After 40 years in HISD, school secretary says, ‘I’d do it all over again”

For Sylvia Gloria, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes from working with children.

“I couldn’t work in a cubicle,” she said. “There are no kids. At one point, I was going to work at a hospital, but I just couldn’t do it. These students are all my children. That’s how I feel about this job. I don’t care about anything else. I don’t need a pat on the back or a thank you. It’s all about the kids. I’d do it all over again if I could. I wouldn’t do anything else.”

Gloria joined Team HISD right out of high school back in 1974 and since then, she has also served at Lee Elementary School (now closed), Brock Elementary (also closed), Helms Elementary, and Reagan High School. She has been the secretary at Wharton K–8 now for the past 16 years.

“My favorite part of the job is watching these children grow up,” she explained. “I’ve already seen maybe five classes graduate since they left here.” The proud Davis High School alumna (“I’m a panther through and through…”) also has no plans to retire any time soon.

“If I can’t figure things out anymore, then I’ll hang up the towel,” she said, “but as long as my brain still functions, I’ll be here.”

Gloria officially marked her 40th anniversary with the district on April 30, but several other employees have also marked theirs over the past few weeks (April 20–May 2). See if you know anyone on this list:

30 years

• Micheal Guillory, manager, Construction & Facility Services

25 years

• Simona Barbosa, teaching assistant, Brookline ES
• Andrea Baty, assistant principal, Parker ES
• Eustolia Castillo, teaching assistant, Anderson ES
• Sabrina Dillon, teacher, Bell ES
• Tina Mendoza, teaching assistant, Eliot ES
• Angela Talley, teaching assistant, Harper Alternative
• Andrea Williams, teacher, Windsor Village ES

20 years

• Roberto Dominguez, teacher, Wharton ES
• Guillermo Gutierrez, senior mechanic Transportation Services
• Victor Hernandez, officer, Police Department
• Norma Mejia, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Anthonia Nwadinobi, teacher, Deady MS
• Rose Ochoa, teacher, Hamilton MS
• Dora Tellez, secretary, Key MS
• Bei Wang, teacher, Roberts ES

15 years

• Jesse Alvarado, security guard, Police Department
• Avedanand Busgeeth, associate teacher
• Catherine Collins, café manager, Food Services
• Judith Ghobrial, associate teacher
• Nancy Martinez, secretary, Psychological Services
• Perpetual Omozeze, teacher, Bell ES
• Deborah Pettway, associate teacher
• Thomas Wright, senior network systems engineer, IT

10 years

• Maria Garza, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Sara James, associate teacher
• Jacqueline Marion, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Margurite Montgomery, associate teacher
• Lisa Perez, teacher, JJAEP
• John Whitley, associate teacher
• Rufus Williams, crossing guard

 5 years

• Rashad Abron, associate teacher
• Isaac Asiwe, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Gail Baker, associate teacher
• Sakina Taylor, clerk, Accounts Payable
• Stella Brown, teaching assistant, McGowen ES
• Kenneth Chalaire, associate teacher
• Mary Davis, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Judith Dryer, teacher, Fondren ES
• Brooke Fendley, associate teacher
• Isela Garcia, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Jana Gaskin, secretary, Bastian ES
• Kayreen Gilmore, associate teacher
• Marlen Gonzalez, production attendant, Food Services
• Charles Guthier, associate teacher
• Hunt Harris, associate teacher
• Elham Hashemi, associate teacher
• Jesse Henry, grounds worker, Construction & Facility Services
• Roston Kees, plant operator, High School Ahead Academy
• Anne Kilday, associate teacher
• Clint Matthews, teacher, Austin HS
• Taurean Minor, associate teacher
• Laura Puga, production attendant, Food Services
• Valeria Ross, teacher, Madison HS
• Angelina Steward, teacher, Dogan ES
• Suzanne Taylor, secretary, Grants
• Frances Teal, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Barbara Tennant, associate teacher
• Jason West, associate teacher

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