Date:  May 3, 2001
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

“I remember Mrs. Covington’s class with great fondness.   She was an inspiring, loving teacher who truly enjoyed her days with us,” a former fourth grade student in 1964 recently said.  “Without a doubt, Mrs. Covington was the best teacher I ever had.”  These affirming words motivate Betty Covington, Principal of Dumfries Elementary School, to continue in her 25th year as a principal. 

Covington, who has worked for Prince William County Public Schools for forty years, was among 261 employees recognized for 20, 25, 30 or 40 years of service at a School Board reception on April 24.  The employees received service pins and service bonuses of $400 (for 20 years) or $500 (for 25 years and above).  Employees who have completed five, ten and fifteen years of service were recognized at their work locations with pins and bonuses of $100, $200, and $300, respectively. 

 Covington began teaching fourth grade in 1961 at Loch Lomond Elementary School.  At the time, she and her husband only planned on staying in the area until the completion of Interstate 95.  However, the family “fell in love with the area” and for the next nine years she taught at Dumfries Elementary.  “ I loved teaching at Dumfries and my three children attended Dumfries.   I had an excellent mentor, Mrs. Mountjoy, and she made me a good teacher,” says
Covington.   
                              
In 1971, Covington was named Assistant Principal of Dale City Elementary School to help with the administration of the newly created year-round school schedule to ease overcrowding.  Three years later, Covington was appointed as Principal of the first kindergarten program in the county that served five schools until facilities were available for in-house programs.  For the next nineteen years, she was Principal of Kilby Elementary School, retiring in 1995. 

Covington was elected and served on the School Board for the next 18 months.  As the Dumfries Magisterial District representative, she “saw programs, technology and textbooks that other schools had and Dumfries needed,” said Covington.  During this time her husband John (Mac) retired and she decided her mission was to return to her beloved Dumfries Elementary School as its advocate.  She rejoined the school system and was appointed Principal of Dumfries in 1997.  Since returning to her school, Covington has upgraded the facility with technology and improved the textbooks.

“I am so proud of my students who have become successful and productive students.  I’ve taught some of their parents and have received so many inspiring and grateful comments from my students,” Covington happily recalls. “My father taught me to go above and beyond and have a strong work ethic. This is where I belong; in a job that is both satisfying and intrinsically rewarding,” she says.                

Covington has a few unfinished projects to complete before she retires, including a reading grant, a PTA landscaping project and a new school playground.   Her son, Mike, is a teacher and the baseball coach at Potomac High School.  Her daughter, Candace, graduated from the University of Virginia and is in the medical field.  Her other son, Burt graduated from Virginia Tech and is employed by the federal government.

Thirty-Five Years

The following employees were recognized for thirty-five years of service at the Scchool Board reception: Ida Simpson, Art Teacher, Gar-Field High; Walter Bailey, Social Studies Teacher, Hylton High; Jeannine Turner, Language Arts Teacher, Hylton High; Carol Bailey, Art Teacher, Lake Ridge Middle; Eulene Bevans, EMR Teacher, Marsteller Middle; Barbara Etheridge, 4th Grade Teacher, Mullen Elementary; Jean Kessler, Music Teacher, West Gate Elementary; Susan Doyle, Librarian, Woodbridge High; Charlotte Stultz, Supervisor, Curriculum Services; Colene Jones, School Bus Driver, Transportation; Virginia Thorpe, School Bus Driver, Transportation; Nannie Cornell, School Bus Driver, Transportation; and Lucille Crouch, School Bus Driver, Transportation.

Thirty Years 

Employees who received pins for thirty years of service included: Bel Air Elementary Jane Powers, 4th Grade Teacher; Brentsville District High, Thaddeus Kiesnowski, Social Studies Teacher and Judith McConnell, Science Teacher; Gar-Field High, Barbara Chiles, Secretary II, Mary Hamill, Science Teacher, Joyce Jones, Guidance Director, Linda Little, Language Arts Teacher, and Ann Martin, Language Arts Teacher; Hylton High, Joyce Bateman, Mathematics Teacher, Independent Hill School, Joan Kozio, Secretary III; 

