Photo:  Joy Holman (second from left) is surrounded by friends after announcing her retirement

By Valerie Sliker
The Wagener Monthly

The Busbee Corbett Elementary Middle School Staff Luncheon was held Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 1:30 in the Wagener school cafeteria.  The PTO sponsored lunch was primarily focused on the four retiring teachers who have accumulated a combined total of 114 years of educational services, but many other awards were given out as well and Melissa Burke was announced as Busbee Corbett’s Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Debbie Black, Assistant Principal is retiring after 29 years of service in the field of education.  A Clemson graduate, Black went on to Winthrop for her Master of Education and to the University of South Carolina for her Doctor of Education.  Black was unable to attend the luncheon.

Physical Education teacher Joy Holman is retiring after 33 total years of service, 30 of which have been at Busbee Elementary.  Holman came to Busbee Elementary in 1985 to teach for one year and then move on to the high school where she planned to coach as well.  “I’d never taught elementary,” Holman said, “I was so afraid.”  Holman fell in love with the small children and never made it to the high school.  “Every day at lunch Mr. (Richard) Sumpter would tell me what to do and answer my questions.  Every day I couldn’t wait for lunch!  The first three years were tough.  My gym was outside.  Then I took over the cafeteria.  Eventually, I got a room.”