Retirement Corner

Retiree: Lenore Guastella, Ed.D. Years with OCPS: 40 OCPS Retirement date: Nov. 30

When Boone Assistant Principal Lenore Guastella officially retires from OCPS this month, she will be thankful for the blessed work life she says she’s had over four decades.

Originally from Chicago, Guastella came to Orlando to attend Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida) after vacationing with her family at Disney World.

"I wanted to major in mathematics and work for NASA," she said. "After a name change from FTU to UCF and a few education courses, I changed my major to mathematics education and decided that I would rather work with young people and not at a desk."

Two days after graduating college in 1981, Guastella joined Meadowbrook Junior High as a mathematics teacher with an $8,000 per year salary. Her OCPS career included teaching mathematics at Liberty Junior High and Glenridge Junior High/Middle School before serving as a secondary mathematics resource teacher with the district office and as a dean at Southwest Middle.

For more than half her career – 21 years – Guastella served as an assistant principal at Southwest Middle and Dr. Phillips, Jones and Boone high schools.

"As an administrator, I hope that I inspire teachers by bringing out their best talents, helping them grow to be the best educators they can be as my mentors did for me," she said.

"My coworkers are my most favorite memories," she added. "People who mentored me as a new teacher; encouraged me to grow my leadership skills; supported me through the loss of my parents; made me laugh when I needed some levity; made me cry when I needed ‘a life’s lesson,’ but mostly loved me as a family member."

Her retirement adventures include reading, relaxing, visiting with family and enjoying travel adventures. And of course, using her theme park annual pass is on the to-do list.

"I’m going to Disney World."

Upcoming Virtual Workshops:

Nov. 3, 5-6:30 p.m.

Real World Retirement Planning - Your Three-Legged Stool!

https://orangepeal.pub/RealWorld

Nov. 10, 5-6:30 p.m.

Social Security Planning Workshop

https://orangepeal.pub/SocialSecurity Nov. 17, 5-6:30 p.m.

Medicare Planning Workshop

https://orangepeal.pub/MedicarePlan

Go to the MyFRS workshop flyer link to register for the particular course. Go to Canvas to get more information about the course. For additional information, email retirement.services@ocps.net or call 407.317.3227.

445 W. Amelia St., Orlando, FL 32801 | 407.317.3200 www.ocps.net