Original staff members retire from Windermere High School

Nancy and Lori Laurenzana are ready for the next chapter of their lives. The two teachers at Windermere High School have counseled one last student and led one final film class after a combined 62 years in the education field and are heading into retirement.

Lori Laurenzana’s last official day at WHS was Aug. 9; Nancy Laurenzana finished her last day Sept. 4. Both were working at Maitland Middle School in 2017 when they were recruited to open the new Windermere High.

Nancy Laurenzana worked for Orange County Public Schools for more than 30 years, teaching and working with students from sixth to 12th grade at three different schools: Ocoee and Maitland middle schools (three years and 24 years, respectively) and Windermere High. She taught a variety of courses — math, science, Spanish, computer classes and TV broadcast — and served as a media specialist and technology specialist before landing her favorite position as college and career specialist.

“I would meet with the seniors and do presentations for them on what would be some options for them after high school,” she said. “Presentations in groups and then meet individually — if they’re going to college, or career options, or connect with (the) military. … I put together career fairs and bring people in the industry and help (students) apply for jobs. Each year, I hosted a college fair where we had over 100 different colleges.”

Lori Laurenzana has worked for OCPS for 32 years, teaching digital and video technology — film and broadcast — for more than half her career.

“I taught it at Maitland the entire time and was very involved with film competitions,” she said. “My middle school kids would beat out high school kids in competitions. That was one of the reasons Mr. (former principal Doug) Guthrie wanted me to come over to Windermere and start the program from scratch.”

She started at Glenridge Middle School in 1989 for one year, taught reading at Apopka Middle School for one year and then helped open Discovery Middle School. After seven years, she helped open Gotha Middle School. She then taught at Maitland Middle before helping open Windermere High.

“I’ve spent half of my career opening up new schools,” Lori Laurenzana said.

Both educators said working with students have been a fulfilling career.

For Nancy Laurenzana, it was turning them on to books, allowing them to explore the world around them through virtual field trips and helping them see what career options are out there. She took graduating seniors on European adventures too.

For Lori Laurenzana, it was showing them the different career paths in either film or broadcast. She took her students all over the country to participate in film competitions. Some former students have pursued their own career in the industry, and a few have won major awards.

The couple married in 2017 and has a blended family of six children ranging in age from 22 to 32.

They both agreed this was the year to retire.

“My mother passed away, and it put things in perspective,” Lori Laurenzana said. “Life is short, and there’s no guarantee for tomorrow.”

“It’s just time to let go of the education piece and explore new things,” Nancy Laurenzana said.

“I am now ready for the next adventure,” Lori Laurenzana wrote on her Facebook page. “Life is short. ... Eat the cake, buy the shoes, book the cruise, and capture the moments. Let's go!”

Nancy Laurenzana’s Facebook post similarly summed up the decision: “Now it’s time to play, explore and keep learning through our travels for the next 41 years.”

“Every day is like a Saturday,” Lori Laurenzana said.

The pair have traveled to more than 35 countries and all but six states in the U.S. They enjoy getting out and learning other cultures, and they chronicle their explorations through photos and videos.

“Nancy has this philosophy of traveling,” Lori Laurenzana said. “’Go Go’ is going to Europe and traveling internationally while you’re still in shape and good health; go now and do all the stuff outside the U.S. ‘Slow Go’ is when you finish the U.S. and ADA is everywhere. ‘No Go’ is when we find a beach and have a condo on the beach.”