School district says goodbye to seven centuries of teaching experience

Twenty-one Levy County teachers were notified two weeks ago that their services would no longer be needed after this school year because the school district can no longer afford to pay them. The veteran educators boast a combined total of approximately 700 years of teaching experience.

A sample look at teachers the district chose to dismiss

Lisa Posteraro has 33 years of teaching experience, with approximately 30 years in Levy County.

Posteraro teaches the gifted program for third- through fifth-graders at Williston Elementary School. She is the Safety Patrol advisor and handles the public relations and the school newsletter.

Some certifications, training and other specializations include Early Childhood, Elementary Ed, gifted endorsement, reading endorsement, English 6-12 grades, taught yearbook, working on ESOL endorsement. Certified Montessori ages 3-6. Computer lab manager, and curriculum resource teacher.

Pat Knecht has 33 years of teaching experience, with 28 years in Levy County.

Knecht teaches fourth-grade at Bronson Elementary School. She has been a long-time Peer Teacher, which is a designation in a program designed to pair veteran educators with new inexperienced teachers to help them become adjusted.

Some certifications and trainings include Elementary 1-6, ESOL, Title I, Florida Reading Initiative, and SUMS Math and Science.

Gary Clark has 37 years of educational experience.

Clark is a guidance counselor at Bronson Middle High School. He is a former principal in Williston and a former Superintendent in South Florida.

Some certifications and trainings include Elementary Ed, High School Ed, Guidance K-12, and ESOL for guidance counselors.

Don Stewart has 38 years of teaching experience, with 36 years in Levy County.

Stewart is a calculus and trigonometry teacher at Chiefland High School. He is currently in his 17th year coaching golf at CHS and in the past has also coached football, basketball and track. In addition, he has taught math courses at Central Florida Community College. Twelve of his students have continued on to become math teachers themselves.