Five Wellington USD 353 Educators Retiring After Combined 155 Years of Service

WELLINGTON, Kan. — Wellington USD 353 is bidding farewell to five dedicated educators and staff members as the 2025-26 school year draws to a close, with the group representing a combined 155 years of service to the district.

According to a June 9 post on the Wellington KS Public Schools' official Facebook page (facebook.com/USD353/posts/pfbid02Bd57N8oiMEGkYKmvwR9pG5s5SYossUzo6Xx6fkPNgFT2Rt7uc6rXn1SLDNXWdTUTl), the following staff members are retiring:

— Rane Case, CTE administrator, served 29 years with the district (1997-2026).

— Eric Page, 7th-grade math teacher, served 26 years with the district (2000-2026).

— Dana Saffel, Eisenhower Kindergarten teacher, served 21 years with the district (2005-2026).

— Cynthia Tracy, 7th-grade science teacher, served 34 years with the district (1992-2026).

— Shelly Washburn, Kennedy Para, served five years with the district (2021-2026).

"You have made a difference in the lives of all you have touched, and you will always be considered a part of our USD 353 family," the district said in the post.

The retirements come as the district begins preparations for the 2026-27 school year.

Source: Wellington KS Public Schools Facebook page, June 9, 2026.