This 2023 school year there are four Corry High School staff members that are entering the journey of retired life. The teachers that are retiring are Mrs. Bourgoine (Business Education teacher), Ms. Brown (Art teacher), Mrs. Rose (Custodian), and Mr. Kruse (CTC teacher).

The art teacher Ms. Brown has been teaching at the high school for 26 years. For 14 years she was the middle school art teacher, and then for the last 12 years she’s been the high school art teacher. On top of teaching art, she’s also been the head of the yearbook class for 15 years. Before coming and teaching at Corry she taught at Northwestern High School for nine years. She has spent her whole career as a teacher.

When asked what her favorite memory was from her whole teaching career, Brown answered, “It is hard to really pick one but …. I will never forget doing the Kids as Curators program with the Erie Art Museum and the entire 7th grade back in 2011. We had our own installation of work at the Art Museum for a month’s time that was based on what students in 7th grade collect and find important to them.”

Then when asked what she is looking forward to most during retirement her response was, “I am looking forward to doing my own artwork again. Painting, quilting, photography and mixed media work. I am also making plans to hike and see as many waterfalls as possible in the state of Pennsylvania this year! The forests and mountains are calling me!”

The business education teacher Mrs. Bourgoine has been teaching in the Corry Area School District for 20 years. She teaches students the way of life in the business world. Some of the courses she teaches that go along with business are Computer Applications, Business Law, Marketing, Real Life 101, Integrated Entrepreneurship, and Introduction to Business. When asked what her favorite memory is from all her years of teaching, Mrs. Bourgoine said,”My favorite memories are the kids!  Working with the students, laughing and joking with the students; just enjoying all my ‘meatballs’ over the years!”

Also, when asked what she is looking forward to most during retirement, she said, “My husband and I are moving to Tennessee, so we are looking forward to many new adventures there and we plan to travel A LOT!”

Mrs. Rose has been a custodian for 45 years; she spent her first 5 years at the old Concord School, and for the last 40 years she’s been at the high school. When answering what her favorite memory is from all her years being a custodian, she had a hard time choosing just one because there are so many memories that she holds close to her heart, but she said, “It would have to be all the wonderful students and staff I’ve met while working here all these years.” When asked what she is looking forward to most about retirement, Mrs. Rose answered, “Spending more time with my grandchildren and family.”

Mr. Kruse the CTC machining teacher has been teaching machining at Corry High for 13 years. Before working at Corry High he taught machining at Warren for four years, and even before that he worked in the machining industry for 20 years. When asked what his favorite memory was from teaching he answered, “Seeing students graduate, and become successful in their careers. “When it comes to what he is looking forward to most about retirement Kruse said, “Spending time with family and his grandchildren.”

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