Turning over the Keys to the Castle

Terry Kumakura says she's going to pursue her art, Joan Gochinas is going to get her children's books published and Laura Dossett plans on spending more time with her grandchildren.

The three secretaries have become institutions in the over their combined 70 years of service, but will say goodbye after this school year, to move on to retirement.

They started in the district where they will leave it, and wouldn't want it any other way.

Turning over the keys to the castle

Kumkura has been the secretary to the principal since 1992 at , and has literally held the keys to the castle for the nearly two decades.

She came to Shorewood after a similarly dedicated tenure at General Electric in Milwaukee for 17 years, where she worked in an office alone, traveled often, and dealt with customers primarily over the phone.

She jumped at the opportunity to have a more engaging work atmosphere in the district.

"I have had such a pleasure of interacting with so many people every day," she said. "I just really learned so much about life, about reading people and their body language; heard so many stories, and got to hear what really interesting people are up to."

High school Principal Matt Joynt says Kumakura has taken her daily responsibilities head-on and has kept the school running smoothly over her tenure.

“Terry is just a very caring, wonderful person to work with," Joynt said. "All the staff members that work or have worked at Shorewood High School feel that way.”

A little known fact about Kumakura is that she has a nutrition background, which she has used subtly to help encourage healthy lifestyles and healing.

"A student came in once complaining of body aches,” she said. “I asked if he was eating a lot of sugar. He said 'Yes, how did you know.’ So I suggested if he ate less sugar, his body could heal, and he'd be in less pain. I didn't see him in the office after that.”

Retirement was a tough decision

Just up the street from the high school, Gochinas has been the smiling, comforting and competent face of Atwater since 1985. She has served as secretary to six principals at , over her nearly three decades behind the desk.

Gochinas has made the 40-minute commute, each way, from Pewaukee every day for the last 27 years, and her commitment to Shorewood is unwavering. She added leaving her long-time post was not an easy choice.

"I really love it here,” she said. “This was not a decision that was made lightly.

"My retired friends tell me it's a hard day to not be in the excitement of the school. So, I have backup."

And, she will be missed at Atwater, Principal Tim Kenney said.

“I have been thinking about what you can say about someone who has committed themselves for such an extended period of time for our school district,” he said. “Joan has been the face of Atwater for over 25 years and is probably just about the most well-known employee of the district.

“From welcoming a new family, to making a few extra copies for a student, Joan has been steadfast in her kindness and generosity for the betterment of the school.”

Before joining Shorewood, Gochinas served as the school secretary in Maple Avenue in Sussex for 11 years. On her first day at Atwater, the principal at the time, Richard Cobb, pulled her aside and said, "Shorewood is a very special place." 

He proceeded to let her know she'd have a wide variety of people and roles to interact with. She says the first thing she noticed was the walkability of the community.

"In Sussex, there is a predictable schedule, because the students all ride the bus,” she said. “The students appear, and then are all gone at once. Here, it's a constantly rolling process; the school is part of the neighborhood. Everyone stops in."

Gochinas also has creative endeavors she is looking forward to pursuing following retirement.

"I have written a few children's books that I'd like to get published."

One such book is called "The Elephant and the Chocolate Mountain," ironically about a character who is retiring from the circus who loves chocolate, and befriends one of the ladies who sews the costumes and has a magical cocoa bean-covered mountain.

Gochinas said she plans to be available to not only train her successor, but also remain a friendly face in the community.

She plans on joining FAST, the Former Atwater Staff and Teachers group, which has lunch once a month in different locations all over Southeast Wisconsin. She has a breakfast date schedule for the first day of school in September.

Leaving Lake Bluff

Dossett, a Shorewood resident and secretary at , will be retiring just a few weeks shy of receiving the 25-year bowl.

She caters daily to parents late to drop their children off, and says she enjoys interacting students.

“I just love it here," she said. "We are like a family.

“I have really enjoyed seeing things from the children’s perspective these many years," Dossett said. "When I decorate the windows, it’s so fun to watch their faces light up. I also have candy for parents, because they need our support, too."

She'll miss working with Lake Bluff Principal Kirk Juffer and co-worker Peggy Eannelli, she said.

"They love him, and we do too," speaking of Juffer.

Her favorite Juffer story is “Just so Wisconsin,” because “he saved the skating rink."

"He got a liner donated, and was able to get really organized and have volunteers staff and maintain the rink. It’s just such a good, free, healthy thing.”

Dossett says she will continue to contribute to Lake Bluff staff events, planning appreciation lunches for them and making her signature hand-made chocolates and cookies.

She plans to continue working Shorewood athletic events, as well, taking tickets and rallying for Shorewood teams.

With her daughter’s second child on the way, she is looking forward to her open schedule, and becoming more present with her grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law.