By Debbie Adams
Several employees are retiring from Roanoke County Public Schools in the Vinton area, both
teachers and staff: Tami Oliver from W.E. Cundiff Elementary, Teresa Nicely and Stephanie
Carpenter from Bonsack Elementary, Terri Booth from Mount Pleasant Elementary, Lubeth
Jones from William Byrd Middle School, and Chris Ayres and Leigh Anne Conner from William
Byrd High School.
Tami Oliver has been a Title 1 teacher at W.E. Cundiff, predominantly in third through fifth
grades. She has taught in Roanoke County for 19 years and in Botetourt County for two and a
half years. She plans to do the extended work program at WEC in her retirement.
“The staff at WEC are top notch,” Oliver says. “I consider them my extended family. I also love
the kids; they are why we are there and establishing the relationships with them makes my job
one of the best.”
Teresa Nicely is a special education teacher at Bonsack Elementary. During the course of her
career, she has taught students in grades K-8. She taught for 13 years at Bonsack (from 2006-
2015 and 2022-2026) and for seven years at William Byrd Middle from 2015 to 2022. Prior to
teaching in Roanoke County, Nicely taught for two years at Eagle Rock Elementary (2004-2006)
and for two years at Nicaragua Christian Academy (1991-1993).
“My favorite thing about teaching has been getting to know my students, working closely with
them to meet their needs, and watching them grow,” Nicely said. “In retirement, I plan to spend
lots of time with my family and enjoy each day the good Lord gives me.”
Stephanie Carpenter is also retiring from Bonsack Elementary where she is an instructional
assistant. This past year, she worked with third, fourth and fifth grades, but she has worked with
all the elementary grade levels over the years.
“I’ve been with RCPS for 20 years,” Carpenter says. “I started in August 2006 at Penn Forest
Elementary and then transferred to Bonsack for the next school year in 2007, and I've been here
ever since.
“My favorite thing about my job is the kids. They have zero filters; you always know where you
stand with them, good or bad. My plans for retirement are traveling with my husband, Brian,
and spending time spoiling my grandsons, Weston, who’s 4, and Carter, who is 2 months.”
Terri Booth is retiring from Mount Pleasant Elementary where she is the school nurse. She has
worked with Pre-K through fifth grades there, but has worked with all grade levels as a nurse
with the county schools. She began working with RCPS as a school nurse in 2004 at MPE. She
then went to Hidden Valley High School in 2006 and worked at WBHS from 2011-2014. She
then moved to Florida because of her husband’s job.
“When I returned in 2020 (just in time for COVID), I returned to Mount Pleasant,” Booth
says. “I came ‘full circle.’ I’ve had a total of 15 years as a school nurse with Roanoke County. I
have been a practicing registered nurse for 44 years. In my nursing career, I’ve had various roles
as a nurse– from staff nurse to director of nursing. I have to say, some of my most precious
memories are from working as a school nurse. (The school nurses are one of the school system’s
best-kept secrets!)
“I love the students– all ages! I have been, and still am, so honored to have been in the role of
their school nurse. My favorite thing about my job as a school nurse is just that– my job. Being a
nurse has been the hardest, most rewarding career I could have asked for.
“My retirement plans are not definitive at this point, but I do plan to visit with friends and family
and have more time with them. I will still do some per diem nursing. I’m not quite ready to give
it all up just yet!”
Lubeth Jones is retiring from her position as school counseling coordinator/counselor at William
Byrd Middle School. She has worked with all levels through the years– 24 in Roanoke County
and seven years in Roanoke City for a total of 31 years.
She says her favorite thing about her job has been “working with and being there for students.
Also watching them grow, figuring out issues with them, and then celebrating all the successful
moments!”
Her plans for retirement include traveling, reading, and volunteering with various charities.
Chris Ayres is currently the administrative assistant in the Counseling Department at WBHS.
“I started in August 2006 when my youngest started kindergarten at W.E. Cundiff Elementary,”
Ayres says. “I worked as an instructional assistant and was fortunate enough to help in grades K-
5 during my time there. In July 2015, I took the position as administrative assistant in the front
office at William Byrd High School and in July 2022, I accepted the position I currently hold.
“As with any job, there are mountains and valleys, but I would say I have been blessed with great
co-workers and students at every level every year. A favorite part of the job? My co-
workers! Everyone works hard and plays hard, and the days go by in a blink. Roanoke County
Schools has some very hard-working, dedicated folks, and I have been providentially placed to spend my days with some of the best. It makes retiring bittersweet. I will continue to see them
when I substitute, but it is never the same.
“Retirement? I hope to spend time at home (my favorite place!) taking care of some long
overdue projects, getting more involved at my church, reading a LOT, and some travel. My
daughter and my siblings live in North Carolina, and I want to make more trips to visit with
them. I also hope to make a trip out West and eventually a trip to Ireland and Scotland. We will
see….”
Leigh Anne Conner is retiring from her position at WBHS where she is the bookkeeper. She
works with all grade levels, 9-12. She has worked for 26 years for Roanoke County Schools and
for 15 years for the County of Roanoke.
“William Byrd is a family,” Connor says. “If you needed assistance, you could always count on
someone to be there. The job presented different challenges each day. Meeting the students and
families was a nice bonus.
“I am excited about retirement. My plans include spending more time with my husband, being
Gammy to our grandchildren, traveling more and relaxing at the beach as much as possible.”
