Grant County, Williamstown schools says goodbye to retirees

Steven Sigmon

Judy Jackson

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Steve Sigmon

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Ann Naylor

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Luellen Wolsinglist

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Trish Merritt

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Patricia Blackburn

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Name: Steven R. Sigmon
Address: Butler
What schools did you teach in: Silver Grove (1972-1996), Campbell County (1996-2002) and Williamstown (2002-2012)
What was your job title: English and physical education teacher and basketball/baseball coach
Number of years spent working for the Williamstown Independent School District: 10 years
Educational background: Brenton Parker College (1967-1969). Piedmont College (1969-1971) and Masters at Northern Kentucky University (1980)
Hobbies: Golf, sports and movies
What clubs/organizations do you belong to: Pendleton Country Club
What is the funniest thing a student has ever said to you: “You expect us to know everything.”
What is the one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: Students who want to learn.
What is your favorite book: Gerda Weismann’s “All But My Life.”
What is your favorite song and type of music: Country
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: Alaska because it’s scenic.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family if they knew: Very sensitive
Best advice you’d give to a parent or guardian: Be honest, tell the truth!

Judy Jackson

Name: Judy Jackson
Address: Dry Ridge
What schools did you teach in: Crittenden-Mt.Zion Elementary
What was your job title: Primary Teacher (K, 1, 2, 3)
Number of years spent working for the Grant County Schools District: 25 ½ years
Educational background: Associate Degree: Midway College, Bachelor’s Degree: NKU Master’s and Rank 1: Georgetown College
Hobbies: Playing music, collecting magnets and salt and pepper shakers, reading
What clubs/organizations do you belong to: Kentucky and National Education Associations, Elliston Baptist Church, Phi Delta Kappa, Grant County Extension Homemakers
What is the funniest thing a student has ever said to you: “Where do you sleep?” They think I live at school.
What is the one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: Working with students and their parents/grandparents.
What is your favorite book: I have so many. Any Chris Van Allsburg book, ‘The Giving Tree,’ many of Dr. Seuss’ books.
What is your favorite song and type of music: ‘It’s A Wonderful World.’ I also like some country and gospel and hymns.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: No particular place, but travel many places I have read about around the world.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family if they knew: Not too many surprises. Many people in Grant County have known me forever, so I’m an open book.
Best advice you’d give to a parent or guardian: Love your children! Be the best role model you can and set good examples to help them become happy, well-adjusted members of society when they are grown up.

Trish Merritt

Name: Trish Merritt
Address: Williamstown
What schools did you teach in: Williamstown Elementary and eight years at Northern Kentucky Treatment Center working with juveniles
What was your job title: fifth grade teacher
Number of years spent working for the Williamstown Independent School District: 22 years
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree in education at Northern Kentucky University and Masters of education at Georgetown College
Hobbies: gardening, tennis and working out
What is the one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: The relationships I develop with my students
What is your favorite book: “Phillip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe”
What is your favorite song and type of music: “Time For Me To Fly” by REO Speedwagon
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: I would like to go to the Caribbean and have an exercise show.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family if they knew: People may be surprised to know that I’m a home body and don’t really like to travel much.
Best advice you’d give to a parent or guardian: Make sure your child has some type of responsibility at home so they are more accountable at school.

Patricia Blackburn
Name: Patricia Blackburn
Address: Verona
What schools did you teach in: Gallatin County – third grade; Crittenden-Mt. Zion Elementary and Sherman Elementary – fourth grade
What was your job title: teacher
Number of years spent working for the Grant County School District: 11 years
Educational background: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northern Kentucky University
Hobbies: motorcycling, gardening, playing dulcimer and guitar and singing
Clubs/organizations: NKEA, New Bethel Baptist Church
What is the one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: I’ll miss working with the kids on a daily basis.
Funniest thing a student ever said to you: It was the beginning of the school year and I was trying to get a young man to head up his paper properly. We had been through this several times, so I felt compelled to guide him step by step. I put my finger on his paper and said “heading.” I placed my finger where I wanted his name and said “name.” Then, I put my finger on his paper and said, “Now, how about a date?” He looked up and said, “Really? I think you are too old for me.”
What is your favorite book: “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee,” which chronicles the mistreatment of the Native Americans.
What is your favorite song and type of music: “I Will Trust In The Lord.” I like Bluegrass, country and gospel
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: I can travel almost anywhere in the world as my daughter works for Delta, but have not taken advantage often enough. I would love to go to Israel to see where Jesus was born, lived and died.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family if they knew: I don’t think anyone is surprised by anything as I am likely to try most things. I ride a trike, go four-wheeling, travel all over the U.S. on a motorcycle with my husband pulling a small camper. I have camped in the snow in the Rockies and came face to face with a grizzly in Yellowstone National Park.
Best advice you’d give to a parent or guardian: Stay in touch with school. Check backpacks daily/weekly, read school notes – communicate!

Name: Luellen Wolsinglist
Address: Independence
What schools did you teach in: Simon Kenton High School and Grant County Middle School.
What was your job title: Library Media Specialist
Number of years spent working in the Grant County School District: 15 years
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and Masters from University of Tennessee.
What clubs/organizations do you belong to: Various plant societies.
Hobbies: Gardening, antiquing, reading and genealogy.
What is the funniest thing a student has ever said to you: “ Do you want this book back? My cat peed on it?”
What is one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: Watching a students face when they have a moment where they realize that learning can be fun.
What is your favorite book: You can’t ask a librarian that question.
What is your favorite song and type of music: I like classical music.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?: I would like to go to Hawaii, because that is the only state I haven’t been in, after that the world.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family: I’m pretty much an open book. I share my passions with everyone, even the ones who don’t want to know.
Best advice you’d give to a parent/guardian: Love your kids.

Ann Naylor
Name: Ann Naylor
Address: Verona
What schools did you teach in: Gethsemane Christian School in Jefferson County for one year. Pendleton County Schools for 14 years and Grant County Middle Schools for 15 years.
What was your job title: math teacher
Number of years spent working in the Grant County School District: 15 years
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree for Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Masters degree from University of Louisville, Rank I from University of Louisville and Northern Kentucky University.
What clubs/organizations do you belong to: Kentucky Council for Teachers of Mathematics and New Bethel Baptist Women.
Hobbies: family, church and school.
What is the funniest thing a student has ever said to you: “ Do you wear a wig?” Students ask me all the time if it is true that I wear a wig. Of course, I don’t.
What is one thing you’ll miss the most after retirement: I will miss getting a new group of students every year.
What is your favorite book: I don’t really have a favorite book, but the Bible is the best source book I know.
What is your favorite song and type of music: I love all types of music. My favorite type is Christian music. My current favorite is “Blessings.”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?: Anywhere in the U.S. I would just like to be able to travel and view our country.
Tell one thing about yourself that might surprise your friends and family: It may surprise some that I sing or play the piano.
Best advice you’d give to a parent/guardian: Allow your child to experience some failure because that will help them to grow and mature. We, as parents, sometimes protect our children too much.