Fort School District holds reception in honor of nine retirees

By Chris Spangler

The School District of Fort Atkinson on Thursday saluted nine retiring employees who together have provided 175 years of service.

Recognized during the after-school reception in the high school IMC were Barbara Athas, Jim Athas, Donna Berg, Candace Butz-Pint, Denise Engstrom, Patrick Hatlen, Martha MacWilliams, Heidi Wegner and Linda Deets.

“On behalf of the entire learning community in the School District of Fort Atkinson, I extend my deepest gratitude and congrats to each of our 2024 retirees,” District Administrator Rob Abbott said in his opening remarks. “You have been an integral pillar in the foundation of our schools, our district and our broader community. Your influence and significant contributions are the reason we gather and celebrate today.”

He also thanked the retirees’ families, saying that their support and sacrifices played a crucial role in their loved one’s ability to dedicate him/herself to students.

“Shaping the lives of young people is a calling that comes with enormous responsibility, and the support from your families has undoubtedly contributed to your many successes and accomplishments, Abbott said. “Your legacy will continue to inspire and guide us, and we are profoundly grateful for your impact.”

Also offering remarks was Kory Knickrehm, president of the district board of education.

“We are deeply grateful that you chose the School District of Fort Atkinson as the place to share your talents and passion,” he told the retirees. “Your time here has positively influenced the lives of countless students, families and community members.

“Equally important is your influence on your colleagues on the 1Fort team,” he continued. “Yet, through it all, our learning community’s unwavering support and dedication have been a constant source of strength. When we come together to support one another, we achieve amazing things — and you exemplify this spirit.”

Knickrehm said that strong schools are the foundation of a healthy and vibrant community.

“Tonight, we express our heartfelt gratitude for your commitment, passion and hard work throughout your career in education,” he added.

State Rep. Scott Johnson, R-Jefferson, presented each of the retirees with a legislative citation of commendation signed by state Sen. Melissa Agard.

“Public education is the opportunity we have to prepare the next generation to be the true leaders of our society,” said Johnson, who served on the Fort Atkinson school board from 1998-2014.

“The message I try to take to my caucus is that while they are really high on (vouchers and school) choice, I am really high on public education,” he said. “We need public education to educate the masses.”

Johnson noted that he appreciated this opportunity to recognize the retirees, as well as the talents they shared with students and the community.

“I want to thank you for what you’ve done and what you will continue to do in retirement because you’re not done,” he said. “In retirement, you have an opportunity to influence even more people, people who go into the business of education … to influence more young lives.

“You have an opportunity to role model, the opportunity to volunteer and help others to understand the value of public education and the dedication it takes and talents that it takes to transfer knowledge from one person to another person, from one generation to another generation. It never ends, and we can never let it, because that’s our future,” the Assemblyman concluded.

Each retiree provided some background information to share in the reception program, as follows:

Barb Athas

A learning aide, Barb Athas has worked for the school district for 23 years, not counting the years she served as a volunteer.

She has spent time in each of the elementary schools at one point or another, most recently at Barrie Elementary School.

James Athas

Jim Athas has been a district employee for 33 years, starting as a first-grade teacher at Purdy Elementary School in 1990. His father, Paul Athas, was a longtime administer in the district.

This marks Athas’ second retirement per se, the first taking place in 2015 when he left teaching, He spent the next nine years as a paraprofessional accompanying the high school show and concert choirs on piano and keyboard.

He also was involved in musicals and solo-ensemble events.

Athas is music director at First United Methodist Church in Whitewater, where he has served for nearly 50 years.

Donna Berg

Donna Berg has been an elementary music teacher for 22 years. Before that, she raised her children and worked as show director, clinician, singer, dancer and choreographer for Disneyland in California, as well as for other theme parks, theaters and schools.

She taught 17 years in the Delavan-Darien School District before winding down her the last five years of her career at Fort Atkinson’s Luther and Barrie elementary schools.

Candace Butz-Pint

Candace Butz-Pint started working as a cook in the school district in 2002. She was hired by Lois Olson and has worked under five Nutrition Services directors during her tenure.

Butz-Pint was hired to work in the high school, but soon found her way to Barrie, where she worked for 16 years before returning to the high school in 2018. She then switched to Rockwell Elementary School in 2021.

It is estimated that she has prepared more than a half-million meals since joining the district staff.

Denise Engstrom

Denise Engstrom began her education career teaching fifth grade at St. Paul’s School in Bloomer. In 1991, she and her husband, Craig, moved to Fort Atkinson, where she worked as a substitute teacher in the area for a year.

In 1992, Engstrom started teaching fourth grade at Barrie, continuing for 10 years. She moved down a grade and has taught third grade for 23 years.

Altogether, she has taught more than 1,000 students.

Patrick Hatlen

Patrick Hatlen has been teaching social studies for 23 years, all but the first four at Fort Atkinson High School. Mostly he has taught history and economics.

Martha MacWilliams

Martha MacWilliams said she wanted to become a teacher since childhood, when she attended Purdy Elementary School as a pupil. After teaching at Waterford and Janesville for several years, she returned to Purdy as a teacher in 1997.

She taught third grade during the majority of her 37 years in education, though she has been teaching fourth grade at Luther Elementary School this year.

During her long tenure, MacWilliams helped create Luther Elementary School as one of the team members who decided on the aesthetics of the building as it transformed from a middle school to an elementary school. She served as one of the original Luther staff leaders and in 2015 became a National Board Certified teacher.

Heidi Wagner

Heidi Wagner also wanted to be a teacher from early on. She taught second grade in the Janesville School District for nine years and then in Fort Atkinson, during the past 29 years, has willingly moved to various grades K-4.

She earned her English as a Second Language (ESL) license and taught another five years at Fort Atkinson Middle School and one additional year at both Purdy and the middle school.

Linda Deets

Linda Deets has been a special education teacher at Fort Atkinson Middle School for 10 years.

No further information was provided in the reception program.

In conclusion

Closing the reception, Abbott acknowledged that the decision to retire is a profound one.

“For some, it has been a straightforward choice. For others, it has been a complex and challenging journey,” he said. “As you embark on this exciting new chapter, I hope you leave our 1Fort learning community with a deep and lasting sense of accomplishment.”

Abbott emphasized that the school district values the retirees’ service to students and everyone who works in the district plays a vital role in shaping students and, consequently, the future.

“This is a rare and significant opportunity, and you have embraced it wholeheartedly during your time here,” he said.

“We strive to be one team, one district and one community,” he added. “Thank you for being an integral part of each. You have truly made a difference.”

Catering the reception were employees of the Nutrition Department.