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SALEM -- Two careers of academic excellence were celebrated ahead of their impending retirements in Monday's board of education meeting.
The meeting saw the celebration of two lifelong members of Salem's educational community, brother and sister Dr. Joseph Shivers and Mary Beth Shivers, ahead of their retirement from their positions as board of education member,and Southeast Elementary School teacher, respectively. Superintendent Sean Kirkland took time to acknowledge the impacts of both Joseph and Mary's lifelong careers with the district and to thank them for sharing their wisdom not only with their students and colleagues, but with him.
Monday's meeting also marked Jospeh's final meeting as a member of the board of education after he decided not to pursue re-election in November's general election, with his position to be filled by Gregg Warner.
Joseph, a 1966 Salem High School graduate, began his professional career with the Salem School District as a substitute teacher during the 1971-1972 school year. Since then, Joseph served in several administrative positions within the district, being named director of Curriculum and Instruction and director of Testing and Personnel in 2001. Joseph then served as middle school principal in 2005-2006, before moving to the high school in 2006. Joseph was named superintendent in 2014, serving in the position for five and a half years prior to his July 31, 2019, retirement from the position and subsequent election to the board of education that November.
Kirkland, who worked closely with Joseph throughout much of his own administrative career, celebrated his commitment and dedication to educational excellence, and lasting impact on the district, its staff and its students.
"Tonight marks Dr. Shivers last official meeting within an educational realm. While we feel a sense of loss at his departure, let us also celebrate the monumental impact he leaves behind; his dedication wisdom and passion have left an indelible mark on Salem City Schools and the lives of countless students, educators and administrators. Joe, your legacy will forever be etched in the halls of our school and the hearts of everyone whose lives you've touched. As you embark on this new chapter beyond the educational landscape, please know that your presence and influence will be sorely missed and fondly remembered," said Kirkland.
Kirkland also highlighted how fortunate he felt to have had the opportunity to learn from Joseph and consider him a friend, and the growth he inspired in his fellow educators and administrators.
"Personally, I've had the privilege of calling Dr. Shivers a mentor and a dear friend. His guidance and unwavering support have been instrumental in my journey and development as superintendent. His relentless pursuit of excellence forced me to think deeper, broader and more critically than ever before through book clubs and engaging conversations. He challenged us and myself to stretch our minds, encouraging us to seek knowledge beyond our comfort zones," said Kirkland.
Joseph also made his own speech ahead of his retirement, joking that as this was his final meeting, he would like to end his educational career as he began "as a teacher" and his lesson "how to write a retirement speech."
Joseph said the speech should begin with an appropriate quote, choosing "what a long, strange trip it's been," by Jerome John Garcia of Grateful Dead fame, joking it was good for any career and inviting those in attendance to "feel free to use it when your time comes."
"Long certainly fits in as much as you're speaking at your retirement, strange may or may not be too strong a word but unusual or surprising would work just as well, if you didn't experience at least a bit of strangeness you probably weren't paying full attention," said Joseph.
Joseph said the next thing a retirement speech should do is "provide some history," noting that he began his own "long trip in 1971-72 at Salem High School as a teacher," and joking that both himself and the library "looked somewhat different back then."
Joseph said the speech should then turn its attention to the lessons learned during one's career, noting the most difficult and simplest factor in being successful were both working with others.
"To the extent that I have had any success I attribute it to the people with whom, and for whom I have worked you succeed with people, it's as easy and as complicated as that. To those close-minded few I have encountered I forgive you; my advice: work hard, be nice," said Joseph.
Finally, Joseph explained that in conclusion the speech should "express sincere gratitude to the ones who were with you over the years" before "wiping away an optional tear from your eye and executing an optional mic drop," saying "farewell." Jospeh took time to share his gratitude with colleagues past and present, as well as students and parents from throughout his career.
"First to my fellow Board Members, Carol, Ted, Dianna, and Brittany, and to Mike, I enjoyed being on your team, Salem Schools are in eminently capable hands with you, keep up the good work. Thanks to all who supported me, most prominently my wife Madeline and my family, two members of which are here tonight my sisters Marjorie and Mary Beth, and my remarkable string of secretaries including Terri Roberts, my most recent. It is often said that teachers touch many lives, and the opposite is true to a blanket God bless you to all the students, staff, and parents who were kind to me, who gave me perspective, who made me smile along the way. Finally, and in particular my deepest appreciation to my amazing, astonishing friends and colleagues, Joe Rottenborn, and Sean Kirkland, from whom I learned more about education than I did from any book at Harvard," said Joseph.
Mary, whose retirement will be effective May 31, has worked at Buckeye for the last 36 years promoting growth and academic excellence in her students. Kirkland said that all the students who had the good fortune of learning from Mary, including his own son, know that she genuinely cared for them, and that connection was truly at the root of the success her students experienced.
"When my son had you, you brought the world to him. One thing that I'll never forget is the poem he wrote that you shared with me, he's 23-years-old, and I still have that poem, and the fact that you talked to your brother about it, and were so excited that he wrote that poem was so genuine and showed the care you have for your kids, not because he was my kid but because you really truly care about your kids. That was not just in year one through seven, that was all the way through 36 years that you've been there. The legacy that you're going to leave is that the people who went through your classroom truly know how genuinely you cared about them," said Kirkland.
Kirkland also highlighted Mary's continued enjoyment of, and love for teaching even now as she approaches her impending retirement.
"She enjoys it as much today 36 years in as she did the first year. Not many folks can always say that in this business, and when you enjoy it that much for 36 years, it's because you genuinely love what you do, and you genuinely care about the kids that come through your classroom. Job well done Ms. Shivers, we will miss you, and your students will miss you," said Kirkland.