After 35 years at Littlefield High School, Ann Ray is preparing to retire from her role as school secretary, closing out a career spent helping generations of students and witnessing major changes in education.
Having grown up in Littlefield, Ray said that she has been connected to the community her entire life, which made her decision to stay in the district for so long even more personal.
Ray began working at the school in 1992 as an educational aide after her search for a job that would allow her to be off during the summers to care for her children led her to Littlefield High School. Shortly after Ray started working as an educational aide, she took on the role of secretary when the position opened three months later, a role she has held ever since.
During her time at Littlefield High School, Ray has seen and helped generations of students graduate. During that time, she has seen both students and the community change, especially as state education requirements and expectations have shifted. Ray said she believes students benefit from having different options after high school, whether that is college or a trade path.
“We had an auto tech, and we had a wood shop, we had all that; well then the state of Texas decided, well, we need more academic classes, so they didn’t have room for it. So those programs went away, and then here we are back to trying to, you know, get those going and everything; they want every kid to be prepared for college. But every kid is not college material. They don’t want to. And you know, that’s everybody wasting their money, but if they can get a marketable skill that’s huge, that is huge,”said Ray.
Through it all, Ray said the most important reason she has stayed in the position for 35 years has not changed.
“Kids absolutely, absolutely, and I started out, you know, and I’ve seen, I’ve seen social media come into play, I’ve seen, you know, I’ve watched them get driver’s licenses, they’ve cried on my shoulder, you know, I could go on forever. But that’s the part that I like, and some of them, we truly believe, are our success stories,” said Ray, adding that one of the most meaningful parts of the job is seeing students grow and return to the school as adults and parents.
Ray said leaving after 35 years will be difficult, but she feels it is the right time to step away.
“It’s just, it’s time. I have one of my kids, and I told him I was leaving this year. Oh Mrs. Ray, I just have one more year, I’ll be a senior next year if I can stay one more year, surely you can stay one more year and I said, honey, I could, but I’m not, I said it’s time for me to move on and do some things that, you know that I want to do,” said Ray.
Ray is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and family, as well as returning to hobbies like playing piano, which she used to do for the church. Her hope, she said, is to be remembered as someone who was always there for students and willing to help whenever they needed it. With her last day June 18, Ray expressed how valuable her co-workers have been to her.
“I want to thank my current co- workers Brent Green, Veronica Savala, and Dylvia Cristan for being the best team ever! And to all my “kids,” I pray success, happiness, health, and blessings for each of you,” said Ray.