After more than 40 years in education, Cheryl Thomas is ready to relax. 

This fall will be the first time in her career she won’t be teaching since taking a year off for  graduate school.

“It will be a different feeling not waking up and coming to work,” said Thomas, the 5-12 curriculum and professional development director for the Lauderdale County School District who is retiring at the end of June.

Thomas wanted to be a teacher since middle school because she had a desire to help deaf children. She started working in 1976 as a special education teacher in Steelville, Missouri. She later worked in the Quitman and Meridian Public School districts.

She joined Lauderdale County Schools in 2008 as the principal at Clarkdale Attendance Center. She also worked as an adjunct professor at MSU-Meridian.

“It’s been a privilege,” she said of her long career. “I had a chance to work with some outstanding educators.” 

While working in the Meridian Public School District, Thomas made the transition to  administration in 1985. She later served as principal and assistant principal at various schools and director of several departments in the district.

Before moving to the Lauderdale County Schools central office in 2015, Thomas was the principal at Clarkdale.  

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Clarkdale,” Thomas said.

No matter where she has worked, Thomas said she enjoyed collaborating with her colleagues, especially Teri Edwards, the district’s K-4 curriculum and test coordinator, who is also retiring this summer.

Thomas said she and Edwards worked on creating a more cohesive curriculum for teachers and principals as well as improving professional development in the district. 

“She is just a great professional and I have learned some skills and abilities that she has,” Thomas said.

Thomas said retiring is bittersweet, as she’s enjoying working with new superintendent  John-Mark Cain, who she described as a visionary leader who wants the best for students. 

Cain said Thomas will be missed at the central office.   

“Mrs. Thomas has been a huge part of our success here at LCSD and a true friend to me during this transition,” Cain said in an email.

Looking back, Thomas said her success was a team effort, and will miss working with both  teachers and students. 

“Hopefully I have helped the students, the teachers, and administrators as I worked with them to learn from my experience,” Thomas said.

But, she’s ready to take a break and have a relaxing summer. She plans on visiting her family, and looks forward to seeing her son and his family in New Orleans.

“I am ready to retire and ready for the next phase in life,” Thomas said.