Specialist came to Houston on vacation…and never left

When Maggie Colar-Hobbs first came to Houston back in the early 1970s, she wasn’t planning to stay.

“I had just graduated from Grambling in December and came here on New Year’s Eve for a vacation,” said Colar-Hobbs. “My sister, who was pregnant with her first child, said ‘Why don’t you stay a little longer?’ And after my niece was born on March 1, she said, ‘Why don’t you sub?’ And that’s how it all happened. They tried to lure me back to Louisiana, but I had already had a taste of Texas. And I’ve been here ever since.”

Forty years later, Colar-Hobbs now serves as a program specialist in the Office of Special Education, but she started out as a Special Education teacher and remained in the classroom for 17 years before moving into administration.

“My greatest joy is to see the look in students’ eyes when you walk into the room and they recognize you,” said Colar-Hobbs. “When the children with speech challenges struggle to get out your name, just that one word, those are the moments.”

“I’m here because I enjoy what I do,” she added. “You know that old saying about ‘time flies when you’re having fun?’ Well, I have been blessed. I’ve enjoyed working with all the students over the years, so I wasn’t counting (them). And when I leave here, I will probably continue to work with young people in some capacity.”

Colar-Hobbs officially marked her 40th anniversary with the district on March 15, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (March 9–March 15). See if you know anyone on this list:

35 years

• Donald Boehm, tax attorney, Finance    

30 years

• Paul Gerlach Jr, repairer, Food Services

25 years

• Sonia Alvarez, secretary, Harper Alternative     
• Margaret Smith, secretary, Tinsley ES    

20 years

• Shelia Edwards, assistant principal, Grissom ES         
• Hilda Knight, teacher, Herrera ES
• Catherine McCleskey, Magnet coordinator, Horn Academy   
• Graciela Negrete, clerk, Garcia ES          
• Mary Williams, teacher, Durkee ES         

15 years

• Frederica Cloud-Haven, teaching assistant, Whidby ES        
• Beverly Wilson, school business manager, Carnegie Vanguard HS           

10 years

• Robert Antu, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services         
• Nancy Deshotel, attendant, Transportation Services   
• Roosevelt Finister, attendant, Transportation Services
• Werner Flores, custodian, Construction & Facility Services   
• Annie Fritz, associate teacher      
• Juan Luna, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services           
• Cabrero Vincent, plumber, Construction & Facility Services    
• Rosa Zaldivar, custodian, Construction & Facility Services   

5 years

• Veronica Aragon, teaching assistant, Longfellow ES 
• Nicole Barefield, attendant, Food Services        
• Shalunda Bates, teaching assistant, Furr HS
• Randy Buentello, tutor, Scroggins ES
• Kevin Coleman, teacher, Furr HS           

• Willie Demby Jr, officer, Police Department  
• Janice Donalson, associate teacher
• Claudia Feijo, associate teacher 
• Patricia Guerra, custodian, Construction & Facility Services 
• Tammy Holmes, teacher, Paige ES        
• Marlin Jackson, bus driver, Transportation Services    
• Gregg Kabay, lecturer, Parker ES
• Nandi Kumar, Apollo 20 tutor, Lee HS   
• Marla Maharaj, teacher, DeBakey HSHP           
• Margaret McCoy, warehouse, Food Services    
• Rogelio Medrano, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services  
• Nora Muñoz, teacher, Southmayd ES    
• Jerel Myers, associate teacher     
• Santiago Rangel, custodian, Construction & Facility Services          
• Shelia Richard, associate teacher           
• Iris Romero, custodian, Construction & Facility Services       
• Maria Sigaran, officer, Police Department         
• Angela Thompson, teacher, Lovett ES       
• Bonnie West, associate after-school program specialist, Lewis ES  
• Matilde Yapan, attendant, Food Services          

Check back next Friday for more March Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.