Lake Ridge Middle, Mary Esper, Language Arts Teacher, Lucy Hayes, 6th Grade Teacher, and Cheryl Prince, Strings Teacher; Loch Lomond Elementary, Margaret Danner, 2nd Grade Teacher, Angela Drennon, Administrative Assistant, Cynthia Ragland, 1st Grade Teacher, and Carol Soergel, 4th Grade Teacher; Montclair Elementary, Brenda Caricofe, 2nd Grade Teacher; Mountain View Elementary, Melody Harrah, 3rd Grade Teacher;
 Neabsco Elementary, Patricia Geer, 3d Grade Teacher, and Linda Trexler, Principal; Osbourn Park High, Bruce Schlegel, Technology Education Teacher, Suzanne Veen, Foreign Language Teacher, and Sharon Weber, Mathematics Teacher; Parkside Middle, Robert Daniel,Health & PE Teacher; Pattie Elementary, William Huber, Principal; Potomac High, Jean Gaudet, Gifted Education Teacher; Potomac View Elementary, Doreen Haynes, Cafeteria Hostess;
Sinclair Elementary, Fay Cochran, 5th Grade Teacher, James Frankowski, 5th Grade Teacher, and Edith Poole, 1st Grade Teacher; 
Stonewall Jackson High; Carol Blauvelt, Language Arts Teacher; Pearl Hale, Custodial Manager III, Martha Johnson, Health & PE Teacher, and Linda Kight, Art Teacher; 
Tyler Elementary, Myrtle Bailey, Cafeteria Manager; Westridge Elementary, Joan Wilson, Principal;
Woodbridge High, Sherry Cotman, Librarian, Donald Maeyer, Technology Ed. Teacher, Howard Prince, Mathematics Teacher, and Randall Drewniak, Mathematics Teacher, Yorkshire Elementary, Michael Maletick, Strings Teacher;

Central Office personnel that have thirty years include Linda Riggles, Executive Secretary II, Area I, Kris Pedersen, Associate Superintendent, Area III, Joy Cornell-Baker, Executive Secretary II, Area IV, Robert Ferrebee, Associate Superintendent, Administration, Randy Dasher, Director, Construction, Reba Greer, Supervisor, Curriculum Services, Michael Campbell, Business Partnerships, Instruction, Sally Davis, Compensation Specialist, Personnel, John Frye, Building Engineer II, Maintenance, Nancy Sickel, Records Mgmt. Specialist, Records Center, and Agoritsa Holmes, Physical Therapist, Special Education. 

Transportation Department employees recognized for thirty years of service included Doris King, School Bus Driver, Ruth Dyson, School Bus Driver, Kathleen Rider, School Bus Driver, and Jane Thorpe, School Bus Driver.

Twenty-Five Years

 Listed by school and department, the following employees have worked for the County schools for twenty-five years: 

Bennett Elementary, Claire Flaherty, 2nd Grade Teacher; Beville Middle, Susan Speare, 6th Grade Teacher; 
Brentsville District, Michael Abler, Language Arts Teacher, Melvin Cheshire, Science Teacher, Stephen Madison, 6th Grade Teacher, and Margaret Slapcinsky, LD Resource Teacher; 
Dale City Elementary, Porter Leggett, 3rd Grade Teacher; 
Dumfries Elementary, Helen Bazile, Cafeteria Hostess, and Ernestine Jenkins, Teacher Assistant;
Enterprise Elementary, Carol Anderson, Kindergarten Teacher, and 
Sandra Hoffman, 1st Grade Teacher; Featherstone Elementary, Donna Machina, Reading Teacher; 
Gar-Field High, Emily O’Connor, WFS Teacher; Godwin Middle, Susan Lowe, WFS Teacher, Graham Park Middle, Jerrilynn Eby, Librarian, and James Green, Social Studies Teacher; 
Henderson Elementary, Thomas Fennell, 3rd Grade Teacher; Hylton High, Carmeleta Combs, Language Arts Teacher, and Sandra Debey, Mathematics Teacher; 
Independent Hill School, Suzanne Kreitzberg, TMR Teacher; Kerrydale Elementary, Olga Jacobsen, Reading Teacher; 
Kilby Elementary, Linda Eisenstat, Title I Teacher;
Lake Ridge Middle, Elizabeth Donaldson, Guidance Counselor,and  Caridad Swiderski, Art Teacher; Marsteller Middle, Ann Dinkle, 6th Grade Teacher, and Etta Smith, Cafeteria Manager II; Minnieville Elementary, Leslie Bennett, Music Teacher and Joanne Mackara, Assistant Principal; Neabsco Elementary, James Livingston, Librarian; Nokesville Elementary, Linda Lowe,1st Grade Teacher;
Osbourn Park High, Daniel Evans, Director-Student Activities, Lawrence Griffith, Custodian II; Parkside Middle, Sherilyn Snider, EMR Teacher, and Gail Sorrell, Health & PE Teacher; Pattie Elementary, Anne Zetts, 2nd Grade Teacher; Penn Elementary, Susan Bonekemper, Kindergarten Teacher; Potomac High, John Compel, Assistant Principal; River Oaks Elementary, Christine Abeel, Strings Teacher, and Nadine La Fleur, 3rd Grade Teacher; Rockledge Elementary, Edna Penn, PE Teacher;
Saunders Middle, Gilta Engman, Foreign Language Teacher and Robert Spady, Guidance Director; Signal Hill Elementary, Maureen Matty, 1st Grade Teacher; Springwoods Elementary, Phyllis Keiser, 5th Grade Teacher; Stonewall Jackson High, Joseph Pilla, Business Education Teacher; Triangle Elementary, Nancy Amdur, Title I, Teacher; West Gate Elementary, Cynthia Rohrerb, Reading Teacher; West Gate Elementary, Julie Steelman, 1st Grade Teacher; Woodbridge High, Pamela Emert, WFS Teacher.

