As the 2021-2022 School Year comes to a close, Mars Area School District is saying goodbye to five retiring teachers/staff members:
Croissant began her career at Mars Area in 1990 as a full-time substitute art teacher and has taught at Mars Area Middle School and Mars Area Elementary School as well as the former Adams Elementary School, Middlesex Elementary School and Mars Primary Center (Downtown Mars). Prior to joining the District she previously worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools at Brashear High School, Allegheny Middle School and Homewood Montessori School.
She holds a master’s degree in education and a certificate in human resource development management from Pennsylvania State University; a bachelor’s degree in education, certified art (K-12) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and an associate’s degree in fine art from Mount Aloysius College.
In her retirement, Croissant plans to winter in Florida.
Goodzinski joined the District in 2014 as a librarian/media specialist at Mars Area Centennial School. During the 2017-2018 School Year, she served as STEAM teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, before moving into the librarian/media specialist position at the school in Fall 2018.
Prior to joining the District, she served as a librarian/computer teacher at Riverside Middle School; as a community relations manager at Barnes & Noble Booksellers; and for 10 years in retail bank management at Citizens Bank. Goodzinski holds a master’s degree in library science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, a bachelor’s degree in business management from Carlow College, and an associate’s degree in fine arts from St. Petersburg Junior College – Clearwater (Fla.).
She is a resident of Harmony, Pa.
Hunter joined the District in 1999 as a nurse paraprofessional in the District’s elementary buildings. She previously served as a substitute school nurse at Pine-Richland School District: as a nurse for a private physician; and, as a nurse at UPMC Passavant Hospital.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a school nurse certificate from La Roche College.
In her retirement, Hunter’s immediate plans include assisting her oldest son in planning his October wedding. A Gibsonia resident, Hunter and her husband, Craig, have two adult sons.
Kennedy, a graduate of Robert Morris College, began her career at Mars Area as a special education secretary in February 1997. She had previously worked for the Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau and William Penn Hotel.
In her retirement, she plans to visit her son, who serves in the U.S. Air Form in Alaska; to travel to Tennessee for an Antique Car Show; and to visit Yellowstone National Park. She also plans to spend time with friends and family, especially her four adult children and two grandchildren.
She and her husband, Tom, live in Adams Township.
Park, who holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and early childhood development from the University of Pittsburgh, began her a career at the District as a long-term substitute teacher during the 1991-1992 School Year, before becoming a permanent staff member at the start of the 1993-1994 School Year.
She has spent most of her career as a second grade teacher and has worked at Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center as well as the former Adams Elementary School and Middlesex Elementary School.
"What I personally found most rewarding was when a struggling student finally discovered that he or she could read and understand math concepts,” says Park. “That’s the moment they became a life-long learner.”
In her retirement, Park plans to focus on teaching and experiencing life with her grandchildren, Lexis, James and Gavin.
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.