The Arrow Fall 2019

Ms. Cyndie Richardson and Mr. Sid Finklea Retire Dr. Groves’ comments at the combined retirement ceremony for Cyndie Richardson and Sid Finklea follow.

Cyndie Richardson , Principal. Kind and friendly and never in the limelight by na ture, this excellent teacher stretched herself in her move six years ago to admin istration … as the students would say “over to the dark side.” On any given day, Ms. Richardson is evaluating faculty, receiving students who may not be toeing the line, communicating with parents, counseling students during a rough patch, putting out fires while simultaneously being nudged by me to plan strategically for our school’s growing academic program. And, yet she goes about her admin istrative business remaining kind and friendly and unfailingly pleasant.

Ms. Cyndie Richardson, a Texas native, who was never by personality larger than life, though she somehow managed big person alities and large lives all around her here at Oak Hill Academy. She is interested in stu dent success, kind to her colleagues, and so very supportive of everything OHA. This fine person has been in the business of education for over 40 years, taking care of students, a school building, her faculty, and now she plans on taking care of animals, a garden, her husband Donovan, and she is hopefully opti mistic about grandchildren. Ms. Cyndie Richardson, thank you for your

service and thank you for your friendship. Thank you for being such an important part of the 140 year legacy of Oak Hill Academy. We wish you the very best in your retirement.

It is difficult for me to imagine an Oak Hill Academy without Mr. Sid Finklea. Teach er, coach, and referee …. He has coached countless teams of many sports in his time here. In fact, if we offered such teams, he would have coached spelunk ing and badminton. More importantly he is a husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather; most importantly, he is a Christian. Mr. Finklea genuinely cares for the students, he is invested in their well-being and backgrounds, and he truly wants for all of his students nothing but the best. Mr. Finklea has the knack to somehow find what students truly enjoy and then discovers ways to accommo date: A trip to Bojangles; a trip to the barber shop; a trip to a Chinese restaurant. All of these simple acts of kindness transpire behind the scenes, not as assigned duties, never on the announcement sheet, and he receives no credit. And, yet, these small acts of kindness make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students. Behind the scenes, receiving little credit or fanfare also describes Mr. Finklea. He does the same thing for the faculty and staff: A gift card for someone struggling, a prayer for a friend, a volunteer to cover someone’s duty, riding cross country with a colleague to attend a funeral. Just last week we all heard his an nouncement about collecting can tabs to help support Ronald McDonald Homes. Now, lest we forget, I also think Mr. Finklea has a great sense of humor, but, alas, it is a great sense of humor for terrible jokes and puns. If I tell a bad joke here on campus (which happens a lot), folks often respond with … “where’d you hear that,

Mr. Finklea?” Know also he is the self proclaimed champion as the source of the most useless information. Trivia, the best places to eat, the easiest driv ing directions, even the best products to buy at your local grocery store. This guy seemingly knows it all. Please know also, Mr. Finklea, that we appre ciate you. We are going to miss you here on “The Hill.” Mr. Sid Finklea, for your twenty-nine years of service to our school, thank you so very much. May God bless you in your retirement.