News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Mary Lesowske has been a part of student and staff lives in Sisters schools for more than three decades. She retires this month.
What started out as a convenient job turned into a 35-year career for Mary Lesowske.
The lead secretary at Sisters Middle School is retiring this month after serving students and staff at two Sisters schools in a role that created many fond memories.
"I loved it," she said. "I love everybody here."
Her colleagues feel the same about her.
"She is an amazing human, and we will miss her dedication and expertise," said Molly Pearring, who works with Lesowske at the middle school.
Lesowske's long tenure with Sisters School District began simple enough.
Carol Williams at Sisters Elementary School approached her to work in the office.
"That's how it started," Lesowske recalled. "Because I wanted to work the same hours my kids were in school."
Lesowske worked at Sisters Elementary School for 10 years before moving to the middle school, where her work involves posting grades for students, including providing the honor roll to The Nugget, enrolling new students, providing records when students transfer away, and more.
She has often been the first interface parents and students have in working with the school.
Lesowske has experienced a lot of growth and change in Sisters schools. The middle school kids seem different to her than they were decades ago.
"They seem to grow up faster - too quickly," she reflected. "Computers have changed a lot - just changed society in general. Nothing's bad; just different."
Decades of interaction with hundreds of students has been gratifying.
Lesowske notes that it is rewarding when a former student comes back and expresses appreciation for how she connected with them.
"Certain students, you remember them forever," Lesowske said.
For many years, Lesowske was an avid runner.
"Running was a big thing for a long time," she said. "I loved that."
She has no specific plans for retirement, other than spending time with grandchildren.
"I don't know; I'll figure it out," she said.
Something that takes no figuring out is her feelings about her long career.
"You want to like what you do, right? That's why we do it," she said.
For her, it all comes down to relationships.
"Everybody's a family," she said. "Everybody helps each other."
And, she reflected, "It was a great school system for my kids."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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