Lifelong Hornet
Bryant employee retires after 30 years
After working for the Bryant School District since 1988, Patsy Padgett has gotten into a daily routine. She said she will miss that routine now that she has retired.
She has enjoyed her interactions with students every day, she said.
Padgett’s career began more than 30 years ago after her husband, Bob Padgett, current director of the district’s maintenance department, who has also worked for the district since 1988 suggest
ed she manage the student center. The center at the time was located at Bryant Junior High School.
In the early 1990s, she began working at the
Bryant High School library and she has been there ever since.
Prior to working at the school, Patsy was a stay-athome mom and a substitute teacher.
Recently, Patsy was named a 2019 classified employee of the year.
“Mrs. Padgett helps students with dyslexia, supporting them so they find success. She respects and is kind to everyone she meets. Her heart for people is inspiring to all those who work with her,” said Dr. Karen Walters while recognizing Patsy during a Bryant School Board meeting.
The Padgett’s connection to the Bryant School District started long before they were employees.
Both of them graduated from Bryant High School and even met while attending school there.
When they met, Patsy was in ninth grade. They were both “babies,” she said.
Patsy had met one of Bob’s friends and she went to church with him one day. Bob took her wallet and told her he wouldn’t give it back unless she went to the movies with him.
She told him to keep it and went home. Later, he came to her home and returned the wallet.
“I can’t believe my mother let me go to the movie with him,” Patsy said. “I did go that night to a drive-in theatre.”
Patsy was one of the 36 graduates in the Class of 1955. After she graduated, the couple was married on July 31, 1957.
Their three daughters, Laquita Crist, Maleta Stephens and Marty Hatfield, all graduated from Bryant High School. While their daughters attended school in Bryant, Bob served on the school board for about 14 years, Patsy said.
The Padgett’s six grandsons are also Bryant graduates as well.
“We’ve invested our whole life (in Bryant),”
Patsy said. “We’ve seen a lot of change.”
She said she will miss the routine she has settled into after 30 years, but she will have plenty to do during retirement.
She is looking forward to traveling. The couple enjoys cruising and would like to visit Alaska again.
They already have a trip to the beach planned with their entire family this summer.
Along with traveling, the couple has lots to keep them busy at home. They have a farm on their family’s land with cattle, one horse and a garden to maintain. Bob is also a beekeeper.
Bob, who was originally planning to retire this year, had decided to stay one more year at the district so he can finish the several projects currently under construction across the district.