Lauderdale County schools say goodbye to retirees

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
May 8, 2003
Teachers, teacher assistants, principals, bus drivers and others met at the Lauderdale County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday to reminisce about their 500 years of experience in county schools.
The Lauderdale County School District sponsored the reception for 21 workers who officially will retire at the end of the school year on June 30.
Coleman has worked at both Southeast middle and high schools for 36 years. At this point, he said, he is unsure about his plans for the future.
He said his fondest memories of working for Lauderdale County schools is the close friendships he shared with teachers and superintendents.
What advice would Coleman give to his successor, Kenny Neal, the school's assistant principal? "He has got his work cut out for him, but I think he's ready," Coleman said.
JoAnn McElroy, a retiring teacher assistant and bus driver, said she will miss seeing students progress. But, she said, she is looking forward to traveling to Norway to visit her cousins and to New York where she grew up.