12/6/07
LMA’s Wilson receives statewide honor
By Jerriod Grizzle

Submitted Photo

Jane Wilson receives the 2007 South Carolina Independent School Association’s Administrative Assistant of the Year award, from Laurence Manning Academy Headmaster, Spencer Jordan.

Jane Wilson, 76, has been known as the voice of Laurence Manning Academy for 35 years. Her smile and her voice say it all. She greets students each morning with a smile and a “hello” and callers to LMA get a welcomed surprise with “Good Morning, Laurence Manning Academy,”

Often surrounded by dozens of students and phone calls at one time, Wilson knows how to handle them all with politeness and courtesy, something that Spencer Jordan, Laurence Manning Academy headmaster, thought made her the perfect candidate for the 2007 South Carolina Independent School Association’s Administrative Assistant of the year.

“Last year I didn’t participate but this year I knew I had the perfect candidate,” he said.

Wilson was selected over candidates from the entire state of South Carolina.

Jordan, presiding over a Nov. 14 chapel service at the school, surprised Wilson with a special segment of the weekly service, telling both the school and Wilson’s family and friends of the achievement and distinction she had won.

“I told her earlier that there was a chapel service she had to go to. It was someone she had to hear and told her not to leave until I got there,” he said.

Jordan credited getting family and friends to the service by telling Wilson’s son, who Jordan told the announcement was a secret.

“We were all getting ready for an event and he showed me the plaque and said it was a big secret and if I could, would I ask friends and family to share the moment,” said Wilson’s son, Joe.

“I told him that she was getting something special and it worked out really well,” said Jordan.

From that point, Joe Wilson called friends and family and told them about the event all while trying to keep the event a secret

Jane Wilson said she was shocked at the award ceremony and didn’t even recognize that her family and friends were there.

“I was in the back and my family and friends were on the front row so I couldn’t see them. I did see one of my friends there, and he said ‘I just thought I would say hi,”’ she said.

Wilson said receiving the award evoked strong emotions, even shedding a tear or two.

She said that she loves her job and loves the children that LMA brings to her life.

“I love the people and the children. One of the funniest things is to watch children who went to LMA return with their children,” she said.

Wilson said in her 35 years at LMA she has worked under seven headmasters who have all been great people and an enjoyment to work with.

“They have all been really fine folks,” she said.

Wilson attributes her longevity at LMA to being a part of the school itself and the atmosphere.

“We have always been a family. We (other faculty staff and parents) built the bleachers, sanded them and really built the school,” she said. “That was the most fun part.”

“I still don’t see why I got it,” she said humbly about her special recognition.

The highly honored and much loved Wilson said she had no plans to retire.

“ I am going to do exactly what he (Jordan) asks me to do until he tells me to go home,” she said with a laugh.

Another reason Wilson said she had no plans to retire is that she has five grandchildren, the youngest, age four, who want her to stay at the school until they graduate.

They will probably get their wish as this woman is truly a treasure at LMA.