Three depart Rosalia school scene

Three Rosalia School District administrators will retire at the end of the 2018 school year after more than 68 combined years of service.

Rosalia secretary Leslie Gunnels will retire later this month after 28 years with the district. A Rosalia High School graduate, Gunnels went on to graduate from Eastern Washington University, where she met her husband and moved with him to Missoula, Mont. With a family to take care of, Gunnels sought a town for her two sons to call home – a permanent one where they wouldn't have to change schools every few months like she had growing up as a military brat.

Rosalia's familiar and welcoming community made it a natural spot for Leslie and her husband to settle down, and she's been there for almost three decades since.

“We love it here,” Gunnels said. “I thank God every day he put me here.” While leaving the district is no easy decision, Gunnels said she has much to look forward to in retirement.

“We plan to just take spontaneous trips here and there,” she said.

Gunnels and her husband recently bought a travel-trailer in preparation for retirement, so the two can visit their grandkids and other family members on the west side of the state. Gunnels said she also hopes to delve back into her passion of painting the scenic landscapes of eastern Washington after leaving as secretary, but has no plans to re-locate outside of Rosalia.

“You know what I'm going to miss most?” Gunnels mused. “The students and watching them grow.”

Rosalia part-time superintendent Larry Keller is also set to retire this year, following a five-year career with the district.

After earning a degree in teaching from Central Washington State College, Keller took a 28-year detour from his teaching career to serve in the U.S. Air Force, eventually becoming the vice-wing commander at Fairchild Air Force Base. Upon retiring from the military, Keller taught special education classes at St. John-Endicott and served in administrative roles at Mansfield and Cheney before retiring.

Keller came out of retirement after about a year to join Rosalia School District in 2013. Keller said he deeply missed teaching students during his year of absence and knew he could carry over much of the leadership experience gained as a school administrator and as an Air Force commander to a career in Rosalia.

“When you see kids smiling and feeling good about themselves, you just can't get paid enough for that,” Keller said. “Whether it's flying or a school district, you're not going to succeed unless everyone is a part of the mission.”

For five years, Keller employed many of the same lessons he learned as a military commander at Rosalia and is now destined for his third (and reportedly final) retirement. Keller said he expects his future to be filled with travel, golf and visits to loved ones.

“A little less responsibility and accountability, a little more friends and family,” Keller said.

Rosalia principal Darrell Kuhn will wrap-up a education career spanning more than 35 years.

With a degree from Eastern Washington University, Kuhn began his career teaching Rosalia sixth-graders before transitioning to leading math and science classes for seventh and eighth graders and teaching K-12 P.E. at Rosalia.

Kuhn, who graduated from a high school class of around 500 students in Walla Walla, said he sought the change of pace a small town like Rosalia presented. Furthermore, the step-up from teacher to administrator brought with it new, yet welcome challenges.

“I loved being a teacher, you were kind of in charge of your own world.” he said. “But I love being an administrator and working with others to make decisions.”

After closing out his career at Rosalia, Kuhn said he and his wife plan to travel.

“We're probably going to head south when it gets cold and head to [Mariner's] spring training,” he said.