October 6, 2021 Issue, Page 6 of 26

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PG6 Hometown Heroes | October 2021 Beloved Sweetwater principal announces retirement at the end of the 2021-2022 school year ee nA eee eS at the end of the school year. munity rally around those families. Each After doing her student teaching at Erick, Although she has been eligible for retire- time has reminded me as to why I love this Quinn was hired at Sweetwater. She later re- ment for several years, she did not make the school. Western Oklahoma has a lot of great turned to SWOSU in Weatherford to achieve decision lightly. schools. I don’t think you can find one in her master’s degree. On the one hand, she gushed that, after Beckham County that isn’t exceptional. But, “I did it less to make more money and three decades, she still looks forward to ev- my time in Sweetwater has been so sweet more to have more education for the class- ery single day in the school. that I have to brag on how much our school room. I had always moved around a lot be- On the other hand, she is also looking for- and our community is willing to do for our tween the fourth grade to the eighth grade. I ward to traveling with her husband Jerry and students and their families.” had taught everything from civics, reading spending time with her family. Quinn grew up in Illinois and Oklahoma. and science,” Quinn stated. “We are truly a family at Sweetwater,” She met her husband in Sayre in 1973. Quinn eventually became the elementary Quinn said. “Leaving feels like I am leaving “I married young and had children principal — splitting her time equally be- my family, so I will still be a big part. I did young,” Quinn recounted. “Then in 1985, I tween the classroom and the administration. my student teaching at Erick, but aside from decided to go to college. Being a teacher was “Then the tornado hit in 2007. I don’t that, my entire career has been at Sweetwa- the only thing that I had ever wanted to do. think the superintendent had time to look for ter. In those years, we have been through a I was in the last graduating class from Sayre a full-time principal as we were rebuilding,” lot. The worst has been when we have had Junior College before it joined SWOSU. At she recounted. Brenda Quinn students and their families deal with trag- that time, I would say that I was a traditional Sweetwater’s current superintendent told By Shonda Little edies. We have lost a few young students student. I was 29, but a lot of people were her that she needed to pick between the two to cancer, and that was heart-wrenching to rethinking what they were going to be doing approximately ten years ago. He wanted a After 33 years at Sweetwater Public watch them and their families go through. with the oilfield having the downturn at the full-time principal. Schools, Elementary Principal Brenda But, in each of those situations, we also time. Many of the students at that time were “There are things that I miss about the Quinn has finally decided to hang up her hat got to see the school and Sweetwater com- around my age.” See Quinn page 7. We want to say thank you to our FARNEIRS UNION CO-OP WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS € EDUCATORS OUT THERE AND HOPE YOU ALL TEACHER'S RECEIVE 15% OFF HAVE A WONDERFUL SCHOOL with proper ID YEAR! CONTACT Us! HI-PRO 3105 West 3rd ° 580-303-4845 (580)225-019| OUTLET 720 SovTH MAIN (Next to Tractor Supply) ExKx City, OK