Perry County School District 32 celebrated 10 staff members who have retired at the end of the school year.
Karla Besand – 31 years
Karla Besand is retiring after 31 years with District 32. She worked 15 years as a second-grade teacher, eight years in Early Childhood Special Education, and eight years at the Career Center. She and her husband James live in Perryville and have two children: Kelci who is married to Joe, and Peyton who is married to Sarah. They have three lively dogs, Percy, Jack, and Taco, and a flock of chickens.
She earned a teaching degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, a master’s degree in teaching from Webster University, and a Career Center Certificate from the University of Central Missouri.
“My best memories are with my greatly influential co-workers,” she said, “and the lightbulb moments when a student would grasp something that they had been struggling to learn and then all of a sudden it just clicks. You can just see it in their eyes!”
In her retirement, Karla said she “plans to work a few hours a week at Overtime Nutrition and Fitness while pursuing my personal training and nutrition certification. I'm ready to enjoy sunrise walks, occasional late starts to my day and coffee/lunch dates with my adult children. James and I might even take a few road trips and explore some new parts of the country.”
Amie Schlimpert – 30 years
Amie Schlimpert is retiring as the School Psychological Examiner/LEA for Special Education after 30 years with District 32. She and her husband Steven live in Frohna, and have three children – Meta, Jacob, and Lydia. They have a dog named Ziva. Amie earned a bachelor degree in Special Education from Southeast Missouri State University and a master’s in teaching from Webster University.
“I have worked my entire career, 30 years, at PCSD 32,” she said. “I started as a middle school Behavior Disorder teacher and volleyball coach. After 6 years, I took the job as Educational Diagnostician. After a few years, I took the position as the School Psychological
Examiner.
“I have loved working with the Diagnostic Team and in Special Education,” she said. “The people I currently work with and those that I have worked with years before are one of the
reasons I have loved my job. I also loved working with students of all ages, from
preschool through high school.”
Amie said that she will enjoy having free time.
“Our youngest will be a senior so I plan to attend all of her events,” she said. “My husband and I
would like to travel more. I also want to spend more time with family.”
Candy Mueller – 28 years
Candy Mueller is retiring after 28 years with the district. She is the fifth-grade math teacher at Perryville Elementary School. She has taught Grades 5-8 math, Grade 7 social studies and ELA, and Grades 5-8 special education. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary and special education. She and her husband Gregory live in Altenburg and have two children, Samuel and Madison.
She said she will miss the district. “The people are wonderful to work with here at this district,” she said. In her retirement, she plans to work on her to-do list.
Janice Guebert – 26 years
Janice Guebert is retiring after 26 years with the district. She is a high school special education teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in history from McKendree College, a bachelor’s degree in special education from Southern Illinois University -Carbondale, and a master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from Webster University. She lives in Sparta and has two children, Frederick and Brittany, and a grandson namded James Delmar (JD). She has a cat named Freckles, a dog named Frodo, a horse named Sandy, and numerous chickens and cows.
“I started my tenure in 1999,” she said. “I have worked in the special education department with an emphasis in the math department and social studies departments. I have done many sponsorships—class sponsor, FCCLA, Friends of Education, Traction, and Future Teachers of America. I have also worked the after-school program for many years. I have worked in Summer School since 2012 with only taking one year off. I also keep the clock for the volleyball team, and the book for the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.
“My best memories are of the students that come up years after they graduate and tell me,“If it would not have been for you I would have not graduated.’ I enjoy working with the teams. I have made several life long friends while working at PHS.”
She said that she will continue to assist the team with the clock and scorebooks. “And I plan to travel,” she said.
“I just want to thank my parents and my children because they encouraged me to follow my dreams,” she said. “I tried to get a job as a history teacher when I first graduated. I was not a coach so it was very hard to even get an interview. I told my mom that I thought I wanted to try special education. My mother said to take one class to see if I liked it. I took that class and earned an A, so I enrolled at SIU-C that summer. Needless to say, the rest is history. I even brought my daughter over here for her 8th-grade year, and she graduated from PHS in 2010.”
Denita Schilli – 23 years
Denita Schilli is retiring after 23 years as a fifth-grade teacher, having taught every subject. She and her husband Dan live in Bloomsdale and have two children: daughter Darissa and husband Josh Rosenzweig, and son Devin and wife Kim Schilli. They have three grandchildren — Kylee and Natalee Rosenzweig and Connor Schilli, with a fourth, Baby Schilli, due in October. They have three granddogs, Mollie, Leo, and Tank, and two grandcats, Ellie and Mia.
Denita earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (Grades 1-6), and a master’s degree in social studies (Grades 5-9).
