After more than four decades teaching, Dee Copeland, King Middle School teacher retires this month. King Middle’s Principal Darren Brock said, “She leaves behind wonderful memories and great expectations for her students past and present.” In her wake, Copeland leaves a legacy of broadening students’ horizons in and out of the classroom as head of the Student Government Association (SGA) and sixth through eighth-grade history teacher. With the SGA, she advocated on the state level for middle school sports in Santa Rosa County, a resolution which passed, according to Brock. Additionally, in November of last year, Copeland hosted King Middle’s annual veterans’ breakfast with Representative Jeff Miller in attendance as well as veterans dating back to WWII. The August before, Copeland announced her retirement during the SGA’s candidate breakfast (pictured) where students met one-on-one with 2014’s city and county candidates for office.
In the classroom, Brock said, “She does a great job of making history come alive. They've made mummies, pyramids, volcanoes, African drums, the Great Wall of China, Chinese masks, also partook in barter day, the Chinese New Year, (and) learned about different holidays from around the world. She's brought in public speakers basically to bring history to life.”
Brock said Copeland’s shoes will be nearly impossible to fill with all she’s done on a regular basis. “Most applicants would end up running for the door with the list of things she does for King Middle. She was here when I went through school here. I have a lot of respect for her as a person and as a classroom teacher.” Her retirement party, Brock said, will be at 3 p.m. next Thursday, February 19, her last day of work being February 27.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Send-off for a King Middle legend