Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
There are some educators whose influence reaches far beyond the classroom.
They are the steady voices encouraging children to believe in themselves, the trusted colleagues who lift up fellow teachers and the caring professionals who shape the culture of an entire school.
At Redland Elementary School, three such educators are preparing to close an extraordinary chapter in their careers.
Instructional Coach Nacole Baxley, Speech Pathologist Andreda Young, and First Grade Teacher Anita McGowin are retiring after decades of service dedicated to helping children learn, grow, and thrive.
Together, they have touched thousands of lives and helped build the heart of Redland Elementary.
For Baxley, who has spent the last 10 years as instructional coach, the greatest reward has been watching teachers grow in confidence and seeing that growth directly benefit students.
“Watching our school get better and better every year and seeing the teachers thrive and really enjoying what they’re doing,” Baxley said. “It has been fun, and every year it has gotten better.”
When asked what she hopes others will remember most, Baxley pointed to the spirit of teamwork that defines Redland Elementary.
“I hope they remember how much it means to help each other,” she said. “I have tried to take as much off the plates of the teachers as I possibly could. I hope they remember how good that felt and they will do it, too. It is a pretty great community here.”
Young has spent 39 years as a speech pathologist, including 37 years in Elmore County, helping students discover that their voices matter.
“The most rewarding has been for them to see their growth and development and really want to speak better,” Young said.
She said one of the most meaningful parts of her career has been hearing from parents years later about the lasting impact she made on their children.
“It happens often in my career,” Young said. “That was very rewarding.”
Above all, Young hopes students and families carry one important lesson with them.
“Everyone’s voice matters,” she said. “Though theirs may be different, it matters. And it can get better.”
For McGowin, who spent 26 years teaching first grade in Elmore County, the joy came from witnessing the tremendous transformation students experience during one of the most important years of their education.
“I think first grade is the grade you probably grow up three years,” McGowin said. “The students you get in August are not the students you have in December, and what you have in May is a whole other year from what you had in December.”
When asked what she hopes her students remember most about her classroom, McGowin’s answer was simple and heartfelt.
“That they were loved,” she said.
Principal Cory Eckstein said the three retirees leave behind a legacy that cannot be replaced.
“Their collective wisdom is irreplaceable, and it’s going to be missed,” Eckstein said.
He praised each woman not only for her expertise, but for her unwavering love for students.
“They are good at loving the children and making the children feel capable and making them feel like they matter and making them feel like they’re important,” Eckstein said.
Eckstein was emphatic about the significance of their departure.
“A lot of principals say everybody is replaceable,” he said. “I have never subscribed to that. I can find another speech teacher, another coach and another first-grade teacher, but I cannot replace Ms. Young, Ms. McGowin and Ms. Baxley. These people are irreplaceable, and they are cornerstones of the foundation of this school.”
When asked to describe Redland Elementary in one word, each response reflected the school’s close-knit culture.
Baxley chose “joy.”
McGowin said “family.”
Young answered “unity.”
Eckstein’s word was “yes.”
“This is the land of yes,” Eckstein said. “When everybody is saying yes for the kids, barriers become challenges, and challenges become opportunities.”
On May 13, shortly after sharing their reflections during a retirement interview, Baxley, Young and McGowin were surprised with a celebration that brought the entire school together.
Students lined the hallways of Redland Elementary, cheering as the three educators walked through a parade of flowers, handmade notes, and heartfelt hugs.
The tribute was a fitting thank-you to three women whose work has shaped generations of students and strengthened the school community.
Though their classrooms will soon be quieter, the lessons they taught and the love they shared will continue to echo through the halls of Redland Elementary.
In the words they chose to describe their school, joy, family, and unity, their legacy is already written.