Central Office personnel were recognized for twenty-five years of service: Sherry Jones, Executive Secretary II, Administration; Debra Bishop, Resource Teacher, Curriculum Services; Gail Hubbard, Supervisor, Curriculum Services, Fred Milbert, Supervisor, Curriculum Services, Linda Kosek, Network Engineer II, Data Processing, Martha White, Executive Secretary I, Finance, Priscilla Zrowka, Payroll Specialist, Finance, Penelope Myles, Payroll Specialist
Finance, Elizabeth Otley, Payroll Specialist, Finance, Sandra Crocker, Compliance Officer, Personnel, Eleanor Fleming, Custodian II, Plant Operations, Patti Johnston, Secretary II, Maintenance, Glen MacWelch, Mechanic II, Maintenance, Walter Maddox, Administrative Coordinator, Maintenance, Joseph Ritenour, Foreman Maintenance, Patricia Storey, Patrol Squad Leader, Risk Management, Denise Carper, Executive Secretary I, Risk Management, William Ritter, Vision Teacher, Special Education, Linda Heflin, Secretary III, Student Services, Marc Jacobson, Psychologist, Student Services, and Ruby Savage, Account Clerk II, Supply Services.

Transportation Department employees honored with twenty-five years of service include: Mildred Caton, School Bus Driver, Beverly Herndon, Cluster Leader, Milagros Hurley, School Bus Driver, Rose Jerrell, Bus Attendant, Barbara Omohundro, Bus Attendant, Nancy Senavitis, School Bus Driver, Elizabeth Short, School Bus Driver, and Dorothy Payton, School Bus Driver.

Twenty Years

 Congratulations to these employees who have worked for the school division for twenty years: Ann Ludwig School, Myrna Andres, Preschool Teacher; Bennett Elementary, Graham Spencer, Principal, Lynda Coon, Kindergarten Teacher, and Joan Parrish, Bookkeeper I/Secretary; Benton Middle, Susan Bardenhagen, Science Teacher, Laurence Casey, Strings Teacher, Marden Cullumber, Art Teacher, and Lynn Galgano, Assistant Principal; Beville Middle, Julia Kelly, Gifted Education Teacher;

Brentsville District High, Dale Felten, Social Studies Teacher, and 
Gregory Soukenik, Technology Education Teacher; Coles Elementary, Cheryl Thomas, 3rd Grade Teacher; Dumfries Elementary, Terry Lear, LD Teacher; Featherstone Elementary, Sarah Vaughan, Bookkeeper I/Secretary; Forest Park High, Carolyn Beever, Art Teacher,Elizabeth Gibson, Custodian II, and Anne Rude, Foreign Language Teacher, Godwin Middle, Patricia Mahafkey, Speech Teacher, and Shirley Neves, LD Teacher;

