By Haley Mitchell Godwin

LaFreda Griffin, the former community education and 21st Century After School Program director for Crenshaw County Schools, announced her retirement effective Oct. 1 after dedicating more than 36 years to the Crenshaw County students.

“It has been a rewarding experience to work with the Crenshaw County Public School System, the administration and all the school personnel,” Griffin said.

Griffin began her career in the Crenshaw County Schools after being hired by past Superintendent Samuel Carr, who she described as “one of the best superintendents I ever worked for.”

Carr, she said, taught her the importance of policies and procedures in education, and she admired his leadership. Carr’s guiding principle was, “Children are our business because without the children we would not be in business.”

Throughout her career, Griffin worked under multiple superintendents, including Craig Pouncey, Kathi Wallace, Randy Wilkes, Harry Holley, Boyd English, Dennis Coe, Dodd Hawthorne and most recently, Interim Superintendent Greg Faught. 

She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work under their leadership, stating, “It was a pleasure to work under each and every one of them.”

Griffin began as assistant to the Child Nutrition Director, a role she held for three years before being promoted to superintendent’s secretary and recording secretary for the school board, positions she held for 20 years. In the final 13 years of her career, she served as community education director and 21st Century After School Program director.

Yvonne Salter Noble, who spent 45 years working in the Crenshaw County School System, served alongside Griffin and also taught her at Dozier High School. 

“I taught LaFreda for the first time when she was in my junior high English class,”said Noble. “I was her class sponsor when she was in 11th grade and taught her typing and accounting so I know her as a student, co-worker and friend. She was an outstanding student and worked very hard at her extracurricular activities and that definitely spilled over into her professional life after she was grown. Everything she has been involved in has always been a great benefit to our kids in Crenshaw County and every student that has crossed her path has certainly benefited from interacting with her.”

Regina Pierce Thomas, site director at the 21st Century After School Program’s Luverne location, echoed Noble’s sentiments, speaking highly of Griffin’s leadership and dedication.

“LaFreda has always been an inspirational leader for the after school community and everything she has been involved in,” Thomas said. “She brought innovative ideas to the after-school programs. LaFreda loved all the students as they were her own and always had them in mind when planning for our summer program as well as our school day activities. She is a great leader as well as a mentor and friend and she will be missed enormously here at Luverne School.”

One of Griffin’s most memorable moments was when a former student thanked her for encouraging them to stay in school. 

“Because of you, I am now an engineer working in Huntsville,” the student said. 

Reflecting on this, Griffin remarked, “Things like this are what make you want to get up and go to work each day. The one person you think you are not reaching or encouraging is the one who comes out to make something of themselves.”

Griffin extended special thanks to 21st Century After School Program supervisors Regina Thomas, Kim Sims, Marty Balkcom, Nathan Lowe, Kristen Threatt and A.Z. Burnett, as well as  all the staff and students. She called her final 13 years with the program “the most rewarding and pleasurable years of working with the Crenshaw County Public School System,”  noting the lifelong friendships and memories she had gained over the years.  

Although entering into retirement, Griffin has a desire to continue supporting Crenshaw County students and recently announced her candidacy for the District 5 School Board seat in the upcoming election.

“On Nov. 5 I ask that you all go to the polls and vote for me, LaFreda Griffin for District 5 School Board so that I can continue working for the children of Crenshaw County.

County.”