The end of the school year at Steinmühle is also the time to say goodbye to colleagues who are retiring. It is a traditional event, marked by a sense of reflection, but also by joy for the employees in question, who can now shape their lives beyond the daily school routine according to their own wishes. As is the case every year, the farewells took place as part of the joint summer party, to which Managing Director Dirk Konnertz invites all staff members from the school and boarding school on the last Thursday evening before summer break.
Decades of Work
When someone has been a teacher for several decades, their colleagues have so many memories of that person that it is impossible to do justice to their contributions here. With art teacher Dr. Sabine Kraft (25 years), physicist Dr. Rainer Nietzke (math and physics teacher, 33 years) and Almut Sersch, a German and religion teacher (36 years at Steinmühle), we bid farewell to long-serving teachers who not only left their mark but also shaped Steinmühle through their personalities.
Principal Björn Gemmer paid tribute to the work of Sabine Kraft, a certified architect and urban planner who holds a master’s degree in art history and a Ph.D. (Dr. phil.) earned in 2000. Publications, lectures, and teaching assignments characterized Sabine Kraft’s work until she left academia in 2001 to join Steinmühle, where she taught art with great dedication to students in all grade levels.
“You were always focused on the issue”
Rainer Nietzke began his teaching internship at Steinmühle in 1992 and later became the school’s data protection officer as well as chair of the physics and computer science student councils. “You were my mentor; I learned a lot from you,” recalled Principal Björn Gemmer, while also praising Rainer Nietzke for his clarity, his steadfast commitment to his values, and his competence, “which was always focused on the matter at hand, never on yourself.”
Almut Sersch studied Protestant theology and German language and literature, and completed her teaching internship at Steinmühle, where she earned an “excellent reputation among teachers and students” (Gemmer). Almut Sersch was known for her ability to handle conflicts at school; she worked as a school mentor, student council advisor, and works council member, and served as a mentor to numerous teachers in their pre-service training—”…and was always open to innovation,” according to the principal.
The three teachers also received recognition from Managing Director Dirk Konnertz—for their decades of dedication and for spearheading specific activities that are inextricably linked to each of them and will remain so. Special mention was also made of Tobias Leisge’s departure from the Bilingual Elementary School; he is seeking a career change, and his “calm demeanor and great patience” were always regarded as important and helpful. Speaking on behalf of the works council, Nicole Hohm expressed her gratitude to the departing employees. Heartfelt and personal words were also offered by the department representatives and, on behalf of Tobias Leisge, by Lorraine Herrmann, the deputy principal of the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School.
A warm welcome to all newcomers!
As the new school year begins, we also welcome new colleagues. Following Janine Küster’s departure, Julia Daube is now taking over as principal of the Bilingual Elementary School. Niki Johnson and Sophia Fleißner are joining the faculty at the Bilingual Elementary School. In the high school division, Steinmühle is also welcoming Philipp Knaack and Olaf Roth for the new school year; Roth will be teaching a greater number of music classes.
