Granite School District published their list of retiring staff for 2023. Together, those from the Holladay area have spent over 300 years of combined teaching experience helping educate students. Is one of your favorites on the list?

Teacher Steve Rossi from Olympus Jr. High retired this year. He spent 30 years with GSD and taught digital literacy and creative coding in a “variety of schools” according to his biography. He was an advisor for the MESA club and the Lego League. Rossi was also in charge of the tech crew that ran morning announcements. 

Cottonwood High English teacher Lynn Taylor retired after 21 years with GSD. Cottonwood High’s Brian Francis also retired. He had spent 22 years on the custodial staff. 

Teacher Helen Hurd of Oakwood Elementary spent her 38th and final year teaching kindergarten, with 28 of those years in GSD. Hurd loves the Oakwood community. “I love how supportive and involved the parents are, and of course the students…they are the best!” During retirement she’s looking forward to spending time with her grandkids. 

Rosemary Anderson taught for 17 years in GSD and loved being a kindergarten teacher. “Kindergarten is a wonderful and exciting place to be, and a time of much growth and learning,” Anderson said of her time at Crestview Elementary. Anderson delighted in watching her students learn and progress each day. 

Driggs Elementary teacher Cynthia Pearson taught for 36 years. Over that time she taught nearly every grade, and at retirement was teaching first grade. She had several endorsements and won an EXCEL teaching award in 2021. She said she was inspired to have a career in teaching by her second grade teacher. 

Olympus High held a party at the end of the year for their four retiring staff members, who together spent over 150 years as educators. 

Two core subject teachers retired: Mike Kushlan was a math teacher at Olympus and retires after 30 years with GSD. Dianne Adler taught in the English department and was employed with GSD for 43 years. 

Also retiring from Olympus are two veteran members of the performing arts department. Band teacher Evan Bateman started teaching in 1988 and was at Olympus for 35 years. Bateman also played with a local salsa band Orquesta Latino and the Orchestra at Temple Square. 

Vocal music teacher Vicki Belnap is retiring after 42 years. She taught at Granite High before coming to Olympus in 1994. During her time at Olympus, she was invited to take students to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She’s worked closely with students as the vocal coach for school musicals. λ