STOUGHTON — Joan Dempsey began her career 20 years ago at the Fillmore school.
She worked in Fillmore as the secretary for six years, but also worked at the Stoughton Central School.
Dempsey is married to Bart, and they have three children, Garrett, Caitlin and Blake that they raised on the family farm near Heward.
Her children attended the Stoughton School, so when the job became available at the school, she applied for it and began to work there full time.
For 14 years, Dempsey was the Administrative Assistant.
Dempsey has seen many children come through the doors at this school and has seen them start kindergarten and graduate grade 12. It is amazing to see these kids grow over the years. The school has 160 students.
Throughout the years she has been responsible for managing the school budget with the principal, entering student data, ordering supplies, checking and double checking to make sure things are entered properly into the computer.
She took care of phone calls and answered students’ and parents’ questions. She was the go between for the school division and the school, taking care of any issues that would arise.
She has enjoyed many aspects of her job but has loved meeting staff, greeting parents and welcoming new students to the school.
“I am a real people person,” said Dempsey.
Dempsey’s children are now adults, but when her son Garrett was in Grade 12, he was in a car accident that required Dempsey to take a leave of absence. He was hospitalized for three months and in Wascana for seven months before he would return home to the farm.
Caitlin lives in Regina and is a pharmacist for the General and Pasqua hospital. She visits as often as she can.
Blake completed and received his agricultural degree from the University of Saskatoon and now works on the family farm.
Dempsey plans to help on the farm especially with harvesting just around the corner, and she feels retirement will not hit her until fall, as they are going into summer break right now.
She does not have any special plans but will help Jaycee Piper, the new administrative assistant that she has been training in her roll, if she needs a day off.
On June 16 a retirement party was held at the Stoughton Royal Canadian Legion branch for those that will retire this year from the school.
Her last day was June 30, and she feels it will be a bitter sweet moment when she hands over the keys and begins a new chapter in her life on the farm.
