brandt has been accused of such things as, "Doing things the right way" and being a "Great man of the game". To say all of this still sells Mr. Brandt's contributions short, as he has been so much more to so many, mentor, advocate, and possibly most importantly, a friend. Mr. Brandt leaves behind some big shoes to fill as, "They don't make them like that anymore".
Dr. David LaBounty
Dr. David LaBounty first stepped up to bat to as the superintendent for the Warden School District eight years ago. Over the years, Dr. LaBounty has been instrumental in supporting extracurricular activities by ensuring the AG barn was built to provide students with the rare opportunity to have livestock on campus to integrate classroom coursework and securing the scoreboard for the baseball field. Directing a school district can be daunting enough as it is, not to mention during a pandemic where Dr. LaBounty worked to balance public health and safety guidance from government agencies with the social/emotional needs of students. Even before the pandemic, Dr. LaBounty would consistently leverage contacts and relationships to help provide resources for the Warden community like after the potato fire. Dr. LaBounty has really knocked it out of the park with the districts' schools, like the high school in particular, having become some of the most effective in the state as evidenced by the class of 2021 having a 96% graduation rate, even during a pandemic. Dr. LaBounty's contributions have been many, his impact far reaching, and he will be missed by many.
Ann Marks
Mrs. Marks has been caring for and teaching Warden students for the past 15 years. Few people have been more impactful on the students coming through Warden Middle School as Mrs. Ann Marks. Mrs. Marks has been the Middle School ASB advisor for years, as well as being an advocate for the Character Strong curriculum and PBIS on top of being an exceptional teacher. Her desire to help students to exceed their own expectations has garnered her the admiration and respect of both her peers and students.
Ann Theriault
Mrs. Ann Theriault has been counseling Warden Students for the last seven years, beginning in the Warden Elementary School for three years before moving to Warden High School. Mrs. Theriault has leveraged her expertise and sense of humor to facilitate engaging students in working towards their own academic success, pursuing scholarship opportunities, and strongly advocating for the social/emotional health of students.
Cindy Wall
Mrs. Cindy Wall has been serving the Warden School District for the last 31 years. Let that sink in for a moment. In the same time as most people take to pay off their home or six cars, Mrs. Wall has been serving the Warden community and the district. Mrs. Wall was hired on the spot by Mr. Tom Beck to work in the elementary for the maintenance department back in October of 1990. Mrs. Wall has spent the rest of her time with the Warden School District in the same department but has been quick to pitch in where she can throughout the years and been a hoot while doing it, especially this last year. Don't be surprised if people's potted plants start to die once she finally does leave the district.