Sleights C of E School will say goodbye to its longest serving member of staff when school breaks up for the summer holidays tomorrow.
Deb McGill has been a teaching assistant at Sleights C of E for 26 years and in that time has seen generations of families attend the school, including her own five children and now her grandchildren.
Working mainly with early years children, aged four and five, she has taught them how to hold a pen, make letters and shapes, and gain confidence as they move through school.
Deb, of Newholm, started working at Sleights C of E when her youngest child started school.
She admits she didn’t think she would stay working there so long but told The Anchor: “No day is ever the same and I have always loved being here and working with the children. Seeing them leave school happy and confident is one of the best things. I have been so lucky to do a job I love.”
Headteacher, Scott Grason-Taylor paid tribute to her commitment to the school over the last 26 years.
He said: “In my time here we have seen a significant development in early years development and provision and Deb has been centre of it.
“There are very few Debs in the world and for us to have had 26 years of her is massive. It has been a real privilege to have been with her on the journey she has driven at this school.”
When it gets to September, Deb, who lives in Newholm, joked she won’t know what to do with herself but will be spending more time on her small-holding where she has sheep, a goat and chickens as well as her three dogs.
