By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–There simply wasn’t a box big enough for Vicki Wilkinson to pack up all the memories she’ll take from Union City Schools. Wilkinson retired as the district curriculum director after 35 years at the end of the fall semester.
Asked about her memories of the district, Wilkinson said, “There’s just so, so many … the people I worked with, the students I taught, the pride in all of the good things the Union City School System accomplished in my time here. I’ve loved all the students, the teachers, the administrators – from one end of the Union City Schools spectrum to the other. I have a scrapbook and so many memories and reminders of things that I’ve kept over the years. There have been countless relationships that I’ll always cherish and look fondly back on.”
Wilkinson has been the UCSS classroom curriculum coordinator since 2006, evaluating, mentoring and working with teachers as they met state education requirements while also serving as a “motherly” figure to many.
She actually began her tenure in the system in the early 1980s, working the second semester of a school year under Jan Searcy as an educational assistant. In completing her graduation requirements from the University of Tennessee at Martin, she student taught under Linda Harrelson before then going to work under Janice Faulk as a special education teacher for fourth and fifth grades at then-East Side Elementary in 1983.
Wilkinson fondly recalled that Baxter Wheatley was the UC school superintendent then, and pointed out that Billy Dowell was the first principal she worked for.
She continued in that special education role for several years and added technology to her duties as part of LEAP (Learning Enrichment Active Program) in 2001, working with gifted students.
She rattled off a long list of accomplished UC students who’ve gone on to especially-noteworthy success as adults, including recently-confirmed USDA general counsel Stephen Vaden, who was a part of LEAP.
“It’s really nice, and rewarding, too, to run into kids who I’ve taught in places around town and see that they’ve prospered as adults. That’s why I go to Wal-Mart,” she laughed.
“And how could you not love the special ed kids? The same goes for the teachers in special education. It takes a unique and special person to work in that field, and we’ve been blessed with many who’ve excelled in that role in Union City Schools.”
UC Director of Schools Wes Kennedy, who worked alongside Wilkinson as first a faculty member, then as the high school principal before moving into his present role a year and a half ago, had high words of praise for his retiring CCC.
“Ms. Wilkinson always loved her role in the Union City School System and it was important to her,” Kennedy said. “She was passionate about our students and our teachers and she was supportive of all academic and extracurricular endeavors of our student body and staff.
“I’m pleased that she is going to get the chance to truly enjoy retirement with good health and the opportunity to spend time with family, travel and enjoy her many friendships.”
A reflective Wilkinson joked that she “was horrible at paddling,” and only used that form of discipline twice in her teaching days.
“I spanked my own (children), but I just wasn’t very good at it with somebody else’s children,” she grinned. “I found other ways to discipline them, and they worked.”
Former director of schools Gary Houston, who put Wilkinson in her classroom curriculum coordinator position during his time as head of UC Schools, also spoke highly of the outgoing educator.
“Vicki Wilkinson has been a loyal and dedicated professional for the Union City School System for 30-plus years,” Houston said. “During my time as principal at East Side Elementary, she was valuable to me, not only as a special education teacher, but also as a technology teacher and librarian.
“A few years later as director of the Union City Schools, realizing her various talents, abilities and work ethic, I selected Ms. Wilkinson to serve as the system’s curriculum coordinator. Ms. Wilkinson has most assuredly contributed much to the successes of the UC School System.
“I wish her the very best in her retirement,” he said.
Wilkinson, who came to the area from North Carolina with her late husband, Fred, who bought into the International Harvester business locally, said she plans on making new memories with her family as embarks on a new era of free time. That family includes children and grandchildren in Murfreesboro and Florida, and a sister in her native North Carolina.
Other traveling is on her to-do list, too, she says if “I can get over my fear of airplanes.”
When asked what she hoped her legacy in education would be, she said: “I hope people think I was good teacher and a fair evaluator.”
Given the number of students and teachers who were a part of her journey in the education field, it’s a safe bet that would be another one for the memory box.