Savannah Christian Preparatory School is blessed in numerous ways. Consider Jean Griffin and her thirty-two years as an SCPS teacher. She began teaching in 1958 with an annual salary of just over $3,000. As her family grew, she became a full time mother to her two daughters while their family moved to different places. Her teaching career resumed in 1975 when she first came to Savannah Christian with a bold, rich salary of $10,000!
During her tenure at SCPS, Jean has seen many changes, including working under four SCPS principals - Judy Nelson, Gail Piggott, Judy Sellars, and Lucy Brannen - and five headmasters. She believes education has certainly changed since 1958 in that parental respect for teachers has dropped, technology has revolutionized education, and students seem much more intelligent now! Looking back over her forty-nine year teaching career, she thinks life was simpler and easier for teachers and families back then.
She fondly recalls teaching second grade in Texas, where her classroom had a connecting restroom. While reading a story to the class, a young boy went to the restroom and left the door wide open. When asked to close the door, the boy said, “No, then I won’t be able to hear the story!”
One Grandparents’ Day, Mrs. Griffin took her class and the visiting grandparents outside to teach them the Chicken Dance. One of the grandmothers fell doing the dance, giving Mrs. Griffin and all the students a huge scare. Thankfully, the grandmother was okay, and everyone was able to look back on the whole experience with laughter!
Without a doubt Mrs. Griffin has touched the lives of hundreds of students, parents and fellow teachers. As truly one of the kindest individuals in the world and a great friend to so many, she has taught and inspired over 1,000 children throughout the years and greatly impacted their lives in ways known only to them. Through her kindness, friendship, musical talent, integrity and willingness to work hard, she has sought to develop each child wholly to the glory of God. Jean will be greatly missed by all of us at SCPS, and we pray that God will richly bless her in her new season of life!
|
