Graduation marks the season for goodbyes. Although West has been expecting to let go of the class of 2024, many beloved staff members are sadly stepping down as well. Whether retiring or leaving for a different career, they will leave gaps in the fabric of Wildcat nation.

Assistant principal Aaron Herm, who leaves to become the principal at Kaukauna, was informed of this new opportunity by a former colleague.

“I was fortunate enough to have their superintendent, who I used to work with at De Pere, reach out to me and just basically let me know that the position was available,” he said. “As I learned about Kaukauna, it seemed to be a great fit for me.”

Herm feels the people are what make West great. All the years of connecting with coworkers and creating new friendships will be what he misses most.

“It’s people. One of the coolest things about this job is our administrative team. We’re genuinely friends, and being able to work with your friends makes all the difference,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll keep in touch, but I miss working with them everyday and the chemistry we have. I can say the same about a lot of staff in the building.”

Herm hopes he will be able to usher in change at Kaukauna to open up new opportunities of academic success for future students.

“We have a great school, and there are some opportunities for Kaukauna to catch up to Oshkosh West, which I think is why that would be a good fit for me,” he said. “It’s a little bit smaller of a district in a single high school town. I think I’ll have more of an impact than at Oshkosh West with two high schools.”

Gym teacher Kaydi Ramon, who has been teaching for eight years and at West for two, is leaving teaching completely to follow her passion of fitness and wellness.

“I’m actually doing a career switch so I'll be doing personal training at the YMCA in Menasha.”

Ramon feels she has enough time to make this switch, as she could potentially regret it in the future. This opportunity has been playing with her thoughts for some time.

“I made this decision because I’m young enough yet; it’s been something that’s been on my mind, and if I didn’t make a switch now I could be kicking myself later,” she said.

Ramon hopes to help different age groups with their fitness goals, beyond her usual scene of high schoolers. She looks forward to helping people in a different way than she usually would in the school system.

“Fitness and wellness has always been a passion of mine, so I just hope to help people in a different capacity outside of the school system,” she said. “So I’ll have the opportunity to work with people of all ages and people who are more middle aged.”

Door monitor Kathryn Bechard, who has been at West for four years, is leaving to start a photography business, concentrating on kids locally.

“I’m starting a photography business, so I’m going to focus on that,” she said. “It’s a high school senior photography business, focused on kids in Oshkosh. I also enjoy photographing nature and I volunteer at the farmers market, so I’ll be taking pictures there as well.”

Bechard enjoys the environment the students provide at West and will miss the energy they provide.

“My favorite part has got to be the students; it’s such an interesting time in students life, while they are in high school, and it’s just a great energy that students have.”

For social studies teacher Andrew Britton, who has taught at West for 31 years and 34 in total, the decision for stepping back lies in the importance of family.

“The biggest factor in my decision is my daughter and her fiance, they’re moving back to live in the area,” he said. “I’d really like to spend more time with my family, rather than grading document based questions on a weekend.”

Even from his youth, Britton’s career was destined for the teaching profession, as he would often play make-believe as a boy, taking the role as a teacher, hoping to fulfill his dream.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was four years old,” he said. “I used to make imaginary assignments for imaginary students.”

Britton agrees with Bechard -- students and colleagues are the best part of West.

“I love the students, so that’s been my favorite part; I love the staff, they’re all great professionals,” he said. “That makes work enjoyable.”

Britton’s love for teaching is keeping him in the field, as he’s planning on tutoring AP US History students locally. AP classes require lots of practice and writing skills, and Britton thinks students need one on one help to be successful.

“I want to still be involved in education, just at a more relaxed pace than being a full-time teacher. I’m planning on tutoring APUSH students in the area,” he said. “The thing with AP is that kids have to learn to write. It’s really hard for one teacher to teach 80 students, when what they really need is one-on-one.”

School treasurer Wendy LaCount, who has worked at West for 24 years, plans on using her new time to travel and do things she never had the opportunity to do before.

“I plan to just relax,” she said. “My husband’s been retired for three years, so we plan to spend some time at our cottage, and do some traveling, starting with places in Wisconsin we haven’t visited. I also get to take a fall vacation, which I’ve never been able to do.”

LaCount loves the family West has created over the years as having people to trust is reassuring, especially in a workplace.

“Everyone is there to support you; I’ve been through it and had these people, they got your back,” she said.

Herm hopes he made an impact on his students, as well as being a role model.

“Ultimately, I would love for at least some students to feel like I was able to help them grow and recognize me as a positive adult in their lives while they were in high school,” he said.

Britton hopes that his passion for teaching, and more specifically, a fervor for the past, will continue to endure as he continues to invigorate on a smaller scale in the future.

“I hope I’ve left some passion for history,” he said. “I’ve always thought I’ve succeeded if a student opens a history book many years down the road and has some passion for it.”

Evan Parfitt and Tenna Ruetten

Published May 20 2024

Oshkosh West Index volume 120 issue VIII

Staff members join seniors to bid West farewell in 2024