By Christiane Daily
Staff Writer
Goodrich-For 25 years, Judy Affeldt came to know many of the children that passed through the halls of the Goodrich Schools. As her retirement approached, she now looks forward to spending the next 25 years with her own children.
Affeldt has been the secretary for superintendent Dr. Raymond Green for 22 of the 25 years, and can’t say enough about her boss, who has also become a very close friend.
The East China resident started her career after college at The Flint Journal working with the production manager. She then went to Buick where she worked alongside the chief work standards engineer. Affeldt’s husband was soon transferred to Fort Hood, Texas and was sent to Vietnam. During that time, she had a son and a daughter, Darrin and Dawn. After a year, she and her family returned to the Goodrich area.
‘I was a T-Ball coach and did a lot with Little League and was busy raising my children. I learned of two openings in the district, which was rare, so I applied.?
The principal at the time for Reid Elementary was Jack Cleveland, who was not very knowledgable of the area, and Affeldt was not very knowledgable of school systems.
‘It was basically the blind leading the blind. He taught me what I needed to know about the way a school operates, and I taught him about the area. It worked out well for both of us.?
The superintendent for Goodrich Schools at the time was Dr. Leroy Bartman and his secretary, Betty Roher, was retiring. She approached Affeldt about the job and started in July, 1981.
‘He is such a good boss. My life could have been very different for the last 25 years if I worked with someone else. This school district is like a big family.?
Affeldt has done every job from A-Z for many different groups related to the school system.
‘Secretaries really are a group of unsung heroes. I have worked with several different make-ups of people, from teachers to the Board of Education, and they are all very wonderful. I have been very fortunate. Great districts usually have great boards, and it shows here.?
Although Affeldt’s position has been filled, Dr. Green said he will miss her presence.
‘She has been so valuable over the years and I can’t say enough about her dedication to Goodrich. Everyone here is really going to miss her,? said Green.
Throughout all the different administrators, secretaries and teachers in the building, many said her absence will send a shock wave throughout the school.
‘We just rely on her so much. She knows everything that goes on. On top of all her responsibilities, she is just such a nice, warm people person. I’ll miss that the most,? said secretary Betty Griffiths.
Over the course of 25 years, she feels the biggest change in the community and the schools is technology.
‘We used to have to do payroll with ledger sheets. It’s amazing. The second biggest change is the facilities. We have done a lot in the last five years with renovating the high school and constructing two new buildings,? said Affeldt. ‘It’s ironic that finally we have all this new technology, and now I’m leaving.?
Now that she won’t be coming to the Goodrich High School every day, Affeldt looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren, and her family.
‘I don’t really have a plan on what I’d like to do next. I think that’s the great part about retiring though. You can sleep in late and do whatever crosses your path.?