By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County Schools recognized teachers who retired during or at the end of the 2017-2018 school year during a reception on May 24.

Retirees being honored included Glen Graham, Debra Coker, Diane Carlee, Regeana Giles, Lori Peoples, Patricia Barnett, Wanda Chadwick, Nancy Lockhart, Benton Morton, Cynthia Mims, Nikki Ellison, Nancy Taylor, Kim Payton, Detria Fulmer, Janet Holsenback, Rene Mims, Robert George, Gidget Burnette, Starlyn Collins, Shelley Hayes, Donna Ward, Kenneth Wilson, Janice Bolton, Patsy Smitherman and Rex Littleton.

School Superintendent Tommy Glasscock thanked the educators for their time working in Chilton County Schools.

Glasscock said it is rare to have people in education as long as those in the room had worked.

He said now many are only staying in education a few years.

“You are rare,” Glasscock said. “I want you to know that.”

Each had at least 25 years in education. The longest serving educator was Janet Holsenback with 34 years.

“Thank you for what you do,” Allison King of Alabama Education Association said. “I feel like education is the most important, yet sometimes the most thankless job that there is.”

King said children in Chilton County are better because of those educators.

“I hope that in retirement you will find time for maybe some of the things you haven’t had time for,” King said.