Students ‘in my heart forever,’ retiring teacher says|[05/14/07]

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 14, 2007

When the final bell of the year rings at Bowmar Elementary on May 25, teachers Cathy Duncan and Deborah Freeman will close the books on more than 70 years of teaching memories and experience.

Duncan, a teacher for 39 years, and Freeman, a teacher for 32 years, are retiring from the Vicksburg Warren School District this summer. Both have taught at Bowmar for nearly 17 years.

They join nearly 50 employees retiring from the district this year. District officials said the vacancies will be filled by reassigning teachers and staff and reviewing pending applications.

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&#8220It’s really a bittersweet time,” said Freeman. &#8220I can’t imagine my life without a class full of children.”

Teaching for more than three decades has afforded both women the experience of teaching the children of former students, they said.

&#8220You would think that small children wouldn’t remember,” their teachers, said Duncan, &#8220but they do.”

Duncan said she received a retirement card two days ago from a girl she taught in third grade,” and she realized that &#8220I had taught her mom as well.”

Freeman said about a week ago, she attended a former student’s high school graduation party. The student gave her a card, thanking her for attending, a gift and a few more things.

&#8220His last sentence was a thank you for teaching me how to tie my shoes and how to read books,” she said.

Although it’s a good feeling, &#8220It makes you realize you’re getting old,” Duncan said and laughed.

Both women are from north Mississippi and lived about 30 minutes apart growing up, but didn’t know each other until they wound up in Vicksburg by way of their husbands. Duncan studied at Mississippi College; Freeman, the University of Mississippi.

A lot has changed in 30 years, said Freeman. Before, there was more trust, respect and cooperation between teachers and parents.

Now sometimes, she said, when a child gets in trouble at school, parents blame teachers for their children’s misdeeds. But while respect and cooperation have declined, one thing hasn’t – the long hours.

Duncan and Freeman said that grading papers and planning projects often takes three or more hours of work outside the classroom every day. And, said Freeman, elementary school teachers &#8220don’t sit down” until the day is over.

While the women are leaving Bowmar and full-time teaching careers, both plan to continue teaching part-time.

&#8220My favorite smell is a new box of crayons,” said Freeman.

The realization that the end is near has not come easily to them or the students.

&#8220There’s been a lot of crying,” admitted Freeman. &#8220It’s very hard to let go,” she said. Besides the classroom and life lessons, Freeman said she would like for her students – past and present – to remember one more thing.

&#8220I want them to know that the minute they walked through that door, they walked into my life and into my heart forever,” she said.

RETIREES

Beechwood

I.V. Erves, assistant principal, 31 years

Sandra R. Harrelson, speech pathologist, 29

Margaret Patten, library assistant, 17

Nancy Richards, teacher, 33

Bowmar

Mary C. Duncan, teacher, 39

Deborah S. Freeman, teacher, 32

Dana Road

Sandra Laird, teacher assistant, 28

Catherine Lee, guidance counselor, 28

Dorothy Harper, teacher, 28

Judy Monroe, principal, 28

Marva Ruth, teacher, 39

Martha Roberts, building facilitator, 31

Redwood

Beverly Harris, cafeteria manager, 23

Hilda Hearn, cafeteria staff, 26

Judy Williams, teacher, 33

Sherman Avenue

Bobbie Carlisle, lead teacher, 39

Hilda Hearn, cafeteria staff, 25

Betty Malone, teacher, 31

South Park

Pamela Nassar, teacher, 35

Audrey Whitten, library assistant, 22

Warrenton

Neda Gretzinger, cafeteria staff, 13

Margaret Dunaway, cafeteria manager 26

Wanda Hobkirk, cafeteria staff, 18

Cathy Johnson, teacher, 26

Glory Harris, teacher, 27

Shellie Matthews, speech pathologist, 29

Vicksburg Intermediate

Mary Jo Wright, teacher, 29

Warren Intermediate

Anita Houston, teacher, 30

Vicksburg Junior High

Leslie Brown, custodian, 24

Linda Cain, teacher, 26

Cecilia Cox, teacher, 33

Jean McAlpin, teacher, 25

Linda Williams, teacher, 25

Warren Junior High

Carolyn Davidson, library assistant, 21

Mary Irwin, cafeteria staff, 12

Melba Mitchell, teacher, 28

Joni Nosser, teacher, 24

Vicksburg High

Fay Blush, teacher, 20

James Gorney, teacher, 33

Doris Johnson, teacher assistant, 29

Lynda Jones, secretary, 32

Warren Central High

Inez Ehrogtt, teacher, 31

Deborah Gorney, teacher, 33

Grace Lescallette, teacher, 23

Central Office

Maureen Gunkel, accounting director, 29

Horace Newman, assistant superintendent, 31

Transportation

Patsy Raines, bus driver, 41

Mose Williams, bus driver, 23