Administrators leave Cape after years of service

When school closes this year in Cape Henlopen School District, more than a century of education experience will walk out the door with it.

Retiring this year are Assistant Superintendent Cathy Petitgout, Principal Trish Mumford and Principal Susan Donahue.

With more than 20 years in education, Love Creek Principal Trish Mumford said she will always cherish the friendships she has made.

Mumford spent most of her career at Rehoboth Elementary, starting as a paraeducator before moving into the teaching ranks and later becoming principal. She said everyone there was very supportive and helped make her feel at home.

She said she will never forget the support the staff gave her when she had to take time off to care for her mother. Every Wednesday, she said, the staff provided a meal for Mumford's family, a gesture not lost on her mother who could be a picky eater.

“My mom would always eat because she knew people went out of their way to make the meal,” she said.

When Mariner Middle opened, Mumford said, she took a job there, and again, the staff was a supportive group who enjoyed their work.

Moving into the administrative ranks, Mumford said she learned a great deal from Petitgout, who mentored her as assistant principal of H.O. Brittingham Elementary when Petitgout was principal of the school.

“The best part of all my years in education was all the fun I've had and friendships I've made,” she said.

Taking Mumford's role as principal at Rehoboth Elementary, Susan Donahue brought nearly 30 years of education experience to the school.

Donahue remembers some funny moments during her years as an elementary school teacher. While teaching third grade one year, she said, a student brought her pet hamster to school with her in a book bag. No one knew about it until the girl went to get her lunch out of her book bag and screamed.

“The hamster had chewed through the book bag and was loose somewhere in our classroom,” Donahue said. “We spent the afternoon hamster hunting. We found the hamster safe and sound.”

On a class trip to Washington, D.C., she said, she will never forget students using up all the film in the disposable cameras given to them by taking pictures of dolphins off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. “When we got to Washington, D.C., they complained that they had no more film to take pictures of the city squirrels. Not exactly what we'd planned to be looking for on our trip!” she said.

Before coming to Cape Henlopen School District, Donahue said, she helped open Mispillion Elementary School, and enjoyed all the firsts that went with opening the school.

She said she also enjoyed hiring new teachers who were once her students. “I always hope I was part of what influenced them to become an educator,” she said.

After 45 years in education, retiring Assistant Superintendent Cathy Petitgout said she still runs into students she taught in first grade. She said her most rewarding moments involved teaching students to read during the 26 years she spent as a first-grade teacher.

“The excitement and enthusiasm when things clicked for them is priceless and is something I will never forget,” she said.

Petitgout said she has enjoyed serving the district in leadership roles and also helping others grow as leaders. Also retiring this year are Assistant Principal Mike Dmiterchik, Assistant Principal Joanne Reihm and Dean of Students William Collick.

But Petitgout said she believes the district is in good hands.

“We have a truly talented staff who serve our students in many different capacities, each one contributing in his or her own way,” she said.