Leavelle McCampbell Middle School continued its centennial celebration Saturday with a uni-tea luncheon.
The celebration recognized Pearlean Woodson-Robbins, Melanie W. Hutto, Elvira Evone Coach-Holston and Bob Bannister, all former staff members, as the Leavelle Rock Solid honorees of the year for their contributions to future generations.
In video interviews, each recipient talked about what Leavelle McCampbell means to them.
In her video interview, Woodson-Robbins said she felt warmth and kindness when she arrived at Leavelle McCampbell after being transferred to the school. She also offered some words of advice to new educators.
“Please learn the pecking order at your school. No. 1, the custodians. Many of us think custodians cannot read and leave many papers and put many papers in the trash cans. So they’re the ones with all the information. Lunch room staff feed the principal,” Woodson-Robbins said. “There is something about the hands that feed the principal. Compare your tray to the principal’s tray. The bookkeeper handles the money. They bookkeeper is the one that tells the principal how much money he has to spend.”
Woodson-Robbins thanked all the students who let her teach them and their parents for trusting her to teach them.
Leavelle McCampbell Assistant Principal Latonia Evans said Woodson-Robbins embraced her when she started out teaching.
“She has an affinity and a knack of making that personal connection with anyone that she meets,” Evans said.
Hutto said in her video interview that Leavelle McCampbell was a great place to work.
“People in the community were so supportive and the students were great, and I just loved every minute I was there,” Hutto said.
Evans said she met Hutto 14 years ago when she first started teaching at Leavelle McCampbell.
“She was teaching the eighth-grade math at the time and the one thing I remember about her was she loved her family. Loved her family,” Evans said. “In particular her grandchildren. She found the time to make sure, on special occasions, it didn’t matter when, whether it was a birthday, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, it didn’t matter. She took the time to ensure that they got a little something. Not only for her grandkids, but she also did it for all the other children in her classroom as well. That’s the kind of person Ms. Hutto is. She’s a caring person. Her actions from day-to-day, they embodied what we believe here at Leavelle McCampbell.”
Bannister said he outlasted several principals in his 18 years and enjoyed his time at the school.