Fairfield school veteran gets surprise retirement party

Latchkey program leader since its start, Cheryl Sandor ‘will leave a lasting impact.’
A long-time school staffer was planning to quietly retire from Fairfield West Elementary but her colleagues had another idea that included a surprise party and lots of donuts. Cheryl Sandor, a 32-year-veteran of the school’s heralded Latch-Key program, was recently the center of a surprise retirement party. Among those seeing Sandor, center, off was Fairfield Schools Superintendent Billy Smith, right, and Mischelle Price, district latchkey program coordinator. CONTRIBUTED

A long-time school staffer was planning to quietly retire from Fairfield West Elementary but her colleagues had another idea that included a surprise party and lots of donuts. Cheryl Sandor, a 32-year-veteran of the school’s heralded Latch-Key program, was recently the center of a surprise retirement party. Among those seeing Sandor, center, off was Fairfield Schools Superintendent Billy Smith, right, and Mischelle Price, district latchkey program coordinator. CONTRIBUTED

FAIRFIELD — A long-time school staffer was planning to quietly retire from Fairfield West Elementary, but her colleagues had another idea that included a surprise party and lots of donuts.

Cheryl Sandor, a 32-year-veteran of the school’s Latch-Key program, was greeted with cheers on her last school day morning as she walked into the school’s cafeteria, where she also works.

Tables of donuts sported posters — “Donut Forget You Are Loved” — as well as balloons, flowers, cards and gifts surprised Sandor and left her emotional.

A long-time school staffer was planning to quietly retire from Fairfield West Elementary but her colleagues had another idea that included a surprise party and lots of donuts. Cheryl Sandor, a 32-year-veteran of the school’s heralded Latch-Key program, was recently the center of a surprise retirement party. CONTRIBUTED

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“I’m feeling very full of mixed emotions because on one hand, after doing something for so long, it is kind of exciting for the next adventure and chapter of your life, but on the other hand, this was my life since I was 20 years old,” she said.

Mischelle Price, latchkey program coordinator for Fairfield Schools, praised Sandor for her decades of helping children and their families.

“Cheryl has been with the program since the beginning and is a true example of dedication and loyalty,” said Price.

“Her time in Fairfield will leave a lasting impact. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will live on in our latchkey program’s history.”

Fairfield West Principal Missy Muller echoed Sandor, saying, “Cheryl engages in meaningful conversations, shares moments of laughter, and uplifts others with her upbeat demeanor.”

“She approaches every challenge with positivity and grace. Her retirement is met with sadness as we will greatly miss her warm smile, caring nature, and optimistic outlook,” said Muller.

Sandor said she got more than she ever gave by working at the school.

“I’ve enjoyed being a part of it. I feel like it made me grow as an adult,” Sandor said.

“And the longer I spent time here doing it, I just got pure joy and fulfillment out of that because when you’re in the elementary setting or any school setting, kids are a part of your life and so they become a part of you and you make a better person out of them and yourself each day you walk in.”

Journal-News media partner WCPO-TV contributed to this story

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