by Mary Jo David

This time of year brings much joy as we congratulate high school seniors and all those in the grades below who are advancing on to their next-grade adventures. But with the joy comes a touch of sadness as we also bid farewell to Stockbridge Schools staff who are retiring as of the end of this 2025/26 school year.

• Melissa Asher: Hired in 2000, Asher has spent 26 years working with our Stockbridge kids. She is retiring from her job as an early childhood teacher, but prior to that, Asher spent her early years as a paraprofessional, a substitute teacher, and a math interventionist.
• Cady Bauer: Hired in 2000, Bauer is saying goodbye after 26 years as an early childhood associate teacher.
• Sherri Cole: Hired in 2015, Cole is wrapping up 11 years as an early childhood teacher.
• Brian Friddle: Hired in the summer of 2021, Friddle is passing on the school superintendent torch to Jeff Trapp as of July 1.
• Sheila Queener: Hired in time for the 2024/25 school year, Queener chose Stockbridge as the place to finish her teaching career as a first grade teacher.

The community extends its thanks to all of the Stockbridge Schools staff members listed above and sends good wishes as these individuals embark on their next chapters.

On a happier note, this spring a new contract was settled for Stockbridge teachers. It runs through June 2027. Pay increases for teachers were negotiated to put Stockbridge more in line with neighboring districts like Dansville and Leslie.