Fond farewell to retiring faculty

The UF College of Education and its laboratory school, P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, bid fond farewells to four retiring faculty and administrators recently, with an appreciative sendoff reception at the UF Keene Faculty Center.

The new retirees are former education faculty members Cecil Mercer (distinguished professor in special education, 1974-2005) and Arthur White (professor of education, 1970-2005), and PKY faculty and staff members David Capaz (guidance director, 1980-2005) and Christine Morris (professor emeritus and principal, 1972-2005)

About 35 fellow faculty members and colleagues joined in toasting the foursome, with Education Dean Catherine Emihovich presenting each with a plaque after words of tribute by close friends and colleagues.

Mercer retired after 31 years of teaching and research in a number of areas, including learning disabilities, mathematics, reading and effective teaching principles. He is a three-time recipient of the college’s Teacher of the Year Award—in 1978, 1990 and 1995—and was named Doctoral Adviser/Mentor of the Year in 2001.

White retired after 35 years on the faculty. He taught in the School of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Educational Administration and Policy. He has published articles and books on topics such as Florida’s 1968 teacher strike and a general history of public education in Florida.

Capaz has been at P.K. Yonge for the past 21 years. He has served assistant principal and headed the guidance department at the time of his retirement. He graduated from the College of Education with a specialist in education degree in counselor education in 1984.

Morris retired as professor emeritus after 33 years with the College of Education and P.K. Yonge. She held numerous teaching and administrative posts at PKY, serving as school principal for 22 years. She taught classes in creative writing and theater arts.

Photos from the evening appear below: