Wednesday, May 29, 2002
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Wednesday, May 29, 2002 |
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Long-Time Media Specialist Retires from Hood Avenue Primary
After 30 years of dedicating herself to helping children discover the joy of reading books, Jean White is saying goodbye to Hood Avenue Primary School. White started her tenure at the school in 1972 as its media specialist. Not only did she enjoy passing on her love of reading to the school's students, but she also took pride in promoting their achievements by taking photographs for the local newspapers and Hood Avenue's archives. Principal Diane Teer says White has been a cherished staff member and friend at the school and that is going be hard to get used to her not being in the media center when school reopens in August. "We have many parents here who once attended Hood and one of their first questions is often, 'Is Ms. White still in the media center?' They remember her after all of these years," Teer said. "She has passed on to our students her love of reading and her love of books. I can't think of a better legacy." White was honored during the school's last staff meeting of the year where School Superintendent John DeCotis presented her with a plaque naming the media center in her honor. With her husband Jimmy, a retired principal from Fayette Jr. High School, now called Fayette Middle, and her family by her side, White tearfully accepted the honor and received a standing ovation from the school's faculty and staff. "Nothing could be better than this. Thank you. This is wonderful," said White. In recognition of White's love of taking photographs of student achievements over the years, Hood Avenue's PTO presented her with a digital camera so that she can spend her retirement capturing images of her grandchildren and family. The school's faculty also paid a special tribute to White by singing their own rendition of "Thanks for the Memories" with lyrics written by Teer.
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