Top MCS administrator retires
MUNCIE — After working together for more than 20 years, Northside Middle School teacher Vickie Jeffers stood up during Tuesday's meeting to honor Kathy Ray before she retires.
Both educators started their careers at Muncie Community Schools teaching at Longfellow Elementary.
"One of the first people I met was Kathy Ray. The staff loved her, the students loved her and she quickly helped me see that Longfellow was the place to be," Jeffers said.
Now one of Muncie Community Schools' top administrators, Ray, the director of human resources, is retiring by the end of the month, which the school board approved Tuesday.
Jeffers remembered Ray staying late to help set up and tear down sets for the student's concerts, rolling up duct tape and playing catch with Jeffer's young son.
"Kathy Ray has, to every student she has encountered, been a ray of sunshine and source of love," Jeffers said. "She is that same educator who comes and helps set up and tears up at the performance of the students and our community."
Ray has worked for the district for 34 years, teaching at Longfellow for the first 15. She also served as assistant principal at South View Elementary and principal at Garfield and West View elementary schools.
Before moving to the human resources position in August 2014, Ray was the director of elementary education, a position that has since been dissolved into the director of curriculum.
"To look back over the past 34 years and know in my heart that I have done all I could to leave a footprint of excellence, dedication, commitment and caring for this great district, its people, places and programs, helps to make leaving a little easier," Ray said in an email Tuesday.
She considers her most rewarding accomplishment developing "hundreds of short-term partnerships and countless lifelong relationships" with students and staff.
"There is no greater accomplishment than to be a part of a child’s academic, social and emotional growth and to see the proud parents of these successful students," she said.
Ray said she isn't sure what's next, but that she is not finished in the field of education.
List: Muncie Central Schools' administrator pay for 2016-17
After Tuesday's meeting, Superintendent Steven Baule said he was not sure yet if the open human resources position will be posted online because "money is an issue."
Muncie Schools' central office has seen a considerably high turnover since summer of 2015. New faces include: Baule, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Williams, Chief Information Officer Anthony Harvey, Director of Curriculum Cassandra Shipp, Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Supervisor Kelly Scott and Director of Dining Services with Chartwells Stephanie Bond.
Including Ray, that's a change in seven of the 15 positions listed under "administration" on the district's website.
Contact families & education reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 765-213-5845 and follow @EmmaKate_TSP.