Sylacauga City Schools honors retirees, employees with twenty-plus years of service

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Sylacauga City Schools honored employees who are retiring and those who have worked in schools for 20-plus years on Thursday, during its special Year End Institute.

One faculty member retiring, Teri Owens, spent 30 years in the classroom. Owens began her career teaching kindergarten at Mountainview and later transferred to Pinecrest Elementary School. She moved to Indian Valley in 2006.

“Watching Teri teach, I have been amazed at how she conducts her classesand how she can keep 18 children enthralled. She is what we call a ‘master teacher,’ and with her retirement, we are losing incredible experience,” said superintendent Todd Freeman.

Child Nutrition manager Karen Watson is also retiring. She started in the Indian Valley lunchroom, and was promoted to manager of the SHS cafeteria in 1990. For the next 26 years, Watson was helping the Child Nutrition Program keep up with the changing regulations in meal service. Watson has been a member of the School Nutrition Association throughout her career, and in 2014 received the prestegious School Nutrition Hero Award.

“Karen is an unsung hero in many ways,” Freeman stated. “She is a hero to me because she has always served her students with a smile.”

Freeman also recognized educators who have completed 20 years of service. these employees are Leanna Holmes, Johnny Gray, William Copeland, Wendy Arnold, Lydia Davis, Jennifer Donahoo, Sheree Epperson, Tammy Gill, Randy Jones, and Charlotte Sims.