Michelle Ryan had mixed emotions about her decision.
But in the end, she chose family and a new position at another school district over that of her longtime place of employment at Ripon Unified.
Ryan, who has been with the district for 21 years – eight as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and the past four as RUSD’s Human Resource Manager – worked her final school board meeting last week.
For the past 17 years, she’s made the daily commute from Merced. Ryan’s family is there and she wants to be nearby while anxiously awaiting her first grandchild.
Ryan just accepted a job with the Merced Unified School District – it’s a five-mile drive from her house, she said – with Sept. 30 being her last day at RUSD.
“I am excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead of me but will miss the community that has become my extended family in Ripon,” she said in her resignation letter. “It has been a privilege work with you.
“I will cherish the memories.”
Trustees accepted resignations of Ryan and Carolyn Scharmann, who at a secretarial position at Ripona Elementary School – she also served as an aide at Ripon Elementary School as part of her eight years with the district – at the monthly session held in the Council Chambers.
“Due to various changes in our family’s lives this past year, my husband and I are in a position to ‘retire’ and travel in our fifth wheel around the U.S.,” said Scharmann, who actually bid farewell earlier this month.
RUSD is now looking to fill Ryan’s position.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.