Henderson Elementary, Rebecca Almond, EMR Assistant; Hylton High, Glenda McGee, Executive Secretary I, Connie Snyder, Media Assistant, and Patricia Tennant, Mathematics Teacher; Independent Hill, James Viggiani, Principal, King Elementary, Jan Kellstrom, Kindergarten Teacher; Lake Ridge Elementary, Kendrick Safley,1st Grade Teacher, and Jane Sills, Language Arts Teacher; Leesylvania Elementary, Nancy Fisher, 4th Grade Teacher;
Minnieville Elementary, Peggy Basinger, Bookkeeper I/Secretary; Montclair Elementary, Frances Michaels, Librarian; Mountain View Elementary, Deborah Allan, 2nd Grade Teacher; Mullen Elementary, Dorene Boardman, Bookkeeper I/Secretary, and Eileen Price, Art Teacher; Neabsco Elementary, Michele Cherry, 1st Grade Teacher, and Vicki Lloyd, 1st Grade Teacher;
Nokesville Elementary, Jeanette Cahill, Secretary II; Occoquan Elementary, Elaine Robey, 4th Grade Teacher and Darlene Smith, 4th Grade Teacher; Old Bridge Elementary, Cynthia Higgins, LD Teacher; Osbourn Park High, Hermene Addison, Guidance Counselor, Caywood Black, Gifted Education Teacher, Linda Mosser, Office Assistant, and Jane Sumner, Business Education Teacher;

Parkside Middle, Patricia Good, Social Studies Teacher; Pattie Elementary, Judith McCullough, 2nd Grade Teacher; Penn Elementary, Jane Wheeless, Principal; Potomac High, Rosa Benson, Mathematics Teacher, Phyllis Hollis, Social Studies Teacher, and Chris Kadis, Printing Teacher; Potomac View Elementary, Nancy Gotherman, Teacher Assistant, and Barbara Mallard, Kindergarten Teacher;

 Rippon Middle, Roberta Jackson, Language Arts Teacher, Delores Misenko, Secretary III, and Charles Zeman, 6th Grade Teacher; River Oaks Elementary, Donna Courtney, Art Teacher, Carol Jones, Reading Teacher, Mary Lester, Cafeteria Manager I, Marcia Nuzum, 1st Grade Teacher, and Joyce Sigmundsson, Principal;

 Saunders Middle, Mary Brown, Assistant Principal, Pamela Childress
Mathematics Teacher, Sharon Closson, Science Teacher, Cindy Dussia, Science Teacher, Kathryn Eaton, 6th Grade Teacher, Meribeth Flannagan, Gifted Education Teacher, William Ladd, Language Arts Teacher, Carmen Mercado, Assistant Cafeteria Manager, Donald Miller, Assistant Principal, and Kathleen Suddarth, Language Arts Teacher;
Signal Hill Elementary, Craig Flanagan, 5th Grade Teacher; Sinclair Elementary, Elizabeth Delmore, Reading Teacher, Judith Harvey, Secretary II, and Deborah Jones, Custodian II, Springwoods Elementary, Kathleen Herer, 2nd Grade Teacher; Stonewall Jackson High, Michael Callaghan, Science Teacher, and Thoris Patterson, Language Arts Teacher; Stonewall Middle, Anne Case, Principal, Martha McNeal, Mathematics Teacher, and Fanoula Senese, Secretary III;

 Tyler Elementary, Linda Kurrus, Reading Teacher; Woodbridge High, Brian Bonacquisti, Technology Education Teacher, Nancy Cox, Business Education, Teacher, Anne McDow, Foreign Language Teacher, and Dixie Elk, ESOL Teacher.

School Board member Mary Williams, Neabsco District was honored for her 25 years.
Central Office staff members honored for twenty-five years of service include: Marie Sobers, Administrative Coordinator, Curriculum Services, Wanda Ward, Payroll Specialist, Finance, Mildred Sokol, Benefits Specialist, Personnel, Raymond Mercer, Mechanic, Plant Operations, Danny Armstrong, Foreman, Print Shop, William Ward, Autistic Teacher, Special Education, Doreen Dauer, Psychologist, Student Services, Toai Ton, Psychologist, Student Services, and Betty Edenhart, Secretary III, Supply Services .

Maintenance Department employees recognized for twenty-five years of service include Thomas Brueser, Mason II, Glenn Cantrell, Crew Chief, Brady Crittenden, Carpenter III, Wayne Kline, Electronics Technician III, Larry Lawhorn, AC Shop Foreman, and Paul O’Connor, Administrative Coordinator.

Congratulations to our twenty-five year Transportation Department employees: Michael Anns, School Bus Mechanic III, Colleen Durbin, Cluster Leader, Donna Hershberg, School Bus Driver, Audrey Holbert, School Bus Driver, Patricia Justice, School Bus Driver, Elaine Leonard, School Bus Driver, Marjorie Lowry, School Bus Driver, Charles Payne, School Bus Mechanic II, Linda Raughton, School Bus Attendant, Elizabeth Rector, School Bus Driver, Rhonda Scott, School Bus Driver, and Juanita Whitt, School Bus Driver.