From first-day jitters to 30 years of impact, LCPS celebrates 952 years of service
By Patrick Holmes
Her first day as a teacher, Emma Hunter had her doubts. And a major case of the jitters. Sympathetic students pulled her through.
“I remember the students were very sweet,” she said, looking back on Day One of a teaching career that lasted 30 years – all in the sixth grade and all at Woodington Middle School – and left Hunter with an abiding appreciation of what she calls “the whole learning process” and the people involved in it.
On Thursday, at its annual Retirement Luncheon, Lenoir County Public Schools celebrated the people and the process by honoring 36 individuals, including Hunter, who – at least for now – are calling the 2024-2025 school year their last. The retirees, in aggregate, represent 952 years of service. They wrapped up their careers at 21 different LCPS schools and departments, completing tenures that ranged in length from 16 to 45 years.
“You have enriched the lives of so many since you began your journey many years ago,” said Pam Heath, director of human resources. “You have each played a very important part in preparing our students to surely make their mark on the future.”
Scores of family, friends and soon-to-be former colleagues turned out to honor the retirees at the luncheon, held at the Lenoir County Shrine Club. Retirees receive a plaque as a token of LCPS’s appreciation of their work. Those who attended the luncheon were presented the plaques by Superintendent Williams and W.D. Anderson, chair of the Lenoir County Board of Education.
“We gather as your LCPS colleagues, administrators, family, and friends to wish you well as you embark on a brand new journey and a wonderful time in your lives,” Heath shared in her opening remarks.
For Emma Hunter, that moment of recognition could not have been anticipated when she was a child. What she did anticipate then was being a teacher.
“Ever since the second grade, I remember that I wanted to do that,” she said. “I wanted to be a teacher. I just enjoyed the whole learning process and something new every day.”
A product of public schools in Lenoir County and a North Lenoir High graduate, Hunter earned her bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and her master’s degree from Gardner-Webb University.
She settled into the sixth grade – teaching science, language arts and social studies – and settled into Woodington. Until she formally retires at the end of this month, she is the most veteran staffer at a school that held her for three decades with friendly colleagues, willing students, cooperative parents and a supportive community.
As Hunter exits, Jeremy Barnett enters as Woodington’s new principal. Hunter taught his wife, Courtney, and the couple’s two sons.
“It’s come full circle,” Hunter said, laughing. “It’s time to go.”
Retirees for the 2024-2025 school year were:
Banks Elementary – Suzanne Ricke, teacher assistant and bus driver, 26 years with LCPS
Contentnea-Savannah K-8 – Anthony Pitts, teacher, two years with LCPS, 22 years in education; Traci Banks, media coordinator, 29 years with LCPS, 30 years in education
EB Frink Middle – Christy Hyde, teacher, 30 years with LCPS
Kinston High – Diannia Bright, teacher, 20 years with LCPS
La Grange Elementary – Patrice Edwards, teacher assistant and bus driver, 22 years with LCPS; Davida Sutton, teacher, seven years with LCPS, 30 years of state service; Janice Johnson, teacher, 22 years with LCPS, 32 years in education
Lenoir County Learning Academy – Danny Warren, teacher, 14 years with LCPS, 16 years of service
Northeast Elementary – Janice Kaye Hardison, teacher assistant and bus driver, 22 years with LCPS
Pink Hill Elementary – Betsy Mercer, teacher, 24 years with LCPS; Tammy G. Taylor, teacher assistant, bus driver and school data manager, 27 years with LCPS; Brenda Griffin, teacher, 20 years with LCPS, 34 years in education; Walter Upthegrove, teacher, 20 years with LCPS, 35 years in education
NC Pre-K – Gail Goff, 21 years with LCPS
Rochelle Middle – Leisha Bell, teacher, six years with LCPS, 21 years in education
South Lenoir High – Kenneth Williams, custodian, 17 years with LCPS; Tanya Cahoon, media coordinator, 21 years with LCPS, 33 years in education; Kim Hardy, data manager, 19 years with LCPS; Frank Emory, teacher 19 years with LCPS, 45 years of state service
Southeast Elementary – Jennifer Bell, teacher, 20 years with LCPS
Southwood Elementary – Angie Jarman, digital learning specialist, 37 years with LCPS
Woodington Middle – Emma Hunter, teacher, 30 years with LCPS; John Morgan, teacher, seven years with LCPS, 24 years of state service; Regenia Parker, teacher assistant, bus driver and data manager, eight years with LCPS, 17 years in education; Sherry Sanderson, teacher, 27 years with LCPS
School Nutrition Department – Betty Bryant, South Lenoir High, 16 years with LCPS; Marilyn Sue Houston, South Lenoir High, seven years with LCPS
Exceptional Children’s Department – Mary Dail, compliance specialist, 24 years with LCPS, 35 years in education LCPS Central Services – Beverly Kee, director of federal programs, five years with LCPS, 30 years in education; Deborah Herring, accounts payable specialist, 25 years with LCPS; Lori Bryan, lead payroll specialist, 26 years with LCPS
LCPS Maintenance Department – Ronnie Jones, HVAC crew leader, 18 years with LCPS; Cecil Outlaw, maintenance director, 36 years with LCPS
Student Services Department – Wanda Hoffman, school nurse, 28 years with LCPS Transportation Department – Denise Griffin, transportation specialist, 25 years with LCPS
Retiree Emma Hunter stands holding her recognition plaque at the annual LCPS Retirement Luncheon, alongside Superintendent Brent Williams and Board Chair W.D. Anderson.
Neuse News is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to provide free, hyper-local news to Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The kind of news our grandparents read in a format fit for today's times.
We provide this by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
