Following the seniors last walk through the school, Ed Rosin threw up his elbows and danced through a crowd of cheering teachers in the gymnasium who honored Rosin and other retiring staff during their final Raven Walk last Friday.
Rosin – along with many of the retiring Ravens – was also among the first cohort of teachers and staff to walk Auburn Riverside’s hallways nearly 30 years ago.
“As one of the original Ravens, it feels incredible being here since day one,” said retiring language arts teacher Susan Neu. “A brand-new building – the second comprehensive high school in the district. We started everything! We truly felt like a family as were building the foundations, the traditions and climate of Auburn Riverside High School.”
Retiring this year are six original Ravens – including math teacher Rosin, Neu, language arts teacher Timothy Wright, history teacher Megan Ellis-Sumner, theatre technical director Ed Dunaway, and PE teacher Julie Moberg. Longtime educator and administrator Monte Eckelman also joins the rank of retirees.
Neu is one of the several motivated and genuine teachers at Auburn Riverside who focuses on the well-being of her students, as she stated, “One of the lessons or topics I do focus on most when it comes to my students is to make sure they feel heard, and seen … like I see you and I will try to be there for you.”
Neu has also made sure that her fellow teachers have felt heard in the way she has led the English department.
“You’ve built something special here, and it shows in the way people work together and support one another,” said Nick Shilipetar, language arts teacher, of Neu. “Beyond all of that, you’ve just been a genuinely kind, steady presence. Whether it was checking in, offering guidance, or simply being someone I could count on, you’ve made a real difference in my time here.”
Erin Sullenger, health specialist, said Neu was one of the first teachers to see her wandering at a new school and introduce herself.
“You are kind, thoughtful … and care for your students and will be greatly missed.”
In her retirement, Neu, who has been teaching English since 1986, plans to spend a lot of time at the beach and connect with nature, as well as make time for reading.
Neu may be retiring as a teacher, but her love for working with kids will never fade: “I will for sure make sure to somehow stay engaged with teens.”
Another original Raven, Wright has spent 31 years teaching – most of those years helping to shape Auburn Riverside.
As a teacher working with students every day, they are all memorable moments, but for him some of the ones he remembers best are “the insights during discussions, the everyday acts of kindness, and the deep, thoughtful conversations we’ve shared about literature and life.”
Although teaching with Parkinson’s disease is a hard and personal challenge, Wright said it is also one that has shaped almost every aspect of his life.
Over the years, teaching has changed as technology has shifted greatly into everyone’s lives and also shortened the attention span of students, but Wright has been very understanding and still supportive of his students through it all.
One of the things that inspired Wright to become a teacher was his own high school teacher.
“She had a huge impact on me, especially the way she connected with students and brought literature to life made me want to do the same,” he stated.
Wright has built those same connections here at Auburn Riverside.
“The way you connect with students—with consistency, care, and high expectations—has shaped lives in meaningful ways,” Shilipetar said of Wright. “You’ve been a mentor, a role model, and a steady presence that students have come to rely on.”
Shilipetar added that Wright has been an integral part of creating a special place at ARHS.
“Your legacy at ARHS isn’t just one of excellence in teaching—it’s one of building community, lifting others up, and making this place better for everyone in it.”
In his retirement, Wright plans on moving to Boulder, Colorado and reconnecting with nature.
“I will still miss everyone–especially my students and I hope my students have developed a sense of love or endearment to literature and reading.”
After nearly three decades of shaping young minds, inspiring love for history and leaving a lasting impact on Riverside, Ellis-Sumner is also retiring.
Ellis-Sumner began teaching at Riverside in 1997, the same year the school opened its doors. Since then, she has spent 28 years teaching primarily AP European History and U.S. History, with earlier years also including Global Issues and World studies.
Her journey into teaching was driven by a deep passion.
“I always loved history, and I enjoyed coaching, so these two things seemed obvious to start teaching. Once I actually started student teaching I was hooked,” she said. “My job was never boring, because students always bring something new.”
Throughout the years, Ellis-Sumner has seen education–and students–change.
“Students are always going to be students,” she noted. “But the biggest difference is the addiction to the phones.”
She spoke about when students brought CD cases to school instead of earbuds and screens. Despite the changes, her dedication never wavered. She’s especially proud of her AP European class and the hard work they put in.
When asked if she believed education has changed, she replied with, “Yes education has changed. I feel students are not encouraged to do the ‘busy work’ or practice work that is important for a foundation.” “I am sad some students don’t see the importance of that.”
She also spoke about her challenges in teaching, stating, “Teaching is just learning how to be patient and how to deal with a variety of people. I’m still learning every day.”
Ellis-Sumner spoke about how she will miss mostly her “people,” her lunch friends.
