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Faculty Retirements

had a blast!” she said. “She has a wonderful sense of humor that kept me laughing every day.”

The Gartrell family has been involved in OVS for decades, and will continue to be for years to come. Next year the Gartrells will have four grandchildren attending Lower Campus, where daughters Kelsey Bailey and Nicole Ferro are teachers.

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As they settle into retirement, the Gartrells plan to travel the United States in their vintage trailer and meet up with old friends.

“It is inspiring to think about how many children have had the chance to be educated, cared for, and loved by her,” Mr. Gartrell said about his longtime partner. “They never forget about their time in Pre-K. All of these facets of Mrs. Gartrell come together to create a pretty amazing legacy.”

Not only was she the Lower Campus barn manager and weekend coordinator, Mrs. Burright also took on the position of the Ojai Valley School Summer Camp director starting in 2000.

Upper Campus senior Ryan Farrell reminisced on his times in Summer Camp and Mrs. Burright’s impact.

“She brightened everyone’s day from the second you stepped on campus,” Ryan said. “She was easily one of the best parts of the camp.”

Not only has OVS been a place of work for Mrs. Burright, it also has been a place where a sense of family has blossomed. “OVS is pretty much a way of life, and it became my family, a place that I love and my family has loved through the years,” Mrs. Burright said.

Mrs. Burright has touched the hearts of many faculty at OVS, such as Gary Gartrell, former Head of the Lower Campus, who spent years working at her side.

“Mrs. B has always had a knack for creating fun and excitement for students, campers, and staff,” Mr. Gartrell said. “She has a spark that can inspire and get even the timidest of students to join in. I have so many fond memories from my many, many years working side by side with Mrs. B. I wish her well in retirement and thank her for making OVS a better place.”

Come September, Mrs. Burright plans to get back out into nature where she will spend time hopefully working with horses and even picking up some interest in bird watching.

Overall, OVS really has been a Burright, and she will always have a special place for it in her heart.

“It was the perfect career for me,” she said. “I just felt like this is where I was supposed to be.”

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