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35 retiring from school district
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By Pamela Hitchins
When a Bowmar kindergartner learned that his teacher, 29-year veteran Cassandra Terry, was retiring, he found Bowmar Principal Tammy Burris, flung his arms around her legs and pleaded, “Please don’t let Ms. Terry go home!”
Terry is one of 35 retiring Vicksburg Warren School District teachers, administrators and staff. Thursday afternoon, the district held its annual retirement recognition ceremony.
All together, the retirees have 824 years of service in education. The total number of this year’s retirements represents 5 percent of the district’s 660 teachers, fewer than last year’s 38 retirements and 49 in 2007, according to figures provided by the school district.
The retirement of Bovina’s Fern Strahan leaves the district with 40 teachers who are national board certified.
With Superintendent Dr. James Price leading the ceremony, Burris was among the principals who introduced their retiring staff members and told a little about their careers as school board members handed out recognition plaques, shook hands and passed out hugs.
“What counts is the children, the literally thousands of children whose lives you touched, ” Price told them. “You shared your God-given gifts with the children of this community over and over again. Thank you so much.”
Terry is a Vicksburg native and graduate of Warren Central High School who comes from a family of local educators. Her mother also taught at Bowmar, her father was principal of the old Ken Karyl Elementary School, and her uncles and aunts were all teachers. She taught at the Halls Ferry School as well as Warrenton Elementary and Bowmar.
“I’m going to miss my babies,” she said. “That will be the hardest thing. I won’t get to see them every morning and get those hugs and kisses.”
At the other end of the academic ladder, Charlie Tolliver, principal of Grove Street School, had the same opinion.
“My whole thing was just dealing with the students,” said Tolliver, retiring after 38 years. “That’s where you get your joy.”
Reached by phone because a prior commitment kept him from attending the retirement reception, Tolliver said he’ll spend a little time getting used to retirement and checking things off the “honey-do” list at home. He also is awaiting a new arrival in the family.
“I intend to prepare for a grandson coming in September that I’m excited about,” he said.
Then he might have a few chats with people in the community who’ve told him, over the past few years, to give them a call when he decides to retire.
Tolliver’s career in Vicksburg bridges both the Warren Central schools in the north district and the Vicksburg schools on the south. He taught industrial arts for 15 years before moving into administration. He was assistant principal at Warren Central Junior High, moved to Vicksburg Junior High as principal in 1991, back to WCJHS as principal and later to Vicksburg High School as principal in 2002 before being appointed at Grove Street two years ago.
“It’s been a lot of good years,” he said. “Now it’s time to start writing a whole new chapter in my life.”
At Warren Central High School, Principal Pam Wilbanks is packing up for retirement after serving Vicksburg and Warren County schools for 29 years. Wilbanks took over at Warren Central in 2006, the first woman to serve as a high school principal locally in many years. She had previously been principal at Warren Central Junior High, and assistant principal and English teacher there as well as a teacher at the former All Saints’ Episcopal School.
Alabama native Rodney G. Smith was named Wilbanks’ successor last month by the school board of trustees. The new Grove Street School principal will be Kelvin Wymbs of Florence, S.C., who was appointed by the school board Thursday night.
Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com
Retiring
Beechwood
• Dorothy F. Kerstine — 34 years
• Roberta L. Whittenberg — 14 years
• Teresa P. Williams — 31 years
Bovina
• Fern S. Strahan — 25 years
Bowmar
• Hannah M. Austin — 24 years
• Cassandra D. Terry — 29 years
Dana Road
• Eddie L. Carroll — 4 years
• Arnell Clark — 4 years
Grove
• Charlie Tolliver — 38 years
Redwood
• Lola M. Hughes — 14 years
• Lora C. Wilson — 4 years
Sherman
• Melissa S. Pikul — 29 years
• Mary Quarles — 27 years
Vicksburg Intermediate
• Rhonda S. Newton — 36 years
• Sadie B. Ward — 30 years
Warren Central Intermediate
• Deloris B. Clark — 9 years
Vicksburg Junior High
• Linda K. Powell — 35 years
Warren Central Junior High
• Doris H. Acuff — 23.83 years
• Robin Jenkins — 32 years
• Bettie J. Jones — 27 years
• Faye Keown — 29 years
• Edna B. Steed — 18 years
• John W. Wilson — 40 years
Vicksburg High
• Robert N. Armstrong — 15 years
• Verna B. Davis — 7 years
Warren Central High
• Joycie A. Bright — 24 years
• Cherry Hudson — 30 years
• Joe Jefferson — 14 years
• Beadie Ridley — 29 years
• Pamela Wilbanks — 29 years
Maintenance
• Michael D. Hoben — 25 years
Transportation
• Edmond L. Calvin — 26 years
• Pauline B. Harris — 35 years
• Ben Peterson — 15 years
• Chaney L. Peterson — 18 years
| Scroll down for a list of retirees |
Terry is one of 35 retiring Vicksburg Warren School District teachers, administrators and staff. Thursday afternoon, the district held its annual retirement recognition ceremony.
