Colton secretary retiring after 20 years

Retiring Colton school secretary Cindy Schlee is stepping off into retirement after 20 years at the helm. Schlee said she has done a little of everything with her time at the district.

She wrote the school newsletter, a collection that turned into more of a community newsletter as the years went by.

She watched the front desk, helped out in the cafeteria for lunches, and supported the superintendent.

“Just one of those people that does anything she needs to do at any time,” said Superintendent Nate Smith.

Schlee grew up in Seattle and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1970. She attended Eastern Washington University where she met her husband, Randy in 1974. They settled outside Colton, where Randy farms. They have been married for 36 years and have two children.

During her 20 years, Schlee has worked with three superintendents and three business managers. Schlee said she has enjoyed working at such a small school because she knows each and every student.

“It’s very personal,” she said.

She particularly enjoys typing up the school’s monthly newsletter, a published collection of school and community tidbits.

“It’s kind of becoming like a small town newspaper,” she said with a smile. Schlee said she is looking forward to the time off with her husband.