Congratulations on your retirement, and thank you for your service and commitment to the New Lebanon Central School District!
Audrey Nerney, Bus Driver, New Lebanon Central School District
How long have you worked in the district?
I started working for NLCSD in 1984 as a bus driver/cleaner but left in 1986 to start a family. When my boys started school, I returned to work as a bus driver sub in 1991. I became a full-time driver again in 1999. I also trained several people to drive buses for us.
Why did you want to work in education?
I started doing this job so that I could coordinate working with my sons’ school vacations.
Do you have any favorite memories?
I’ve enjoyed watching many students start school, continue through to graduation, and go on to have careers and families of their own. I have even driven some of their children to school.
What are your plans for retirement?
I will be spending more time with my grandchildren after I retire. The plan is for me to watch my newest granddaughter, who is 8 months old, for several days a week. I am also considering some substitute bus driving to help the district during the bus driver shortage.
Leonard Brown, Physical Education Teacher, Jr./Sr. High School
How long have you worked in the district?
I have worked for the NLSCD for 40 years and was a student in the district before that.
Why did you want to work in education?
In ninth grade, I decided that I wanted to be a physical education teacher and coach because of the PE teachers that I had contact with here at New Lebanon when I was in school. I said to Ron Keefe, the PE teacher at the time, “I’m coming back to take your job!”
On my first day of college, I remember them saying whatever you do, NEVER go back and teach or coach at your old school. That was my main purpose and goal, to be able to come back and make my PE and Health program bigger & better with all sorts of new sports, so that I could give the students of New Lebanon the best experience. Since then, I established the first weight room at the elementary school, which I opened to the public to use at night. I built a rock wall to teach rock climbing at the elementary school, which grew to bigger, harder elements for the high school students, taking them all to the next level of risk-taking, which became the building block of our PE/HED curriculum. I introduced lacrosse, golf, indoor archery, cricket, boccie, horseshoes, Kan Jam, Cornhole, frisbee golf, and many other sports that were never played before at NLCSD. Giving the students experiences they would have never gotten or that I was exposed to back in the day. So, I did accomplish my goal in education.
Do you have any favorite memories?
One of my fondest memories is taking 48 kids to the NYS Archery competition in Syracuse and placing in our first year. Winning sectionals in track and volleyball are always highlights for me, as was being featured on TV for making kids do homework in PE class, with my partner Sandy Vorse. We went to 40 plus schools educating PE and Health teachers on the new learning standards. Then years later, being nominated by Mr. Klafhen and chosen as Top Teacher for Channel 13 was a major accolade. Being published with Tim Christianson several times for exemplary lessons in the NYSHPERED Journals and NYSUT as well as the NYS Conservationist Magazine was also a great honor. One other big deal was back in the 1980s when HIV and AIDS were at the forefront, I set up guest speakers for my health classes to come in and talk with my students. We were the only school in the state at the time that was bringing people with this disease to educate our students, school, and community that this disease was NOT transmissible by just talking with someone. I also set up a presentation with Capital Repertory Theatre, who came to our school and did a presentation/play about HIV and AIDS, and workshops with all the students, educating them on the real truths about the disease. Probably the thing I found most rewarding was being nominated to serve on NYSUT subcommittees in PE & HED, which I did for 17 years. We met with other professionals in the state and developed many different videos, PowerPoints, and brochures to be shared with other PE/HED teachers in the state to use as tools to help them teach the new learning standards.
What are your plans for retirement?
My retirement plans: continue to maintain the top 5% in national sales in real estate for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. I will have more time to do my favorite things like hunting, fishing, and riding my motorcycle, but most importantly, time with family! Lastly, continue to keep learning: winemaking for now, (my new passion) and whatever else I find myself getting into. Oh, and staying in touch with all my past students and watching them grow into awesome people!!!