“I have so many good memories at District 32 but here are a few special memories,” she said. “I love the friendships I made with staff in the middle and elementary schools. I really enjoyed and have lots of memories from being a sponsor for the 24/7 Girls Club and A1A Boys Club. My favorite memory in the boys’ club was bouncing uncooked eggs and shooting food in our catapults. I have 21 years of Wax Museum memories. My favorite Wax museum memories were finding and creating the right costume for each student and watching my past students come back and watch their kids perform at the Wax Museum. I loved seeing my students light up when they were learning something new in class and asking lots of questions.
“In retirement, I am looking forward to spending time with my husband, kids, and grandkids,” she said. I would like to travel to new places and take a cruise. I'm ready for some new adventures!”
Rose Rosenzweig – 21 years
Rose Rosenzweig is retiring after 21 years with District 32. She is a first-grade teacher at Perryville Primary Center. Prior to that, Rose taught Little Pirates for six years. She earned an associate of arts degree from Mineral Area College, and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in education from Central Methodist University. She and her husband Michael live in St. Mary. They have three children – Michael, Joshua, and Jordan. They have six grandchildren — Aleena, Riley, Brinley, Kylee, Natalee, and Eli.
“My best memories of D32 will be seeing my students get excited when they are able to read words and stories,” she said. “I am glad God has given me the opportunity to take this adventure over the last 21 years!” In her retirement, she plans to relax. “I will take some time for myself to relax and do things I’ve put off doing,” she said, “and spend LOTS of time with my grandchildren.
Melisa Rittenberg – 20 Years
Melisa Rittenberg is retiring after 20 years at the district as a speech-language pathologist at the elementary and high-school level. Melisa is also a bus driver, and will continue to serve that vital role for the district. She and her husband Jim live in Perryville and have three children, Kyle, Carlea, and Hannah. They have three rescued dogs, Ziti, AJ, and Bella.
She earned bachelor and master’s degrees in communication disorders from Southeast Missouri State University.
“There are so many memories of working at the district,” she said, “but it all comes down to the amazing children, families, and staff that have been my second family for these past 20 years. I will continue working as an SLP with Missouri First Steps and as a PRN contractor for a skilled nursing facility. I will also do nutrition and fitness coaching in some capacity.
“I will certainly miss my second family here on this campus,” she said. “This is a see you later, not a goodbye.”
Sherry Stief – 19 years
Sherry Stief is retiring after 19 years at District 32. She is the counselor/student services coordinator at Perryville Area Career and Technology Center. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling from Southeast Missouri State University.
Sherry and her late husband Erich have two children, Collin and Kirsten Stief.
“I have worked as a special education teacher for Grades K-5, taught third grade, and served as a middle school counselor before moving to the Career Center,” she said. “My best memories would have to be working with the students and knowing I’ve made a difference in their lives!”
In retirement, Sherry said she plans to travel, learn to play golf, and try to stay busy.
Tina Berkbuegler – 16 years
Tina Berkbuegler retires after 16 years as a custodian with District 32. She is the day custodian at Perryville Primary Center. She and her husband Terry live in Perryville and have two children, Carrie and Jason, and two grandchildren, Rowan and Camden. Tina is a lifelong Pirate, graduating PHS in 1978. She said her best memories of her career at D32 are of working with the children. In her retirement, she plans to relax and slow down.
Jerry Childers -14 Years
Jerry Childers is retiring after 14 years as the high school band director. He hand his wife Hillary have been married 34 years and live in Perryville. They have three children and two grandsons:
Jeremiah and his wife Mikayla live in Fulton with their son Jamesyn; Lauren (PHS 2014) and her husband Elijah live in Oklahoma City with their son Elon; and Madelynne (PHS 2017) lives in Kirkwood.
Jerry earned a B.S. in Education, Instrumental Music, from Missouri State University in 1991.
“My tenure at Perry County District 32 began as a long-term music sub in March of 2011,” he said. “I became the High School Band director in the fall of 2011. I have served as the High School Band Director since that time, except for 2022-23 when I was the PCMS Middle School Band Director. Being the high school director includes teaching beginning band classes as well. I’ve always enjoyed having the students from sixth grade through their senior year.
“Some of my best memories were of having my daughters at work with me as they were students at PCMS and at PHS, and seeing the marching band’s reaction to their first first-place band competition award. I felt very honored performing for the first time the commissioned piece in honor of Mr. Eric Seibel, titled ‘Good Morning!’ And recently, I was honored to direct the band at the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival where the band earned a ‘1’ rating.”
Jerry said that he and Hillary will continue to live in Perryville. “ We plan to travel and have more time with our children and grandchildren,” he said. “I enjoy riding motorcycles as well. That’s definitely in the plans. And I will always be playing music.”
Richard Vandeven – 6 years
Richard Vandeven is retiring from the maintenance department after working 6 years as the district’s HVAC technician. He and his wife Ann live in Jackson. They have three children, Charles, Emma, and Isabel, and one grandchild, Abigail.
Richard said he has most enjoyed working with “all the amazing people at District 32,” and is looking forward to spending time with his new granddaughter.
