On Thursday night, the Franklin Special School District honored 33 retiring members of the faculty and staff with a celebration in the theater of the Franklin Intermediate School. Altogether the retirees put in a total of 584 years for the district.
Music from the Freedom Middle Strings Ensemble filled the halls as family, friends and students arrived for the ceremony. The theater was filled with mixed emotions as everyone sat down to honor their favorite teachers and dear friends moving on to celebrate the next phase of life.
The ceremony was opened with a welcome from Director of Schools, David Snowden and remarks by Sherry Badger, retiring Chairman of the Board of Education. A prayer was said by Board of Education member Robert Blair to bless the retirees, the Franklin Special School District and everyone in attendance.
Each retiree was honored with a yellow rose and a commemorative picture of the original Franklin Grammar School located at Five Points where the post office now stands. The Grammar School burned down in the 1960s, but is still remembered by those in the Franklin Special School District.
The principals from each school with retirees took the mic to give kind words and share the words of wisdom and future plans for each retiree as they came up on stage to receive their gifts. Most of those retiring plan to spend more time with family, travel, take up new hobbies or volunteer in things they are passionate about.
“After listening to the accomplishments, love and achievements of those here tonight I think it’s really easy to see why this is such a special school district. It’s because of the people involved,” said Sherry Badger after receiving a plaque honoring her years of service. The audience stood to their feet as they applauded her years of work on the Board of Education.
Two Legacy Awards were also given by the district to honor those that had served the district for a very long time. Wayne Inman and Mary Mills received the Legacy Award and will have their names on a plaque in the main district office.
Inman was born in Leiper’s Fork, and stayed in Tennessee most of his life becoming an FSSD parent for eight years and volunteering for the school board for 17 years. During this time he was elected board chairman and led the board in building three new schools and opening up a transportation option for all in the district, which had previously been up to the individual families to get their children to school by private means.
Mary Mills was described by Snowden as a “firecracker” born on the Fourth of July in Franklin. She served the district as a teacher and principal for 39 years, and became county commissioner, although she claims she was “never a politician.” She also spent time on the medical board of trustees.
Both of the Legacy Award recipients received a standing ovation from the audience.
The ceremony came to a close with a musical number from Patrick Brown and Elaine Bailye-Fryd, music teachers at Franklin Elementary and Poplar Grove Elementary, respectively. Patrick played the acoustic guitar while they both sang of how much the retiring faculty and staff would be missed, and assured them they would not be forgotten.
“This is a new chapter,” said Sharon Cooksey, a curriculum developer and supervisor for the district. “I have many fond memories with the district.”
Sharon Byers, retiring art teacher with 17 years in the district, said that she would still create art, and she was happy to have been able to pass some of her knowledge on to the younger group.
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