The Coos Bay School District Board of Directors honored the six employees who have or will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.
Board Vice Chair Arnie Roblan read bios of the six retirees, and Candace McGowne and Marcia Stewart-Warren, who were in attendance, were presented gifts by Superintendent Charis McGaughy. The remaining employees will have their gifts delivered to them.
The six retirees include:
Scott Banks, PE teacher, Millicoma
Scott Banks is retiring after a successful career as a PE teacher and a coach in Coos Bay School District. Banks is currently the PE teacher at Millicoma School and served as coach of the Marshfield boys golf team for many years.
In 2018, Banks led the Pirates to second place in the state golf tournament, finishing within a stroke of the state title. This year, he led the Pirates back to the state tournament, where they finished seventh.
Kenneth Chaney – band director, Marshfield High School, Marshfield Junior High
Kenneth Chaney, the Marshfield High School and Marshfield Junior High School band director, is retiring after more than 30 years in public education.
Chaney came to Coos Bay School District in 2019 after leading band programs for decades. He has helped grow participation and interest in the district’s band program.
Candace McGowne, Finance Director
Candace McGowne is retiring after many years as finance director for Coos Bay School District.
During her tenure overseeing the Finance Department, McGowne has led a small but mighty team that not only made sure we all got paid but also ensured the district had a strong, balanced budget year after year.
She leaves big shoes that will be very difficult to fill.
Rick Robert, Facilities Director
Rick Warren retired earlier this year as the facilities director of Coos Bay School District.
Warren came to the district after many years in the department of corrections. Warren’s legacy will be cemented for decades to come after he led the district in building Eastside School, Marshfield Junior High and rebuilding Madison School.
While Rick has left our district, his legacy will be felt for generations to come. One look at our amazing schools shows the impact Rick had while leading our facilities department.
Alan Schroeder, Facilities
Alan Schroeder worked behind the scenes for many years to keep our facilities beautiful and functioning. As an employee in our facilities department for decades, Alan did everything over the years.
He is perhaps best known for the groundwork he did at our schools, keeping our schools and facilities beautiful year round.
Marcia Stewart-Warren, English, speech and debate, Marshfield High School
Marcia Stewart-Warren taught for the Butte Falls School District for 25 years. It was a small district, so she wore many hats. She started teaching 6th grade and moved to the high school five years later. She taught English 9, English 10 English 11, and the 2+2 College Credit Classes with Southern Oregon University. She coached Speech and Debate for 20 years, was OSAA Speech and Theater Coach of the Year in 2010, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year.
Her mother passed away in 2015 and her father needed some help, so moved to Coos Bay to care for him. She joined the Coos Bay School District to teach 8th grade for one year. The next year, she was offered the College Writing and College Literature classes at Marshfield High School.