NEWARK – After a decade of public service, two local men said their goodbyes to the Worcester County Board of Education this week.
Bob Hulburd and Donnie Shockley, two of Worcester County’s first elected school board members, marked the end of their service to the board Tuesday.
Bob Rothermel, president of the school board, thanked the men for their years of service to the school system.
Bob Hulburd
“It’s been a pleasure,” Rothermel said. “It’s been humbling. We wish you well.”
Shockley, who with Hulburd was elected to the school board in 2002, recalled his early days on the board and said that through the years, the question he had been asked most was how Worcester County maintained its position as the best school system in the state.
“I’ve always said people care in Worcester County,” he said.
Shockley said that in spite of the federal and state education mandates that have changed teaching through the years, Worcester County’s educators have done whatever was necessary to ensure their students’ success.
“Everybody went the extra mile to make sure the students succeeded,” he said. “I pray that will continue. Everybody from the administrators to the bus drivers always felt they were a team player. That’s one of the major points Worcester County has.”
Hulburd too stressed the importance of the people that made up the local school system.
“The success we’ve had in Worcester County has been unprecedented,” he said. “That success is attributable to people. It didn’t happen by accident, it happened through hard work.”
School board members, he went on, should be proud of what they had accomplished as well.
Donnie Shockley
“Everyone I’ve served with has given their best,” Hulburd said. “We can hold our heads up high.
He said he was proud to have seen the renovation and addition work at Snow Hill High School begin but asked the school board to continue to advocate for a new Showell Elementary School.
“There are probably going to be some rough waters ahead,” he said. “Please keep up the fight.”
Each of the other board members expressed their appreciation for the work Shockley and Hulburd — who has served as board president and vice president — did during their time on the school board.
Doug Dryden said he would miss the veteran board members who had shown him the ropes when he was elected eight years ago.
“I’ll miss you,” he said. “We’re looking forward to moving along with Eric [Cropper] and Bill [Gordy].”
Newly elected Eric Cropper will replace Hulburd, representing District 6, while Snow Hill resident Bill Gordy will replace Shockley in District 4. They will take their seats Jan. 20.