Salute to retiring educators

Richland 2: Arts teacher taking a bow

By JOY L. WOODSON - jwoodson@thestate.com

Harriette Edmonds has spent most of her life in the Richland 2 school system, but now she’s saying her good-byes.

A student at Dentsville High School (now Dent Middle School), and later a visual arts teacher, Edmonds will retire at the end of this school year. She’s been teaching for 32 years, and had always planned to retire once she turned 65. At that point, she’d told herself, the children would need a younger teacher.

“I never had a clue that I would be teaching for 32 years,” she said. “But, one year led to another year, and pretty soon I said, ‘Gee, I love doing this and,’ and I just stayed.”

Edmonds, a mother of one son, said her parents — a seamstress and a gardener — were a big influence on her love of art. And, then it was her mother who suggested she go into teaching because she’d get the summers off.

Eventually, teaching proved a natural fit for Edmonds who loved to learn as much as she loved art.

“I actually adored the children, and I love teaching,” she said. “I love trying to figure out ways for them to learn things.

“And, the arts are a great way for kids to learn. The hands-on (aspect) really makes kids remember it.”

For most of her teaching career, Edmonds has been at Conder Elementary School, an arts magnet school. There she has had the support of administrators, teachers and other arts professionals.

It is also where she forged a deep friendship with Paula Wilson, a music teacher who also is retiring at the end of the school year. She’s been a teacher for 33 years — 27 of them at Conder.

Edmonds was the first person Wilson met those many years ago, when they were the solo arts teachers at Conder.

“Through the years, both of us had opportunities to go to other schools and do other things, but we both just made the decision to stay here with these children, said Wilson, 56, who is also a mother.

The pair was instrumental in getting the school to become a popular magnet choice for art and music programs. And, over the years, they estimate that they’ve eaten lunch together 4,860 times and taught more than 16,000 children.

“I guess I would compare it to like a calling,” Wilson said. “It’s been more than a job for both of us.”

Principal Cheryl Watson said the two will be sorely missed. Finding it difficult to separate one from the other, Watson called both of them exemplary, creative professionals who were always willing to help others.

The principal wasn’t so sure the arts magnet school would work when the two teachers came to her with the idea. But, now an arts magnet school for five years, Watson said the teachers’ insights proved credible.

“It really has been everything that they said it would be,” Watson said. And, I’m just so happy that we were able to (start) an arts program here before they retired.”

In retirement, Edmonds plans to continue her art, go to culinary school, and possibly be an innkeeper. She also plans to volunteer at the school. Wilson said she was just happy to see what else is out there.

“I’ve been doing this forever, and I have no idea how it will feel,” Edmonds said about that final day. “I’ve been very proud to work in Richland 2.”

Reach Woodson at(803) 771-8692