On Monday, June 1st, retiring staff members Peggy Lloyd, Dave Babcock, Rachelle Brown, Tami Brush, Terry Adams, Rosemary Prillwitz, and Todd Bailey were recognized and honored with the Golden Apple Award at the Board of Education meeting for their years of service to the Watervliet Public School District. Board President John Oliphant and Interim Superintendent Kevin Schooley represented the Board and administration. The district extends its deepest gratitude to each of these outstanding individuals for their many years of dedicated service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the students and families of the Watervliet Public School District. We wish them all the very best in their well-deserved retirement.
Peggy Lloyd
After 10 years of dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools, Peggy Lloyd retires with a reputation for hard work, pride, and genuine care for our school community. Peggy's commitment to maintaining a clean, welcoming, and beautiful environment for students and staff was unmatched. No task was ever too small or too difficult, and she was always willing to do whatever was needed to ensure our buildings reflected the pride she had in her work. What stands out most is how much she truly cared about the students. I remember her telling me this summer that the building was simply too quiet and that she was ready for the kids to come back—a testament to how much joy she found in being part of a thriving school community. Peggy's dedication and positive spirit will be greatly missed, and we thank her for the lasting impact she has made on Watervliet Public Schools. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.
Dave Babcock
After 30 years of dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools, Dave Babcock leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a gifted teacher, respected leader, and passionate advocate for students. Throughout his career, Dave has been known by generations of students, families, and staff for his commitment to doing what is best for children and for the positive impact he has had on our school community. His leadership, wisdom, and steady support have made a difference in countless lives. On a personal level, I will greatly miss his willingness to listen, offer guidance, and work collaboratively to support students and staff. Watervliet Public Schools is a better place because of Dave's service, and we wish him all the best as he begins this well-earned retirement.
Rachelle Brown
After 22 years of dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools, Rachelle Brown leaves behind a lasting impact on countless students, families, and colleagues. Beginning her career in special education, Rachelle has always led with her heart, building meaningful relationships and reaching students who others may have struggled to connect with. Her patience, kindness, and unwavering belief in every child's potential have helped students feel seen, valued, and successful. Rachelle has a remarkable ability to look beyond challenges and recognize each student for who they truly are, making a difference that will be felt for years to come. I will greatly miss her compassion, thoughtful perspective, and commitment to doing what is best for kids. We are grateful for her years of service and wish her all the happiness and fulfillment that retirement brings.
Tami Brush
After 27 years of dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools, Mrs. Tami Brush is retiring from her role as our Choir and Theatre Director. For nearly three decades, Mrs. Brush has shared her passion for music, performance, and the arts with generations of students. Through concerts, musicals, plays, competitions, and countless rehearsals, she has helped students discover their talents, build confidence, and find a place where they belong. At Monday night's Board of Education meeting, Mrs. Brush was recognized for her years of service. One of the highlights of the evening was hearing former and current students speak about the profound impact she has had on their lives. Their stories reflected what so many in our community already know—that Mrs. Brush's influence extends far beyond the stage and classroom. Her dedication, creativity, and unwavering support of students have left a lasting mark on Watervliet Public Schools. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will continue through the thousands of students she inspired over the years. On behalf of the entire Watervliet community, we thank Mrs. Brush for 27 remarkable years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement.
Pictured below: Tami Brush and WPS Board president--John Oliphant.
An additional picture includes the students who came to wish Mrs. Brush well!
Terry Adams
Terry Adams has been an active member of the WPS staff in multiple roles since 2000. She has been a coach, a volunteer, kitchen manager, and most recently the Director of Food Service. She has set a standard of excellence in food service that rivals any district in Michigan. The quality, the dining experience, and atmosphere in our cafes are better because of her tireless effort to make sure kids have good food. Something tells us that she will not be a stranger to WPS in her retirement as she keeps score books and continues to volunteer her time for the benefit of our kids. We will all miss Terry but are so glad she is moving into this next chapter of her life happy, healthy, and with the gratitude of an entire community.
Rosemary Prillwitz
Rosemary was hired in the food and nutrition department 16 years ago. She started out as a kitchen helper and soon worked her way up to kitchen manager. Over the years, she has seen a remodel, where she had to serve out of the gymnasium, COVID, which we all now know was a doozy, and, this past year, walking into her kitchen to find a huge hole in the floor and a pile of dirt. Despite the many changes, Rosemary has remained a joyful and loyal employee. Rosemary could always recognize when students wanted something that wasn’t readily available, she would ask students, “whatcha looking for?) Rosemary’s co-workers said they will miss all the laughter they had over the years. Her go-with-the-flow attitude will be greatly missed, especially when Mrs. Powers sends a last-minute email requesting a special meal. Rosemary, we wish you all the best as you head into your new adventure.
Todd Bailey
After 14 years of dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools, we are honored to celebrate the retirement of Todd Bailey. While Todd spent several years serving at the high school, we have been fortunate to have him as part of the South Elementary family during the final years of his career.
Throughout his time in our district, Todd built countless meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families. Whether he was sharing stories about fishing, talking about his family, or simply checking in on someone’s day, Todd had a remarkable way of making people feel valued. He listened carefully when others shared their lives with him, remembered the details, and always followed up later to see how things were going.
Todd’s greatest gift was his ability to connect with students. He had a special way of noticing when a child needed a little extra attention, encouragement, patience, or grace, and he never hesitated to provide it. He often noticed when a student had been absent for a few days and would genuinely inquire about their well-being when they returned.
Around South Elementary, Todd quietly went about his work without seeking recognition or attention. Yet his impact was felt every day. As the first face many of our bus riders saw each morning, he greeted each student with a warm smile and welcoming presence, helping them start their day feeling seen and cared for.
While Todd may not have wanted much attention for his retirement, we would be remiss if we did not recognize the difference he has made in the lives of so many. His kindness, humility, and genuine care for others have left a lasting mark on our school community.
Thank you, Todd, for your years of service, your dedication to our students, and the countless ways you made South Elementary a better place. We wish you many happy days ahead filled with family, fishing, and all the things you enjoy most. Congratulations on your well-earned retirement!
