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Published on: 5/27/2008
Last Visited: 5/27/2008
During her 44 years in the teaching profession, the only time Virginia Anderson stepped away from her job came years ago, when she and her husband, Jim, were starting a family.
Now, Anderson is stepping away for good, again, so the longtime educator and administrator can spend time with her family.
Anderson, a former teacher and principal in the Greater Springfield area, will retire in July.She's currently the associate director for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association (MSSAA) - positions she has held since 1994.
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"It's hard to make the decision to leave when you enjoy the work you're doing," said Anderson, of Uxbridge."But there's a time in life, for me in particular, when I'd like to spend more time with my husband and children and two very young grandchildren.This is as much a decision to go in another direction, but coming full circle to family again."
Before Anderson retires, though, she will be recognized with one of the nation's biggest honors for educators involved in extracurricular activities: a National Federation of State High School Associations Citation, which is awarded to just a dozen people throughout the country every year.
"It's a wonderful honor for doing a job I love doing," Anderson said.
In March, the New Jersey native also received the Sherm Kinney Award, named in honor of Kinney, a former great high school athlete and coach in Massachusetts, as well as one of the early pioneers of the MIAA.
"Sherm was the genesis for our sportsmanship program (at the MIAA)," said Anderson, who worked with Kinney for two years."When the association really started to flourish, it was Dick Neal, Bill Gaine and Sherm Kinney.They did everything in those days."
Anderson started her teaching career at Holyoke High School, when it opened in 1964.
"I think I was the only person not from Holyoke working there," Anderson said."They wanted a cheerleading coach, and someone with a gymnastics background.So it was a very good fit.Holyoke, was, and continues to be, very special."
Anderson served as the district supervisor of physical education and athletics for the Springfield Public School System from 1976-83, and was a principal at Chestnut Street School and Wilbraham Middle School before taking her current positions at the MIAA and MSSAA.
"Sometimes when you choose a profession, you don't know if it's right for you," said Anderson, who lived in Springfield for 30 years.