Pass schools bid farewell to two beloved educators
Special to The Pass Post
Charlene Stephens and Lisa Harvey
The Pass Christian Public School District (PCPSD) is saying goodbye to what district leaders say are two pillars of the educational community. The Board of Trustees recently issued official resolutions to honor Charlene Stephens and Lisa Harvey, who celebrated a combined fifty-six years of dedicated service to the field of education. Officials say the impact they have made on the “Pirate” culture and the lives of their students will remain part of the district’s heartbeat for years to come.
With twenty-three years of teaching experience, twenty-one of which were dedicated specifically to the students of Pass Christian, Charlene Stephens is known as more than an educator; officials say she has been the school’s “culture keeper.” Known affectionately as “Miss America,” Stephens has been celebrated for her deep compassion, ensuring that no student ever went hungry under her watch.
Beyond the classroom, Stephens served as the Student Council sponsor and the driving force behind the Sunshine Club, and she played integral roles in the annual Veterans’ Day program, Homecoming festivities, and student dances. Stephens says she is looking forward to moving to Memphis with her husband, Rick, to be closer to her family and her beloved Ole Miss.
Lisa Harvey’s retirement marks the conclusion of a thirty-three-year career in education. A proud Pass Christian alumna, Harvey says she returned to her hometown schools to give back to the community that shaped her. She began her career as a paraprofessional in 2007 and became a certified teacher in 2014.
Officials say Harvey is highly regarded for creating a highly structured and nurturing special education classroom where every learner was treated with fairness and dignity. Her colleagues and students says they will remember her for her unwavering dedication and patient guidance that ensured every student had the opportunity to thrive. As she enters retirement, Harvey says she looks forward to traveling and spending cherished time with her three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Earlier this year, the PCPSD Board of Trustees officially commended both women for their service, ordering that their resolutions be made a permanent part of the district minutes. They say that, while the halls of the Pass Christian Public School District will feel different without them, the legacy of success and compassion they leave behind will inspire future generations of Pirates.
