School personnel plan to retire
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 19, 2015 1:46 PM
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Two central office administrators with Wayne County Public Schools have announced they will retire March 1.
Allison Pridgen, executive director for administrative services, and Debbie Ogburn, director of federal funds, have been with the district for 34 and 30 years, respectively.
Mrs. Pridgen was hired in 1981 by then-Goldsboro City Schools as one of 17 health education coordinators in the state. She later took over the federal alcohol and drug education program for the city schools district, continuing through the district merger in 1992 and eventually became director of student support services. In 2013, she was named to her current position and placed on the district leadership team.
Among her responsibilities over she years, she has been district hearing officer and overseen such programs as student reassignment, school health services, district disciplinary data, employee health services and crisis management response lead.
"I may be the only one that has actually been stationed at the central office my entire career," she said.
As hearing officer, she has become known in some circles as the "Judge Judy" of the central office, she said, perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the job.
"I have spent the last 20 years dealing with very difficult situations, sometimes angry parents, and while it would be nice to say that there was an acceptable resolution in the parents' eyes every time, that's just not true," she said. "We do the very best that we can in the decision-making process to have a great outcome for all parties involved. But unfortunately some students make some very bad decisions.
"During my tenure I have seen the number of students with pending felony charges rise. Twenty years ago you rarely heard of that."
By contrast, there are some areas she has especially enjoyed. The inception of the WISH school-based health centers, resulting in stationing nurses at six schools, and developing child and family support teams are at the top of the list, she said.
"I think I'm most proud of the work that I have done with our school social workers and the guidance counselors," she said. "They deal with some of the most difficult issues that come to school every day. It has absolutely been a pleasure to work with those folks."
She said she "just knew" the time was right to retire but will miss the people, both in the school system and other partnerships she has forged throughout the years.
"I actually don't have a to-do list," she said of the pending retirement. "I'm not a sedentary person. I'm a mover and a shaker. I certainly have no plans to go home and perch on the couch.
"I would love to find another position in the community down the road but I may just have to take a month or so just to relax and enjoy and realize that I'm retired."
Mrs. Ogburn's career began in 1985, first as a substitute interim teacher working with gifted students at several schools before teaching science and math for 14 years at Rosewood Elementary School. She became assistant principal at Greenwood Middle School around 2001 and three years later had her first job as principal, at Fremont STARS. She served in the same capacity at Carver Elementary and Meadow Lane before being promoted to Title I coordinator at central office in 2012.
There are many parts to her current position, she said, juggling the influx of migrant children -- there are about 200 right now, "growing every day," she said. She is also responsible for budgets, working with the low-performing schools, providing staff development and support.
When pressed to name the role she enjoyed the most, she said it would have to be that of principal.
"Just being with the children, working with the staff, knowing that you make a difference, all those little smiles and hugs," she said. "I guess my biggest claim to fame, the last three years as a teacher, we had the highest math scores in the county. With (Greenwood Principal Larry) Dean, we (made) 'School of Distinction' and 'School of Excellence,' at Fremont, became a 'School of Distinction,' and at Carver Elementary made AYP (adequate yearly progress) all five years.
"I have been successful in all of my endeavors. I really feel like I have made a difference in this county."
Like Mrs. Pridgen, she said the time is right for retiring, although for different reasons. Her husband has had some ongoing health problems and in the last year she became a grandmother.
"I just kind of feel like I have put my family on hold for so long," she said. "I just want to spend time with them and be a mom and a grandma.
"I'm looking forward to maybe doing some traveling and taking a vacation in the winter time," she said, adding, "because when you're in the school system you can't ever take a vacation in the winter time."
Dr. Steven Taylor, former superintendent of WCPS, worked with the two women for years. He did not hire them, he said, but had promoted both several times.
Calling them "professional educators" who gave much to the students and the district, he said their knowledge and experience will not be easily replaced.