by Rhonda Chambers
As a couple Sheila and Jack served 53 years in
education! As a Covington High graduate
Sheila was pleased to be a paraprofessional at her alma mater. She retired in 2010 with 20 years of service
and enjoys attending conferences with Jack and participating in many school
activities with their grandchildren.
They have 2 children, Candice and Stephen, who also graduated from
Covington High and 3 grandchildren.
Sheila and Jack very happily celebrated their 50th Wedding
Anniversary in June.
Jack retired in 2003 with 33 years in education. He has a Masters+30 in Education. He began his teaching career at Pine View Junior High and then was transferred to Covington Jr. and then to Covington High. While at
Covington High he served as a teacher, coach, Assistant Principal, and then
Principal. He also served as Principal
at both C.J. Schoen Middle and Madisonville Jr.
After retiring Jack has stayed very active within his community. He was the Recreation Director for the City
of Covington for 2 years, and then was elected to serve on the St Tammany
School Board in 2006 and is currently in his 3rd term. He was the Board President for four years.
Jack founded the Coalition for Louisiana
Public Education and after two years over 30 organizations have joined. He received the Louisiana Federation of
Teachers’ Friend of Education Award in 2011.
He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana School
Boards Association and has served on the STRSEA’s board for the past seven
years as our Legislative Chair, as well as, serving as its President from
2007-2010.
A typical day ranges from either sleeping late or getting
up early to take a grandchild to school and then working in the yard. They both enjoy having lunch with their
friends and family in the Covington/Mandeville areas. Tuesday mornings are reserved for golf and
Thursday evenings for the School Board meetings. Saturday afternoons are saved for picking up
Jack’s mom, who is 90 years young, for church and then dinner together.
Sheila lists making jewelry, tending to flowers in the
yard, and baking as her hobbies. Jack
has been playing golf and bowling for over 60 years! If Jack were given the
chance to compete in the Olympics it would definitely have to be in golf!
A favorite website to kill some time for Sheila is
Pinterest…she enjoys checking for ideas for birthdays and holidays.
A fun fact about Sheila and Jack is that they take short
vacations with their grandchildren every year.
I asked them, “After celebrating your 50th
wedding anniversary, what would you say is the secret to a successful
marriage?” Their answer: "it consists of expressing our
opinions and then moving on." They have
grown together over the years and enjoy doing things as a couple.
