Morgan County educators retire after years of teaching

compiled by Angelina Bellebuono and Kathryn Purcell
photos by Angelina Bellebuono

Morgan County Primary School

Bonnie Odom
• If you were a student in school, which "type" would you be, and why?
"I grew up on a small farm in south Georgia. There was always work to be done and school was a break. So, I was excited about going to school. School was fun! As a student, I worked really hard and I was grateful to be in school. I think I would be the same kind of student today."
• Which cafeteria food will you miss the most?
"Those delicious cinnamon buns!"
• Now that your alarm clock won't be sounding at the crack of dawn, what will you be doing most mornings when you awaken?
"I will revel in the knowledge that I can actually choose what I will do! Then I will go about the business of re-inventing myself. Teaching is all I know. But life is filled with possibility! So, up and at 'em!"
Pansy Paxson
• If you were a student in school, which "type" would you be, and why?
"The one that talks in the back of the room, and not to the teacher. I might be the one that asks too many questions."
• What field trips are you planning to take (sans students, of course)?
"My first trip is Destin. Next after that is Lady's Island, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; and Myrtle Beach."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"The most awful thing that happened was when I started here, someone broke into the school, into my classroom and messed it up before the first day of school. It's been better since then. It's been a great 27 years."
Anne Philpott
• If you were a student in school, which "type" would you be, and why?
"The one to peel the name tag off my desk. Everything, my books, everything would be doodled on. I'm a doodler."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"I sat down in the trash can one day, instead of the chair."
• Which movie or television "teacher" are you most like?
"'Kindergarten Cop.' If they don't do things right, he's going to tie them up or something."

Martha Welch
• Which cafeteria food will you miss the most?
"Chicken strips"
• Now that your alarm clock won't be sounding at the crack of dawn, what will you be doing most mornings when you awaken?
"I am going to come back and do maternity leave for one of the Kindergarten teachers this fall. Otherwise, I'll enjoy the extra cup of coffee and sleep in."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"I spelled one child's name wrong all year. We were practicing writing our first and last names all year, and no one corrected it."

Morgan County Elementary School
Rita Schaefer
• If you were a student in school, which "type" would you be, and why?
"I am and have always been a bookworm!"
• Now that your alarm clock won't be sounding at the crack of dawn, what will you be doing most mornings when you awaken?
"First of all, in the fall, I will be subbing on the fifth grade hall. But, after that, I will get up, have coffee and enjoy no alarm clock! Some days I will go to Starbucks and harass the girls at the drive-thru. But my days will also include playing a game of chess, having lunch, reading, exercising, eating a healthy dinner and then watching TV. Yeah! Isn't that fun?"
• What field trips are you planning to take (sans students, of course)?
"We will use our Frequent Flyer miles and visit Buenos Aires, Monte Video and Santiago, since I speak Spanish fluently. We will also take trips around the United States. I can't wait to visit Albequerque, Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico."

MORGAN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Carol Anderson
• Now that your alarm clock won't be sounding at the crack of dawn, what will you be doing most mornings when you awaken?
"Now that my alarm clock won't be sounding at the crack of dawn, I plan to awaken to the singing of the birds, brew a cup of my favorite coffee, slowly meander outside to the patio (still in pajamas and robe, of course) where I will read the paper and enjoy the beautiful mornings. It will be amazing NOT to jump up at the sound of the alarm, hop into the shower, get dressed and rush out the door!"
• What field trips are you planning to take (sans students, of course)?
"My retirement field trips just may include children after all, but these will be my grandchildren. I hope to share relaxed time with my family at the beach and in the mountains. And we all enjoy riding our Four-Wheelers together! More exotic travel may include the magnificent western USA and lush countryside of Ireland. After 37 years, it will be a joy to have the choice of doing whatever/whenever."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"One of the most startling things that ever happened to me at MCMS was when I opened the door to the Records Room to see a large squirrel jumping up and down on the server for the computer! As always, Mr. Murray was my hero and saved the day –- I'm not so sure about the squirrel!"
Karen Fain
• What field trips are you planning to take (sans students, of course)?
"The beach, the mountains and I would like to go to Italy."
• Which movie or television "teacher" are you most like?
"Television teacher would have to be Kotter from 'Welcome Back, Kotter.'"
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"For 10 years our class had a rabbit, 'Thumper!' One morning I came in and found a blackbird in the cage with him. We never figured out how the bird got in!"
Maxine Simmons
• Which cafeteria food will you miss the most?
"If you went into a restaurant with a score of 100, which had a staff always there with a smile, who celebrated your happy times and prayed with you at all times, and who cooked some of the best food ever, wouldn't you want to go there often? Well, that is how we all feel about the Morgan County Middle School Café. From the biscuits in the morning to the salad bar to the turkey and dressing, MCMS Café is the best."
• What field trips are you planning to take (sans students, of course)?
"My husband Kenny and I always enjoy some time on the beach every summer. He is from Pensacola, and I am from Panama City, so we love our time on the beautiful Gulf Coast. One of these days we want to visit the West coast -- California, Oregon and Washington."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"Almost every year on the night before school started, I would dream that I was trying to get there, but couldn't. There were various reasons, like maybe I stopped to help someone along the way and let the time get away from me, or maybe I over slept. I would panic and think that I needed to call school to let them know, but I couldn't get to a phone or that the phone would not work. Of course, I always arrived on the first day early, but I was exhausted from the dream!"
Kittye Slaughter
• Which cafeteria food will you miss the most?
"I will probably miss the homemade cinnamon buns in the cafeteria. They are always delicious and baking like that is a lost art. The homemade cinnamon buns remind me of my Aunt Jannette who is an excellent baker."
• Which movie or television "teacher" are you most like? Explain.
"I would probably describe myself best as the Miss Landers on 'Leave it to Beaver,' although I am not as pretty as she is, she always seemed to enjoy her job and being around the children."
• What is the weirdest thing that ever happened in your career as an educator?
"The weirdest thing that has ever happened to me in the course of my teacher career is that some teachers and I had just been trained on the First Responder Training for our school to act when a child was in distress. Less than a week after our training one of the children in fourth grade got strangled on a hot dog and we got to use our training first-hand. I will always be grateful that the school system saw the need to have teachers trained to know what to do in a state of emergency."

Additionally, Morgan County Middle School teacher Carolyn Stewart and Morgan County High School teacher Sandra Gallagher also retired this year. They could not be reached for comment as of press time.