Retiree Spotlight Mr. Chris Rammacher:

Today we are honored to showcase the highlights of the esteemed career of retiree Mr. Chris Rammacher.

Mr. Rammacher began his collegiate career at Jamestown Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Social Sciences.  He went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at SUNY Fredonia and a Masters of Science in Special Education at SUNY Buffalo.  Mr. Rammacher’s remarkable teaching tenure of 30.5 years, 15 of which he has served at CLCS, also included teaching positions at Randolph Academy and Erie 2 BOCES.

His Father, a Physical Education Teacher at Brocton and Chautauqua, and his Mom, a Special Education teacher in Westfield and Erie 2 BOCES, were his inspiration to become a teacher.  His parents instilled qualities of grit, perseverance, a strong work ethic, patience, empathy, and kindness, which have all served his career choice well as he has shaped the future generations of students. 

During his tenure, Chris noted that he has enjoyed inspiring, nurturing, influencing, and unlocking the potential in students with disabilities and seeing them grow into young adults with the confidence to succeed.  His friend and colleague of 45 years,  Mr. Jim Tennies, shared “Chris has worked with students of all abilities and he always made his students feel welcome, respected and part of the school community.”  He says he cannot imagine a more patient or kind educator than Mr. Rammacher.  

Mr. Tennies's favorite memories of Mr. Rammacher include making the Recycleman videos along with four student movies: The Legend of Panama Rocks, The Chautauqua Lake Monster, The Lost Gorge Treasure, & The Haunted Hewes Center, and also, making two 5’x10’ student paintings called Eruption and Stained Glass. 

Chris shared that the highlight of his career was the start of recycling programs for paper and cans/bottles at CLCS.  He shared, “we helped save tons of paper and thousands of cans and bottles from going into the waste stream. The earth's resources are finite, and it is of utmost urgency that we are the best stewards possible.”

Sue Teets, his colleague and fellow teacher, noted, “Chris has been one of the teachers I have worked with that always has the best interest of his students at heart.  His patience and willingness to go above and beyond to help them succeed in life are exemplary.  He has touched many lives in so many different ways.  Chris has been willing to do a variety of tasks to help the students learn about ‘real life’ while helping them succeed in the classroom.  Chris will be greatly missed by his students and many friends at CLCS!”

Mr. Rammacher’s future aspirations include volunteering and making the community a better place to live, and spending time with family and friends.  His list includes gardening, traveling, biking, x-country skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping, bird watching, playing music, and expanding his knowledge of self-sufficiency, nutrition, and a plant-based diet. 

Mr. Rammacher’s parting wisdom for colleagues and students is to “find the right balance between being in the present moment and planning for the future.”  He goes on to add that “learning is a lifelong endeavor and that you need to continue to strive to stay open to that or stagnation may set in.”

Chautauqua Lake thanks Mr. Rammacher for over three decades of dedication to education! We join our students, school, and community in sharing our gratitude for his exceptional work at CLCS!   We wish him the very best as he embarks on his retirement adventures and the next stage of his life! 

Respectfully,

Dr.  Josh Liddell