06/03/2026
👏 Recognizing Milestones in Education 👏
In August 1996, two young teachers started their Whitko careers at the middle school. Rochelle Leininger taught math there for many years and Laura Thong-Umphai taught science. Receiving word of their employment on the same day, they toured the Whitko Middle School facility together, a tour led by then-middle school secretary Georgia Tenney.
Evidently, teachers got to pick their subjects back in the day because both remember asking each other what subject they wanted to teach. Leininger said math and Thong-Umphai said science. Today, Leininger is a Whitko Junior High math teacher and Thong-Umphai teaches fourth graders at Pierceton Elementary School.
Both were recognized for 30 years of service at Whitko’s end of year celebration Wednesday morning, June 3, at Whitko Junior Senior High School.
Along with Dr. Amy Korus, superintendent, JD Maurer, junior high principal, recognized Leininger and Liz Riggers, Pierceton Elementary School principal, recognized Thong-Umphai.
Things have changed over three decades. The middle school is the Whitko Career Academy. Georgia Tenney retired after 33 years as the middle school secretary and is now in her fourth term as a Whitko School Board member. JoElla Smith was the middle school principal and George Williams, the superintendent when they were hired. When the middle school closed, Leininger transferred to the high school and Thong-Umphai to South Whitley Elementary School. She eventually “retired,” and returned to teaching at Pierceton Elementary School.
Korus and fellow staff members also celebrated three retirements: that of 👏Cindy Hatton, a 36-year secretary at South Whitley Elementary, 👏Angie Speicher, 37-year Special Education teacher at Pierceton Elementary School and school bus driver 👏Connie Trout, who transported children for 38 years.
Other staff members receiving recognition for years of employment were:
⭐️ 40 years – Lorraine Kyler
⭐️ 35 years – Joe Jackson
⭐️ 30 years – Rochelle Leininger, Julia Rowland, John Strayer, Laura Thong-Umphai, Lucy VanHoozen
⭐️ 25 years – Tonia Weigold
⭐️ 15 years – David Wilson
⭐️ 10 years – Tina Campbell, Sally Gilbert, Melanie Snepp
⭐️ Five years – Holli Ackerman, Melissa Bollinger, Teresa Carrano, Claire Frame, Joel Holsopple, Mike Howard, Lynn Leininger, JD Maurer, Rebekah Mitchell, Trenton Osborn, Emily Powell, Carissa Rose, Christi Rose, Lexie Rose, Tammy Sprunger and Don Stone.
Pictured: Whitko teachers Rochelle Leininger, left, and Laura Thong-Umphai, right, remember the day they were hired and toured Whitko Middle School with Georgia Tenney, center. The teachers marked their 30th year in education at Whitko Community Schools on Wednesday, June 3 in a year-end celebration at Whitko Junior Senior High School.
