The Winn Parish School system this week honored 13 employees who are retiring after a collective 330 years of service to the students of this parish.
During a reception May 6 at Winnfield Middle School, just five of those honorees were able to attend but their principals had kind words to share with the gathering for all of those who are leaving at the end of this year.
Dodson High School principal Wendy Miller, speaking of Atlanta High School employees, explained that these retirees together with the rest of the AHS staff were welcoming when she arrived 13 years ago. Ruby Sapp was a dependable employee, working on the custodial staff for 26 years. Karen Sapp was always pleasant in the 20 years that she served as a lunchroom worker. Carolyn Evans made a difference to the school and community in her 28-1/2 years as a classroom and special education teacher and mentor in church.
Calvin High School principal Justin Tinsley told the group that Jessie Canerday influenced many lives in her 31 years of service as a paraprofessional, with 3 of those years at Winnfield Intermediate School and the balance of her career at Calvin High School.
Winnfield Primary School assistant principal Resa Johnson spoke well of paraprofessional Vergina Dudley, both for her service at Winnfield Kindergarten and Winnfield Primary schools. She worked in the system for 17 years and served as a role model for many.
Winnfield Middle School principal Brian Savelle said that Larry Booker was a great person to be around, a man who touched lives every day. Booker served as janitor for 25-1/2 years. Gena Hatcher logged 33 years in education and was his “go-to person on technology issues.” Teaching social studies and computer classes, she went on to guide gifted classes parishwide. Stacey James had a career of 32 years, coaching at AHS and teaching adaptive PE parishwide, with a positive impact on students every day. Bus driver Winnie Dianne Powell got children safely to and from school for 12 years, with Savelle calling her “dependable, taking care of business.”
Winnfield Senior High School principal Chase Bartlett said of Gloria Brock’s 46-1/2 years in special education that her service was an “inspiration of love, compassion and dedication.” Joyce Jordan’s service spanned 23 years and it wasn’t easy as lunchroom manager where “she never let chaos affect her work day.” As many, Carla Kay Lasyone wore several hats during the 29 years she was at WSHS, including teacher, librarian and counselor.
Supt. Alfred Simmons spoke for Mark Maxwell, retiring maintenance manager for the school system. With so many moving parts, “there’s always something that needs fixing.” Maxwell responded each time when called.
Simmons noted that we see less and less these days employees like this (notably within the field of education) who stay so long at their original place of employment for 30 or 40 years before going home. Those honored Monday “gave long, long service to Winn…they wanted to be part of their community.” He thanked them for their service.