Lenape Tech Secretary Retires Effective Tomorrow

By Jonathan Weaver

The Lenape Technical School Joint Operating Committee members recognized the upcoming retirement of one of their staff members during their September meeting.

Deborah Saxion – who began working at Lenape Tech 22 years ago – hopes to travel after her official retirement tomorrow.

Saxion, who began in the Lenape Practical Nursing department, worked in the front office until now-Administrative Director Dawn Kocher-Taylor was hired in 1996. She was also hired as Board Secretary in 2000.

“I very-much enjoyed working here,” Saxion said. “It’s a wonderful place to work, and I’m very honored to have been able to serve.

“Some people here are more like family to me.”

Saxion has lived in Manor Township for 38 years. Oldest son - Jeff – graduated from Lenape Tech in 1993 for Precision Machining and is currently in that field.

Saxion thought her replacement – Diana Heuser – would do a “marvelous job.”

Heuser - who formerly looked at a law firm in Kittanning and was hired specifically due to the board secretary opening – applied in April and was hired in June. During the past three months, she shadowed Saxion.

“I think it will be a great job. And I think Deb did a great job preparing for the next employee. She put a lot of stuff together to teach me,” Heuser said. “I think the job will see me through retirement.”

Of Heuser’s four children, son – Ronald – is a junior full-time student studying welding and she envisions son – Justin-Julius – enrolling in the automotive program at the school once he is old enough. Both are also at West Shamokin Junior-Senior High in Rural Valley.

Apollo-Ridge School Superintendent Matthew Curci recognized Saxion during the meeting.

“(She is) someone we all know that is someone that has been a wonderful part of all that goes on here and has always been so personable, prepared and committed to kids,” Curci said. “Mrs. Saxion, we are extremely thankful and absolutely wish you the best.”

Board President Joseph Close, representing the Armstrong School District, also thanked Saxion for her work during the meeting, and several other school directors embraced her with well wishes following the meeting.

Saxion, 59, has been approved as a substitute for support staff.

In other meeting business, Kocher-Taylor said the Adult Learning Center could be open as soon as this week after some last-minute additions.

“Little things continue to be addressed, both with the architect and the contractors – we hope within two weeks to have a permanent occupancy permit,” Kocher-Taylor said. “We’re waiting for some odds-and-ends things to come in (before) final inspection.”

The Practical Nursing class that began September 15 has 30 students, and is currently testing for admissions to the December class. Nearly two dozen students are currently enrolled to begin in the New Castle satellite campus starting next month.

About the same number graduated two weeks ago before the new class began.

Committee members accepted a $40,000 donation to the new Adult Learning Center from NexTier Bank.