1st Meeting Draws 97 Retired Employees

The St. Tammany Retired School Employees Association held its first meeting of the school year on Thursday, September 13, with Superintendent of Schools Trey Folse giving his yearly School System update. He was accompanied by Associate Superintendent Pete Jabbia, now in his 50th year with the system.

Here are some photographs. Click on them to make them larger.

Association Officers Pose with Superintendent Folse

From left, President-elect Eric Sacks, President Donna Addison Harvin, Folse, Secretary Roxanne LaGarde, First Vice President Lyn Monteleone and Treasurer Ron Caruso. 

Donna Addison Harvin, president, welcomed those in attendance. The meeting took place in the old gym conference center at the David Treen Instructional Technology Center in Mandeville. 

A special invitation went out to those School System employees who are newly-retired. They were treated to an early breakfast before the meeting started, with President Harvin then presenting an overview of what the association does, its goals and accomplishments.

Superintendent Folse and Donna Addison Harvin

Superintendent Folse spoke on a number of topics, including the addition of School Resource Officers (law enforcement officers) to enhance school security and providing Mental Health Counselors on the campuses of all schools this year. 

The theme of the School System this year is "We Will," and each month has a new "We Will" motto to focus on. 

Past president Roxanne LaGarde, at right, was presented a plaque of appreciation for serving as the chief officer of the group for the past two years. Lyn Monteleone, at left, made the presentation. 

Newly-retired School System employees were recognized by standing up and they were thanked for their years of dedication with applause.

Jack Loup gave the special legislative report, noting upcoming bills that will affect retired employees and their right to return-to-work if desired.

Organization T-Shirts were available

Superintendent Folse went around the room and personally greeted a number of retired employees.

It was a great opportunity to get out and visit with friends and former colleagues. 

The St. Tammany Federal Credit Union was on hand to conduct its regular prize drawings to the delight of attendees. 

Pete Jabbia, left, now with 50th years with the School System, is welcomed by Bill Brady.

Another prize drawing happy winner

Several yearbooks were given away to those who wanted them

Spotlight On Bill Brady

In order to appreciate the Bill Brady that we all know and love today, we need to explore a little bit about his rich and interesting past!  Bill was born in St. Louis, Missouri during the final year of WWII.  After spending several early years in South America, Bill’s family, which included Mom, Dad and four boys, moved to St. Tammany Parish. 

Bill graduated from Covington High School and then went on to become Student Government President at Southeastern Louisiana College, earning a degree in government.  After toying with the idea of going to law school like his brother Jim, Bill, like his brother Colin, decided to become a teacher.  And we are SO GLAD he did!

Bill taught in numerous schools in St. Tammany, including Slidell Junior, Bayou Lacombe Junior, and Chahta-Ima Junior, where he soon became the assistant principal.  When this school burned down in 1976, Bill became the principal of Bayou Lacombe Junior High, where platooning had to be implemented.  Bill remembers fondly some of his co-workers at this school, including Kay Fortenberry, Ray Sibley, Peter Jabbia, Carl Benoit and Willie Jeeter.  The faculty meetings must have been epic!

From 1980-1995, Bill served as principal of Covington Elementary, where he became famous for knowing every student by name and able to recall funny events about every child’s former family members.  If he didn’t really know a humorous story about a child, he would make one up!  

His spot-on humor became legendary!  But his compassion for ALL children and their right to a strong education was even more compelling.  He made sure that Covington Elementary was on the forefront of technology as computers were just beginning to be used in the classroom.

In 1995, Bill moved to central office as a supervisor and eventually an assistant superintendent in charge of administration, working closely through the years with Richard Tanner, Lennie Monteleone, Gayle Sloan, Mike Cosse, Peter Jabbia and Trey Folse.   

Bill finally retired after 46 years of dedicated service to every student, parent and educator in St. Tammany Parish, leaving an unparalleled legacy of compassion and knowledge.

On the home front, Bill married his sweetheart Angela Howes, and they raised two beautiful and gifted children, a son Kelly and a daughter Maura. Now, Bill and Angela are committed grandparents to three precious granddaughters, McKinley, Evyn and Kate, ages 14, 11 and 9 who live in Humble, Texas.  Bill and Angela squeeze in trips to Texas as often as they can.

Always an early riser, Bill continues that habit in retirement where he can be found cutting grass before it gets too hot, accompanying Angela to church, or meeting some buddies for breakfast.  He has a monthly lunch date at Chimes restaurant with a regular group of guys, including Brandon Clanton, Simmie Fairley, and Ron Caruso to name a few. 

When asked if he had any hobbies, such as fishing, Bill replied the only thing he ever caught the one time he tried to fish was a game warden!  He does have a strong passion for the St. Louis Cardinals stemming from his very early days in Missouri and tries to catch them on TV when he can.  Stan Musial is his favorite! 

Instead of hobbies, Bill is still committed to service projects dear to his heart.  He continues to work with the United Way, an organization which he championed tirelessly throughout his educational career.  And he serves on the board and is chaplain for the St. Tammany Retired School Employees Association.

Bill recalled one incident that happened when he was principal at Covington Elementary.  A little boy was choking on a hot dog and Bill had to quickly perform the Heimlich maneuver on him to dislodge the piece of meat.  The next day Bill received a little handwritten note that said, “Thank you for saving my life, Mr. Brady.”

Indeed, Mr. Brady has had a hand in saving many lives.