All together, the retirees have 824 years of service in education. The total number of this year’s retirements represents 5 percent of the district’s 660 teachers, fewer than last year’s 38 retirements and 49 in 2007, according to figures provided by the school district.
The retirement of Bovina’s Fern Strahan leaves the district with 40 teachers who are national board certified.
With Superintendent Dr. James Price leading the ceremony, Burris was among the principals who introduced their retiring staff members and told a little about their careers as school board members handed out recognition plaques, shook hands and passed out hugs.
“What counts is the children, the literally thousands of children whose lives you touched, ” Price told them. “You shared your God-given gifts with the children of this community over and over again. Thank you so much.”
Terry is a Vicksburg native and graduate of Warren Central High School who comes from a family of local educators. Her mother also taught at Bowmar, her father was principal of the old Ken Karyl Elementary School, and her uncles and aunts were all teachers. She taught at the Halls Ferry School as well as Warrenton Elementary and Bowmar.
“I’m going to miss my babies,” she said. “That will be the hardest thing. I won’t get to see them every morning and get those hugs and kisses.”
At the other end of the academic ladder, Charlie Tolliver, principal of Grove Street School, had the same opinion.
“My whole thing was just dealing with the students,” said Tolliver, retiring after 38 years. “That’s where you get your joy.”
Reached by phone because a prior commitment kept him from attending the retirement reception, Tolliver said he’ll spend a little time getting used to retirement and checking things off the “honey-do” list at home. He also is awaiting a new arrival in the family.
“I intend to prepare for a grandson coming in September that I’m excited about,” he said.
Then he might have a few chats with people in the community who’ve told him, over the past few years, to give them a call when he decides to retire.
Tolliver’s career in Vicksburg bridges both the Warren Central schools in the north district and the Vicksburg schools on the south. He taught industrial arts for 15 years before moving into administration. He was assistant principal at Warren Central Junior High, moved to Vicksburg Junior High as principal in 1991, back to WCJHS as principal and later to Vicksburg High School as principal in 2002 before being appointed at Grove Street two years ago.
“It’s been a lot of good years,” he said. “Now it’s time to start writing a whole new chapter in my life.”
At Warren Central High School, Principal Pam Wilbanks is packing up for retirement after serving Vicksburg and Warren County schools for 29 years. Wilbanks took over at Warren Central in 2006, the first woman to serve as a high school principal locally in many years. She had previously been principal at Warren Central Junior High, and assistant principal and English teacher there as well as a teacher at the former All Saints’ Episcopal School.
Alabama native Rodney G. Smith was named Wilbanks’ successor last month by the school board of trustees. The new Grove Street School principal will be Kelvin Wymbs of Florence, S.C., who was appointed by the school board Thursday night.
Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com
Retiring
Beechwood
• Dorothy F. Kerstine — 34 years
• Roberta L. Whittenberg — 14 years
• Teresa P. Williams — 31 years
Bovina
• Fern S. Strahan — 25 years
Bowmar
• Hannah M. Austin — 24 years
• Cassandra D. Terry — 29 years
Dana Road
• Eddie L. Carroll — 4 years
• Arnell Clark — 4 years
Grove
• Charlie Tolliver — 38 years
Redwood
• Lola M. Hughes — 14 years
• Lora C. Wilson — 4 years
Sherman
• Melissa S. Pikul — 29 years
• Mary Quarles — 27 years
Vicksburg Intermediate
• Rhonda S. Newton — 36 years
• Sadie B. Ward — 30 years
Warren Central Intermediate
• Deloris B. Clark — 9 years
Vicksburg Junior High
• Linda K. Powell — 35 years
Warren Central Junior High
• Doris H. Acuff — 23.83 years
• Robin Jenkins — 32 years
• Bettie J. Jones — 27 years
• Faye Keown — 29 years
• Edna B. Steed — 18 years
• John W. Wilson — 40 years
Vicksburg High
• Robert N. Armstrong — 15 years
• Verna B. Davis — 7 years
Warren Central High
• Joycie A. Bright — 24 years
• Cherry Hudson — 30 years
• Joe Jefferson — 14 years
• Beadie Ridley — 29 years
• Pamela Wilbanks — 29 years
Maintenance
• Michael D. Hoben — 25 years
Transportation
• Edmond L. Calvin — 26 years
• Pauline B. Harris — 35 years
• Ben Peterson — 15 years
• Chaney L. Peterson — 18 years
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| Warren County Board of Supervisors agenda items | River on course for crest Saturday |
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