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Longtime Teachers Decide To Retire

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

BAY CREST - When Marie Cusmano came to Bay Crest Elementary, the school was a year old. It had no kindergarten program, and when Hillsborough County added one, Cusmano became Bay Crest's first kindergarten teacher.

She jokes that her early students used to slip and call her "mama." These days, they accidentally call her "grandmamma."

When Sharyn Mixon started teaching kindergarten at Bay Crest 19 years ago, she gave her students music lessons off record albums. But recently she pulled out a record and a child said it looked like a "giant CD."

Between them, Cusmano and Mixon have 58 years at Bay Crest, mostly as kindergarten teachers. This month, they celebrated their upcoming retirements. Cusmano is leaving after a 37-year career, entirely at Bay Crest. Mixon logged 40 years as a teacher, all but four in Hillsborough County, including 21 at Bay Crest.

"Marie has been at Bay Crest longer than any human being on the planet," teased Principal Susan Parks, who pointed out that children in Cusmano's first class would now be 43 years old.

Families and coworkers joined the women at a party after school to wish them well. Teachers sang songs they dedicated to them and gave speeches about their influence. They presented them with scrapbooks and gifts.

Both women hope to spend more time with their grandchildren during retirement, but called leaving "bittersweet."

Mixon said her long career has allowed her to see former students grow and change. Many keep in touch with her, and some have returned to talk to her current students about their jobs.

She said she felt lucky that after such a long time she still loved going to work. Teaching was the best job she could have had, she said.

"After 40 years of teaching, I love it," Mixon said. "These are your children for a time."
Cusmano got her start when her father called Bay Crest and told the principal that he had a daughter who had graduated from college and would need a job soon. It was a perfect fit for her, she said.

"Teaching has been a wonderful profession," Cusmano said, "and I've loved every minute of it."

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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