Dear Kent Middle School Families,

Thanks to every single student and community member who took a moment last week to appreciate our exceptional educators during Educator’s Appreciation Week. I’d like to extend a special thank you to our KSPTA for coordinating generous, thoughtful, delicious, and kind expressions of appreciation for all members of our team.

It is the time of year when we prepare to say goodbye to members of our teaching team who will be transitioning away from Kent Middle School to pursue other endeavors next year and beyond. Please join me in celebrating the below staff members who will conclude their time at Kent at the end of this school year.

• Kent Mathematics teacher Brad Widelock will be retiring at the conclusion of this school year after serving the Kentfield School District for 17 years. Mr. Widelock is well known among students as an ally and advocate, who embodies a love of mathematics and works to support students to pursue their interests and find their voices. Mr. Widelock was also an influential leader in the Kentfield Teachers Association during his tenure with our district.
• Longtime KSD teacher, Rose Roubinian, retires this year after 25 years teaching Spanish at both Bacich and Kent. Ms. Roubinian cares deeply about the Spanish language and culture and devoted her professional teaching career to developing students’ language skills. Recent reports from Kent graduates and receiving high schools confirm that Ms. Roubinian is among the best in the business, with Kent students’ foundational Spanish preparing them well for all future language endeavors.
• Science department chair, Ron Pembleton, retires this year after 17 years teaching science and leading the Kent science department. Mr. Pembleton led a successful Science Fair at Kent for many years, shifting to an Innovation Convention in recent years, both projects focused on student-generated hypotheses and learning through experimentation and data analysis. Ron Pembleton piqued the interests of our young scientists throughout his noteworthy tenure in our district.
• Kent Art teacher Elizabeth Rubenstein retires this year after serving our school for two years in the Kent art studio. Ms. Rubenstein brought with her a passion for integrated arts and student-generated artistry and creation. Establishing courses this year like Fiber Arts in 7th grade and Sculpture in 8th grade, Ms. Rubenstein inspired our student artists to try new ideas and to relentlessly create.
• Physical Education teacher Maryellen Gore is moving across the country with her family, after serving Kent as our 6th grade PE teacher since 2019. Ms. Gore brought with her new and innovative approaches to games and physical activities for our PE department and approached each day with a huge smile and a love of her students and physical activity. Ms. Gore has been on maternity leave this year, and unfortunately will not be returning to our Kent team next year.
• Library Media teacher Rebecca Jelen is seeking a leave of absence from Kent at the conclusion of this year to pursue an opportunity closer to home. Ms. Jelen has been at Kent since 2010 first as a 5th grade teacher and for the past five years as our teacher-librarian. She transformed the Kent Library into the heart of our school, creating an inclusive and safe learning and social environment for every single Kent Falcon. During her tenure here Ms. Jelen established our All School Read program, advised our school newspaper The Falcon Swoop, served as our Social Justice Department Chair, facilitated numerous author visits, taught our Broadcast Journalism class, and much much more.

We will miss these exceptional educators who have collectively contributed over 75 years of service to Kent Middle School students. The legacy they leave will reverberate through our halls and classrooms for generations to come. While it is always difficult to say goodbye, we are also dedicated to identifying and welcoming new members to our team who are skilled, qualified, and committed to pick up where these incredible educators have left off!

Let’s have an awesome week ahead!