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Longtime school aide goes the distance for students

Brown, 81, marks 50 years of service at Hollidaysburg

By Patt Keith 5 min read

Hollidaysburg resident Carol Brown, 81, is the Hollidaysburg Area School District's longest tenured employee -- with 50 years of service -- as an office paraprofessional.

In addition to many changes in technology, she's now interacting with her second generation of students at Frankstown Elementary School.

Her duties include supervising the about 600 children at breakfast and at lunch and working to meet the needs of the school's 50 teachers and other staff. She's worked for five principals and weathered the move from an older building to the "new" building in 1993, which also saw the school's student body grow to 900 students in grades K-6 with additional special education support classes.

Technological advances have brought the most sweeping changes -- from mimeograph machines to students using tablets and high speed copiers, to name a few. Brown has kept up with technology, too, learning to use a computer and writing and responding to emails.

"It's amazing to watch what the students do," she said.

Last week, Brown participated in a sixth grade social studies lesson where the students asked her questions about how the building and grounds have changed through the years.

"They came up to me with their laptops and asked their questions. Whatever answer I gave them, they're typing it right in."

A native of Somerset County, her first job in 1970 was with the Shanksville-Stonycreek School District. She and her late husband, James Brown, came to Hollidaysburg so he could take a position with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 in instructional materials services in 1974.

When she ventures out into the community for dinner or an event, it's common for a former student to come rushing up to her to ask if she remembers them.

"I may not recognize them now that they have grown up, but often I do," Brown said. "The last time I went to Perkins (restaurant), a young girl came running over to the table and said, 'I just had to say hello. Do you remember me -- I went to Franks­town.' I get that a lot. Or, I'll go shopping and run into people who have gone through here and are now parents who have their own kids here."

Robin Bender and Kim DeVecchis are the front office staff at the school. They describe Brown as having a kind demeanor and a soothing voice and said she is a hard worker. Brown freely shares her extensive knowledge and knows how to join in conversations and have fun, too.

"Carol has taught me so many things," Bender said. "I have learned so much from her, such as organization and being accurate. She checks my work a lot of times and helps me when I make a mistake. ... She helps me in a kind way."

DeVecchis said Brown is who they "go to for everything because she knows it all and doesn't forget anything."

DeVecchis's daughter, who is now 24, still talks about Brown and things Brown did for her while she was a student, DeVecchis said. Yet, Brown is humble and doesn't "expect anyone to fuss over what she does."

In addition to being remembered by former students, Brown said the other most common question she fields is why is she still working?

She speculated that if her husband hadn't died in 2002, retirement would hold more allure. But that's not reality. So, she finds joy in her relationships with her colleagues and the students.

"I enjoy what I do. It keeps me young being around the children. I'm sure I'll reach a point where I'll have to consider retirement, and I'm sure it's probably closer than not," she said with a warm laugh. "I enjoy my job."

During the early days of the school year, this may mean locating a copy of a textbook from storage to copying activity worksheets for teachers to use in lesson plans.

Principal William Madden said of Brown, "She helps with everything. She's responsive to their needs in a timely manner. She works with the teachers on laminating, copying, cutting things out for them. Anything they need to help their students, she's involved with."

Frankstown is the largest elementary school in HASD and Madden has served as its principal for eight years.

"She's incredible. She knows all the ins and outs of the school," Madden said. "Carol does so much behind the scenes work and she also knows all the kids and cares so much about the kids.

"She really takes a big interest in them and if one of the kids is having a hard time or anything, she'll let me know or let guidance know that they might want to talk to so-and-so today because they're upset," Madden said.

On this day, the school had an evacuation due to a hoax. When students returned to the building, Brown had a third grade girl come up to her and said she needed to speak to her mother.

"I said to her," Brown said, "Honey, how about I just give you a hug? She said, 'OK,' and then she was fine. She went back and finished her lunch. I just love to be around the kids."

The Brown file

Name: Carol Brown

Age: 81

Residence: Hollidaysburg

Family: Husband James (deceased) and daughter, Christine Brown of Hollidaysburg

Education: Rockwood Area High School, Somerset County

Employment: Hollidaysburg Area School District since 1974; preceded by four years at Shanksville-Stonycreek School District

Community involvement: Member of Duncansville Lutheran Church

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