RC Faculties’ Asst. Dir. (Stephanie Mason) Dies Simply Weeks After Retirement
ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn Information) – Simply weeks after Robertson County Faculties introduced the retirement of Assistant Director Stephanie Mason following a 32-year-long training profession, the district discovered itself saying her passing.
“On Saturday, Jan. 30, Robertson County Faculties acquired phrase {that a} revered and beloved member of the RCS household had handed away,” the district introduced Sunday night. “Stephanie Daybreak Mason died peacefully in her sleep the evening earlier than (January 29), leaving a loss to household, associates, and associates that merely can’t be measured. The reason for Mason’s loss of life has not been launched.
“Her life was characterised by giving…..giving of her time, her knowledge and her coronary heart, and nobody who knew her in any measure was unaffected by that unselfish spirit. Her passing, simply 30 days after her retirement from RCS, leaves a legacy of servanthood that few exhibit. The sense of loss is inexpressible. Within the phrases of Queen Elizabeth II, “Grief is the value we pay for love.” Stephanie Mason was dearly liked and will probably be deeply missed.
Director of Faculties, Dr. Chris Causey, expressed the shared grief of those that knew her saying merely, “We’ve misplaced Ms. Stephanie Mason, and I actually don’t have any phrases. She was a relentless skilled, humble chief, and an amazing buddy – a finest buddy. The district’s collective coronary heart is breaking asking ‘why’, and in a occupation the place we wish to have solutions, this one eludes us. Please hug your loved ones and associates and inform them you’re keen on them.” Stephanie Mason was dearly liked and will probably be deeply missed.
Mason’s retirement story (hooked up beneath) ended with an applicable summation of her profession. It’s now an much more applicable and poignant abstract of her life. “Thanks, Ms. Mason, for the lives you’ve touched, and challenged, and enriched.” Mason’s final day was on Dec. 31, 2020.
After graduating from Center Tennessee State College, this lifelong Robertson County resident started her profession with Robertson County Faculties within the fall of 1988 as a particular training trainer at White Home Elementary. She continued her instructing profession at Robert F. Woodall when the varsity opened and later served there as assistant principal. Her final two years in class administration have been spent at H. B. Williams the place she additionally held the position of assistant principal.
After spending 16 years in colleges, Mason moved to the district central workplace in 2004 the place she served as Supervisor of Federal Packages for 11 years. In 2015, she was named because the district Assistant Director, a place she had beforehand held together with Donna Dorris in 2012. “Ms. Dorris and I have been requested to serve on this capability for 3 months whereas we additionally maintained our different supervisory roles. These three months changed into the whole yr. We put in numerous hours that yr, however each mirror on it as a most rewarding time.”
Dorris mirrored on the chance of being co-assistant director with Ms. Mason. “It was an journey for each of us. We turned shut associates and nonetheless proceed to be associates to this present day. I relied on her judgement, admired her ardour for college kids, and her dedication to being an educator. I’ll miss working along with her and our day by day dose of excellent bother.”
When requested what, if something, led her to a profession in training, Mason mentioned she at all times preferred faculty.
“I had numerous glorious lecturers that I admired, and I had a household that valued training and the significance of it. I simply naturally leaned in that route.” By means of her profession, she enriched her resume with two grasp’s levels, one from Austin Peay and one from Vanderbilt, and an Training Specialist diploma from Tennessee State, as she continued to develop her training.
“The primary half of my profession was within the classroom,” she mentioned. “I nonetheless have a lot of good associates from these days. It’s most rewarding, although, that I nonetheless have college students that contact me, and I nonetheless have college students’ households who’re in contact with me. It’s a present to know that your former college students are doing nicely as adults and that they bear in mind their time with you in a constructive approach.”
Referring to these relationships, longtime colleague, Jo Anne Taylor mentioned she’s by no means seen some other individual extra devoted to her calling. “Mother and father and college students from the late 80’s on, nonetheless keep up a correspondence along with her,” mentioned Taylor. “She’s stored observe of children over time, herself. In all my time working along with her, I’ve by no means seen her have a personal lunch to herself. Her first curiosity was at all times her college students, and that included the sacrificing of her personal time. It’s like she was obtainable to college students and colleagues alike 24/7.”
Speaking with anybody in Robertson County Faculties who served throughout her three-decade tenure, will elicit recollections, anecdotes, recollections and experiences because of this exceptional educator. All communicate to the character of 1 who’s departure has left giant footwear to fill.
Within the phrases of James Marshall, Supervisor of Know-how, and long-time colleague, “I simply revered her.”
Aptly describing her as one having a disciplined work-ethic, Marshall mentioned, “I’m comfortable for her, but it surely hurts to lose her. She not solely had the coaching required for her profession, she additionally had the knowledge and seasoning to do it in a approach that was each utterly skilled and utterly private on the similar time.”
The lack of her enter and presence in RCS will probably be felt for a very long time.
Mason, for her half, credit these round her for a really fulfilling profession.
“From my first instructing project to my final position within the district workplace, I’ve been very lucky to have served underneath directors who inspired and mentored me. I’ve additionally been surrounded by supportive colleagues. I actually loved working with all the parents round me and collectively we have been capable of accomplish many issues.”
As for recommendation to new lecturers or new directors, Mason mentioned, “I feel the recommendation can be the identical for lecturers and directors. You must perceive it’s your accountability to be a steady learner. There shouldn’t be a niche between what analysis tells us is finest follow and what occurs in our colleges. The conditions which are essentially the most difficult are those the place you might be wanted essentially the most. The individuals with whom you’re employed, kids and adults, need to know they will belief you. They want to have the ability to belief that what you say is right and factual – whether or not it’s content material within the classroom or district coverage issues. They should belief that you will do what you say you’re going to do, and so they want to have the ability to belief you with confidential data. Mainly, know your stuff and deal with different individuals the best way you need to be handled and the vast majority of the time issues will work out nicely.”
Director of Faculties, Dr. Chris Causey, summed up her character, her profession and her legacy saying, “Ms. Mason is the epitome of humble management. There are various who declare this model, however just a few stay it day-after-day. The hundreds of scholars who’ve come by means of Robertson County Faculties are higher due to her perception that each one college students matter and might be profitable.”
“Robertson County Faculties….and Robertson County, are enriched due to Mason and her selfless devotion to others by means of training. She taught extra than simply by teachers. She taught by instance. Thanks, Ms. Mason, for the lives you’ve touched, and challenged, and deepened.”
Funeral providers
Stephanie Daybreak Mason, 54, of Cedar Hill, handed from this life on Saturday, January 30, 2021, at her house. Funeral providers will probably be performed Wednesday, February third at 2:00 p.m. within the Oakhurst Chapel of the Robertson County Funeral Dwelling with Tim Harris officiating. Interment will comply with within the St. Michael’s Cemetery with Ken Adkins, Tom Adkins, Tim Adkins, Troy Adkins, Jeff Jerles, and Terry Adkins serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will probably be John Shane and Jerry Somerville. The household will obtain associates on Wednesday from 12 midday till service time on the funeral house. To learn Stephanie’s full obituary, click on right here.
