Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
Just ask the thousands of students who have attended Liberty Drive Elementary School in the past 17 years that still call her “Maw.” Truell, a volunteer receptionist at Liberty Drive, shows up at the school as if she was a teacher at 7:15 a.m. Monday through Friday.
“What Susie Truell has meant to Thomasville City Schools is really hard to measure,” said Jeanne Croft, principal at Liberty Drive. “She is here often before I am at 7 a.m. in the morning. She stays all day and does whatever we need for her to do. She never says ‘no’ and is an unbelievable person. When she is not here, our school is not the same. I’m sure we won’t see anyone like her in many years. She is so much like an icon.”
Not only is Truell a well-known volunteer, she is the chairwoman of the school sytem’s board of education. The 67-year old, who is married to Davidson County Commissioner Don Truell, has to step away from the board of education because she has exhausted the three consecutive terms she can serve. She can step away as a member for a year and then possibly make a return.
“Even though I am going off, I am still here,” Susie Truell said. “I’ll continue to work at Liberty Drive as long as I’m healthy and as long as they need me here.”
Six years ago, Truell was inspired to serve on the board of education when the late Danny Oakley, a former Thomasville City Councilman, encouraged her to be a member. In a phone call, Oakley told Truell “a group of teachers have selected her to be on the board,” she recalls.
“I said, ‘If they want me, I’ll take a shot at it,’” Truell said to Oakley.
Then after two years, she decided to serve another two terms.
“I had things I needed to do,” she said. “I wanted the kids to get a good education. There are little things I can do while serving on the board that are not recognized. It could be like plumbing.”
There are quite a few things, however, Truell has accomplished that are visible to her peers. She established a program some time ago called, “Cat in the Hat,” where dignitaries such as, the Chief of Police will make a visit to the school. The “Cat in the Hat” program is part of the national “Read Across America” program that is held yearly on or near Dr. Seuss’ birthday of March 2. Addittionally, she sarted an Accelerated Reader program where she takes the top readers out of 32 classes to McDonalds for a Happy Meal.
“I have taught some kids how to read, add and subtract,” she said. “If they can say, ‘Maw you helped me.’ That is my reward.”
In order to see the day-to-day needs of the school system, Truell said she has made a point to go through every school each month. As chairwoman, she votes on policies and moderates the monthly school board meetings.
After graduating from Lexington High School in 1958, Truell attended the now-defunct Beauty Academy in Thomasville. She worke as a hairdresser for 22 years.
Truell’s volunteer work in the school system began when her first grandchild Guy, now 18, was born. A program that a local woman was starting at Thomasville Primary School sparked her interest.
“I said, I would like to help you,” Truell said to the woman. “From then on, I was in the schools as a volunteer. It is like this is my calling. If it wasn’t, I would be here for nothing?”
Needless to say, Truell is a self-taught educator. Along the way, Truell has served as a substitute teacher and basically does anything that is asked of her.
While Truell was approached to be a school board member six years ago, residents have also asked her to serve on Thomasville City Council. Truell doesn’t shun the notion of making at run at City Council, but after a year she plans on attempting to get back on the school board.
“It is possible for me to run for City Council,” she said. “Right now, I love what I do with being involved with the kids.”
Regardless of what she decides to do in the future, it’s certain residents haven’t heard the last from Truell.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.