Grace Mitchell Retiring After 34 Years at UHS
Mitchell has been the Secondary Alternative Education Director for the past five years. Before that, she served as the school social worker.
For years, room 2145 has been the place many students and faculty have gone for advice, comfort, food, or even when they just need to relax.
Eighteen years ago, Rhonda Driscoll, UHS Psychologist, started sharing an office space with Mitchell. The two have been close: going to each other for advice, and assisting each other’s students.
Since the two are so close, Driscoll is sad to see her go. “I’ll be sad, like I’m losing my best friend. I just think she has such a handle on so many kids in the school,” said Driscoll.
Laura Taylor, UHS Principal, also has history with Mitchell. She has worked with Mitchell for eight
years, and shares a melancholy feeling with Driscoll. “All of us, faculty and students alike, will feel a loss. Everyone goes to her for support.” She said
Taylor’s statement is true. At any time of the day, a student can be found in Mitchell’s office; sometimes many students are there. The students can ask her for advice, get academic help, counseling help, or just have casual conversation with her.
Sophomore Jordan Patterson is close to Mitchell. “Ms. Mitchell, otherwise known to me as ‘Aunt Gracie’ has definitely helped me through high school. She has gotten me out of trouble so many times!” said Patterson
“There’ll be a void, and we’re all going to have to get used to it,” said Driscoll of Mitchell. “She touches a lot of lives, be it a colleague, friend, mentor. It will be very different without her in the building. Ms. Mitchell has this sense about her, that she can say most things people cannot say, without being mean. She makes it a point of conversation instead of an attack.”
Taylor has been close with Mitchell while she’s been principal. “When I became principal, I ‘created’ her position. I really believe I wouldn’t be the principal I am now without her in the past five years. She’s an incredible person.” She had tears in her eyes when speaking of Mitchell leaving.
“I’m hoping we’ll still meet the needs of all the students. There will definitely be a big hole in our response in things. There’ll be a hole because the persona of Grace Mitchell will be gone. She’s irreplaceable,” Taylor said.
Driscoll says she will do her best to help the students Mitchell sees on a regular basis. “Our area has kind of an open-door policy; it just won’t be the same level of comfort. We’ll (Ms. Trezise and I) be seeing a lot more people. Mitchell spends a good part of every day helping students.”
There’s never been a more true statement. Anytime of the day, one could peek into her office and see one or multiple students. During sixth hour, upperclassmen eat lunch with her, and any other time of day multiple students come to her office to ‘just say hi’ or ask for advice. Mitchell has stopped doing work for “title” job to act as social worker for many students.
During the many years Mitchell has worked at UHS, she has seen and aided ten times as many students. On the walls in her office are pictures after pictures of students, their families, and random memorabilia from the past 34 years.
Many of those former students’ children now attend UHS, and Mitchell helps them as well.
Overall, this school will not feel quite the same once the 2011-2012 school year rolls around. The excitement of going back to school will be tinged with a bit of melancholy the whole school will feel at the loss of Mitchell.
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