Wendi has Binghamton in her blood. She is herself an alum of MacArthur, West Middle School, and Binghamton High School. Her father, Allen Thompson, was also a band director at the district for 35 years. Wendi said she feels an incredible amount of pride in following his legacy, spending three of those years working alongside each other and keeping a streak of 67 years that a Thompson was teaching music in the Binghamton City School District.
She appreciated her amazing department of colleagues, working together to start kids on a musical path and facilitating a smooth transition to the next level of instruction as students grow and learn.
"As insane as this sounds, some of my best memories with my MacArthur colleagues come from when we lost our building to the flood in 2011," Wendi said. "Even though we were split between two old buildings, and neither teaching area was good, the staff in both buildings became incredibly strong. It reminded me of when I first started teaching at MacArthur, with most of my former teachers now my colleagues. That crew celebrated everyone's life events together, supported each other, and had the best time together!"
She said conducting the fifth-grade All City Chorus, the East Middle School chorus for one year, the 5th/6th grade All County Chorus in 2020, and her own school choruses will forever be a highlight of her teaching career. Also, taking students to places like retirement homes and sporting events to sing the National Anthem has been a wonderful way to bring their gift of music to those who don't know how awesome our BCSD music department kids are.
Seeing former students go on in music has given her an immense amount of pride, frequently boasting about them.
Following her retirement, she plans to travel with her husband and spend more time with her daughters, who have also both become teachers.
Congratulations, Wendi! #BPatriotProud
Diane said she came to BCSD at a time of hardship and personal loss, supported by a friend along with her cat and dog, submitting applications all across the state. Thankfully, the WNY native found her new home in Binghamton, which she said was a perfect fit in every way ("Thank God Binghamton called, because I almost ended up in Alfred!" she said).
Diane appreciates the strong family vibe at BCSD, which immediately made her feel like she had come home.
She said her favorite part has always been the little "light bulb moments" that unlock language fluency, and she is proud of the accomplishments of all of her students. This became especially true over the past two consecutive years when her students ranked first regionally and in the top 2% nationally in "Le Grand Concours" or the National French Contest.
While the word 'retirement' has not quite made it to her vocabulary yet (she prefers to say she is 'transitioning into her next chapter'), Diane says that next chapter will include her son's September wedding, more time training at the gym, playing bass, competing in archery tournaments, and possibly some work in higher education.
"The future is bright, and I owe much of that to BCSD," Diane said. "There's a good chance you may just see me transformed into a substitute teacher next year. À bientôt!"
Congratulations Diane! #BPatriotProud
She said she appreciates the diversity and size of the Binghamton City School District and loved meeting and working with many children from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
What did she say she is most excited to do in her retirement?
"Sleeping in past 5:40 in the morning!"
Congratulations Carol! #BPatriotProud
👏 | We're celebrating our BCSD retirees! Melanie Valencia is retiring as West Middle School's Band Director after 28 years. She came into the position after Bernie Shifrin recommended that she apply, and since then, she said she loved working with the wide set of demographics within the district.
Melanie oversaw many ensembles at Binghamton City School District throughout the years, including small ensembles at BHS, the Patriot Marching Band, and various ensembles at West Middle School. She was also the musical director, band director, and chorus director at West Middle School.
"The kids are the reason I went into and stayed with teaching band," she said. "The highlights were the concerts and festivals that the students participated in - their smiles at the end of their accomplishments said it all."
Outside of her teaching, she is an acclaimed working musical artist selected to perform at the National Flute Association Convention 2024 and 2025, a member of the Universal Jazz Big Band, director of the Blue Velvet Big Band, The Parlor City Flute Ensemble, SIlver and Steel Duo, Silver and Ivory Duo, M and M Flute and Harp Duo, Horizon Jazz, and a member of Sum Doubt ska band, Basin Street Jazz Band and reed player in local musical orchestras. She was a featured performer on Ulysses Kay's Aulos for solo flute and chamber orchestra with the Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007.
In her retirement, she intends to travel, visit friends, garden, sail, make more music collaborations, and take classes in language, art, and music.
Congratulations Melanie! #BPatriotProud
"My Horace Mann Family of coworkers has been a huge part of my life for 33 years. We have worked together through trials and triumphs as a great faculty, an extended family...allowing all the kids to be successful."
Dyan is looking forward to spending time at the lake and learning some new hobbies. Congratulations, Dyan! #BPatriotProud
🎨🪱| It's Imagination Adventure season at our Elementary schools!
Students at MacArthur, Coolidge and Franklin enjoyed hands-on creative arts, physical education, STEM, music, and nature activities throughout the school today for our special summer camp. This included a special demonstration by Cornell Cooperative Extension on how worms create compost! #BPatriotProud
Heather Pepper finishes her career as a Literacy Teacher at West Middle School after 33 years of teaching.
Over the years at BCSD, she taught Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades, 6th grade AIS in ELA and Math, and was a literacy teacher for 7th & 8th grades. She followed in the steps of her mother, who was also a Binghamton teacher.
"My most special moment is having the opportunity to teach the children of my former students," Pepper said. "Seeing generations come full circle is a joy that is hard to put into words."
In her retirement, she plans to still substitute teach and work part-time in a nursing home as an Activities Director in addition to traveling and spending time with her family and precious grandchildren.
Congratulations, Heather! #BPatriotProud
📝 | Registration for the Fall 2026 Athletics season is open now! Students in grades 7-12 can visit binghamtonschools.org/athletics for details and to sign-up! #BPatriotProud
You can register for the following workshops here:
http://tinyurl.com/4jkvrs5x
Please note that transportation to and from these workshops is not provided #BPatrotProud
Attend to get free bike helmets and backpacks for the next school year, along with free ice cream and more! #BPatriotProud
Students at East Middle School are currently world-building for their upcoming Dungeons and Dragons campaign that they will play alongside other RPGs and board games in the first year of this new Summer Camp hosted by English teacher Madison Bussmann #BPatriotProud
