Ask HISD: Which current employee has been with the district the longest?
Q: I enjoy reading the “Milestones” section of eNews every week, and I’ve noticed that many of the teachers, administrators, staff, clerical, custodial and transportation workers have been with HISD for a very long time.
I am currently in my 46th year of teaching. However, I have been with HISD for 59 years, including 13 years as a student. Is this a record or does (now retired) school board member Larry Marshall hold that title?
A: Team HISD only counts the number of years its members have been in the classroom as employees (not students) when calculating years of service for the Milestones feature, but your question made us curious, so we looked into it.
Dr. Johnnie Carter, with some of her students and a book she used during her first year of teaching
Currently, the four employees with the longest service records are:
- Dr. Johnnie Carter (54 years)—Originally hired in Nov. of 1959, Dr. Carter now serves as a fourth-grade teacher at DeAnda Elementary School. She has logged a stunning 54 years of service to the district.
- Sue Ann Payne* (51 years)—Now the manager of the technology program at the East Field Office, Payne has served as a teacher, a counselor, a principal, and the assistant superintendent of personnel (now HR). She also served as the superintendent of Lamondi ISD in Iowa after retiring from HISD in 1992, but returned to the district in 1996.
- Delores Tezeno (50 years)—Now the assistant principal at Stevenson Middle School, Tezeno has logged a half-century of service to the district since being hired in Feb. of 1962.
- Dr. Bertie Simmons (48 years)—First hired as a teacher in Sept. of 1956, Dr. Simmons had already retired from the district once when she was asked to return as the principal of Furr High School in 2000 (the position she still holds today). Because of that brief hiatus, she has “only” logged 48 years of service.
* This article was updated in Sept. 2014, after learning of Ms. Payne’s achievement.
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Way to Go MS. Tezeno!! We love you!!
Mrs. Tezeno is awesome!
50 years, Whoo hoo! You have a big fan club here at Stevenson Ms. Tezeno!
She is the best.
Whoo-hooo… Congratulations Ms. Tezeno. Keep going strong!!! We love you..
Dr. Carter is truly an asset to the students and the James DeAnda ES family.
Congratulations to ALL these astonishing Educators! I had the pleasure to work with Dr. Johnnie Carter as a young Educator, she taught me MANY values!I am currently in my 31st year as an Educator. I am not sure if I could surpass these years given by these folk! God Bless you ALL.. Love and BIG hugs, Dr. Carter way to go……
Congratulations, Ms. Tezeno!!!
Wow! Mrs. Tezeno is a collectible..we must keep her around another half of century. Stevenson is very fortunate to have her on their staff!
Congratulations Dr. Carter,
It has been said that when we look to the heavens, our existence may seem miniscule but God made sure that even this minuscule existence gets a chance to prove his worthiness. Again, I say Congrats!
Congrats! I love you Ms. Tezeno. Thank you for all you have given to our district. You are an inspiration!!!
There are some people who make the world a better place just by being in it. Delores Tezeno is one of those people. It is an honor to work with her and a blessing to know her. No other woman in my life, other than my mother, has inspired me like Mrs. Tezeno. Just her presence makes me want to be a better teacher and a better person. Congratulations to this “phenomenally, phenomenal woman” for giving 50 years of unselfish devotion to HISD.
Dr. Carter has touched my life at James DeAnda. I love you very much.
Madeline Chavez/ 5th Grade
Wooohooo!! The leader of the Champion team!! We love you soooo much. You are THE best and I am honored to work with you!
🙂 🙂
Keep up the exceptional work! Thank you for your service – imagine all the lives you have positively impacted, and how far that influence will flow through the future years……..
I had the distinct honor of meeting Dr. Johnnie M. Carter outside of the workplace. Who would’ve known the school I was assigned to was one she knew and spoke very well of? She encouraged me to do great and did it by setting a great example for students.
I aspire not only to be a great educator because of her, but also to be an amazing woman like her! Way to go, Dr. Carter!!! xoxo…
Congrats to a marvelous lady! Ms. Tezeno is, without question, one of the finest individuals I have ever met. She personifies the true, genuine educator. Although an administrator, she continues to “teach” every day. She has never forgotten the role of a teacher and offers support and encouragement —always at the right time and in the most professional manner. She is a true blessing!