For her retirement, she hopes to ski a lot and improve her golf game.
“I plan on traveling, kayaking, hiking, gardening, and spending quality time with my husband.”
When asked how she thinks her work has impacted her students, she replied “I hope I have been a positive influence on my students, and they felt that I cared about what happens to them. I hope they learned something in history that they enjoyed.”
Sullenger said she will miss Ellis-Sumner’s compassion: “Thank you for your kindness to me as a new teacher to ARHS and for all you have done to encourage and support our students to be their very best.”
Dunaway was also one of the first staff at Auburn Riverside.
“I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of students enrolled at [Auburn Riverside],” Dunaway recalled of his early days at the school.
Dunaway worked as technical director of the theater at ARHS and was in charge of safety repair and hiring students and adult techs.
Some memorable moments at ARHS for Dunaway are connecting with students on personal levels.
Dunaway’s retirement plans are to relax, sleep in and travel to different parts of the country. He hopes that he has made a difference to not only students, but also staff.
Katy Nuttman, theatre and English instructor, said it has been a joy to work alongside Dunaway for so many years.
“He’s always willing to work hard to help kids learn and have the best time on our stage,” Nuttman said. “He’s quick to smile and make a joke, and our theatre won’t be the same without him.”
After dedicating 33 years of service in education, assistant principal Eckelman will also retire this year.
“Some of the highlights of my career include working alongside former students who are now teachers, being part of the district’s transition from junior high to middle school, opening a new building, seeing history made by working with the district’s first ever female high school principal, working with the same cohort of students for six straight years (Olympic Middle School to Auburn Riverside) and being someone who worked at all three comprehensive high schools as an administrator,” Eckelman stated.
The Kansas native and University of Montana alumnus spent his entire career in Auburn. He was initially hired by the Auburn School District to teach mathematics at Cascade Middle school. After seven years of teaching, he was then hired as an assistant principal at Olympic Middle School. After spending two years at Olympic, he then moved over to Auburn Riverside where he spent the next four years as an assistant principal.
Since then, Eckelman has served as an assistant principal at Auburn High School, Auburn Mountainview High School for 17 years, then transferred back to Auburn Riverside for the last two years of his career.
There is much that Eckelman will miss about Auburn Riverside, including the staff and their “unwavering” commitment to student success, he noted.
Health specialist Erin Sullenger said she will also miss Eckelman, who she described as “supportive” of the health department.
“You are kind and encouraging and our students know you want the best for them,” she said of Eckelman.
In addition, Eckelman will also miss his administrative team, including principal Janalyn McKeehan, whom he admires “because she loves this school as much as I do and she has a lot of great things planned for our students and staff as we move forward into next year.”
But he will especially miss the students.
“The thing I will miss the most is the students,” stated Eckelman, who plans to move back to Montana to relax and help his two sons in getting their careers started. “They are the reason why all of us got into this profession in the first place. The students at Auburn Riverside have always impressed me. While we do have our share of tardies, our students as a whole, are respectful, kind and loyal.”
In Flight was unable to reach Moberg or Rosin for comment, but staff members had plenty to say about them both.
“How do you honor an original Raven who has literally impacted every area of the school and school culture?” physical education teacher Christine Arend said of Moberg during the staff retirement celebration last week.
Arend said when she met Moberg as a student teacher 25 years ago, “she was already larger than life–a natural mentor, not afraid of hard work and definitely not afraid of taking risks. She would have this insane idea, ‘hey, let’s try doing, ‘insert any idea–a turkey run, an obstacle course, summer school’ … and it became my role to fill in the details. We were the odd couple, and it just worked. My entire career has been molded by Moberg’s mentoring.”
Throughout Moberg’s 34 years in education, she has impacted many students and staff.
“Being around Julie is good for our spirits, our souls,” said Neu. “Julie believes in each of us– students, colleagues, and friends. She makes US believe in ourselves.”
Cheryl Moyd, a former longtime social studies teacher at Auburn Riverside, said Moberg in large part is the reason why staff is connected and focused on relationships.
“Julie Moberg’s DNA is built within the culture of what it means to be a Raven. As an original Raven, she was instrumental in helping to shape and mold this school into the amazing place it is,” Moyd stated, adding, “She gave her all to build our school–to add value to both staff and students–and her legacy will always be part of the Raven way.”
Staff will also remember Rosin for his positivity, from his upbeat and unique dances during Raven assemblies and events, to his energetic daily “good morning!” to staff and students in the hallway.
“If we ever came to school half asleep, we would be awake after encountering [Ed] in the hallway or copy room,” Sullenger said, thanking Rosin for his positivity and support for students and staff. “Your vibrancy for life is contagious and your students love you.”
