Retired but not idle: Spivey honored at annual banquet

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard

Glyna Lee, left, and Evelyn Casey congratulate Rad Spivey after he was named Warren County’s Retired Teacher of the Year for 2003. Spivey has 39 years of education experience, including 19 in this county. (James Clark photo)

Rad Spivey says he makes a habit of attending the annual Retired Teachers Banquet. So he had no reason to believe this year would be different than any other.

But this year was much different for Spivey as he found himself the guest of honor. Spivey was recognized as the 2003 Retired Teacher of the Year during a banquet which took place last Thursday.

“I don’t know why someone didn’t at least give me a clue of some kind,” said Spivey, indicating he had no idea he was the Retired Teacher of the Year. “I was so nervous up there, I thought I might faint.”

Spivey is best known in Warren County for his work as a central office administrator. He spent 17 years as the school system’s supervisor of instruction and was the driving force behind two major improvements.

The first of those improvements was establishing a teachers center, which he says is a “great help to all the teachers in Warren County for curriculum development.” The teachers center provides valuable resources such as videos, reference books and other educational material to be used in the classroom. The center also has poster board, a lamination machine and a letter press to aid teachers in decorating their rooms.

Spivey’s second highlight is he was a driving force in ensuring every elementary school in the county gained accreditation through the Southern Association of Schools.

“I’m proud I had a part to play in those accomplishments,” said Spivey. “And I’m also glad about the improvements made in special education. When I came here in 1971, I was told that was an area of need, and I can now say we have a good special ed program here.”

Spivey began his career in Macon County, his home county. He taught history, economics, business and typing at the high school level before being named the principal of Red Boiling Springs, his alma mater. In doing so, he became the first Red Boiling Springs graduate to return as principal.

Since his retirement, Spivey has been active on Capitol Hill, making sure retired teachers are informed of their benefits and keeping up with the latest legislation. Members of the General Assembly recognized Spivey’s dedication with a resolution passed in his honor and signed by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh on May 12.