Schools
Springhouse Math Teacher First To Announce Retirement
David H. Schaffer will retire after 38 years of service.
A math teacher at Springhouse Middle School has the distinction of being the first teacher in the Parkland School District to announce his retirement for the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
The Parkland School Board last week accepted the retirement of David H. Schaffer, who will retire after 38 years of service, effective June 30, 2012.
“He plans everything to a 'T,'” Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman told the school board. “It’s why he isn’t just a good math teacher, he’s an exceptional math teacher.
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I don’t know that Dave Schaffer’s shoes can be filled.”
Following the meeting, Troutman said it should come as no surprise that Schaffer would be the first to look that far ahead and plan his retirement. He said it’s characteristic of such a highly organized teacher.
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District officials and the teachers union president have said that they expect several teachers to retire by the end of the school year, given that the teachers are in the last year of a five-year contract. Early-bird are under way.
Sandi Gackenbach, who heads the Parkland Education Association, said potential retirees do not have to notify the district of their plans until January. She said the many attacks on public education in Harrisburg will also likely contribute to teacher retirements.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.