With a record number of teachers and staff retiring this year, the Elmbrook School District held its annual recognition ceremony at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, showing a video memorial.

A list of 58 teachers, support staff and an administrator was shown at the end of the 20-minute video, edited for length on Patch. 

The employees have a combined service of 1,570 years for an average of 27 years. Many had worked for Elmbrook for more than 30 years.

Superintendent Matt Gibson said he understood that not all teachers wanted to retire this year, and some were prompted by the changes in state education funding and collective bargaining.

"You probably have mixed feelings. I have mixed feelings," Gibson said.

"I think we're losing just some incredible people and we'll gain incredible people, too, but it'll take them awhile to mature to be like the people who are retiring right now," he added.

"I don't feel celebratory necessarily about what happened in February, I feel celebratory about what the occasion is today."

The district honored all retirees, nine "Outstanding Employees" and one 30-year service award for Lori Golomski.

The full list of employees honored is located in this Brookfield Patch story. 

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Sherry Power at Hillside Elementary

Anne Marie Peterson, orchestra teacher at Brookfield East 

Mary Bigus, choral teacher at Brookfield East 

Anne Kreul, principal at Swanson Elementary

Christine Hedstrom, assistant superintendent for human resources