When Sally Newton graduated Shaker High School in 1967, she had no way of knowing she’d spend nearly 40 years working for the school district she grew up in.
“I experienced a lot of change over the years here at North Colonie,” said Newton.
Newton is “the voice” of the North Colonie Central School District, greeting callers to the district offices with “North Colonie School District, how may I help you?” for 38 years. At the end of December she’ll pick up the phone for the last time.
“I just feel it’s the time. Some people wait to long to retire, get stressed out and don’t enjoy their job any longer,” said Newton. “I felt I wanted to go before that happened.”
When Newton was hired to field calls at the central office just a few weeks after graduation, she was already a North Colonie veteran.
“I was born and raised in the Bogt area. I attended Forts Ferry … went to Bogt when it was built because the district was growing,” said Newton. “I went to the high school for grades seven and eight while the junior high was being built, then back to the high school.”
Her scholastic career was a frequent shuffle and things were no different professionally; she’s gone through two different central offices, five superintendents and countless coworkers throughout her career.
“My work has changed quite a bit from year to year but I’ve always enjoyed talking with people that have called, enjoyed giving them direction or helping answer questions for them, put them at ease if they might be stressed out,” said Newton.
There wasn’t a day she woke up and thought, “I don’t want to go to work!”
“I can remember driving into work really happy that I was going to a job where I could see people,” said Newton. “I’ve continued that mindset.”
Her days might not have been so enjoyable (or productive) if she hadn’t worked with “some amazing coworkers.”
“We’ve really been able to handle whatever workload we’ve been given, kept our eyes focused on the goal which is really to educate children,” said Newton. “We also had laughs; we’ve enjoyed ourselves along the way.”
The school district has become like her second family.
“I feel like we’ve really been able to connect with each other enough to care for each other and been there for people when they’ve had times of need,” said Newton. “We’ve worked but we’ve also had time to experience each other’s lives and to care about people.”
The superintendents have also treated her work family with care. Newton said she’ll never forget eating lunch with “the girls” on the back steps one day and coming inside, giggling and brushing ants off their clothing.
“The next week there was a picnic table sitting out there. [The superintendent] had bought us a picnic table,” said Newton.
That bond is something she still hasn’t gotten enough of, even after all these years.
“The time has gone so quickly,” said Newton.
Her love of people, whether it was a caller or a colleague, is what kept her going day after day, year after year.
“I’m a people person. … They’ve not always been as friendly, as open as you might want them to be but I’ve found that in talking with them you can kind of get to their need, whatever that might be,” said Newton.
She’s humble about spending nearly four decades at the helm of the district’s phone system, but she also knows it’s something to be proud of.
“I feel I’ve been dedicated. I know I’ve rarely used sick time,” said Newton. “I’ve been here to make the process move, whether it be handling the bills or typing up the reports. I’m more or less the middleman.”
Her advice for her successor is simple.
“[Don’t] stress out over it but enjoy each moment,” said Newton. “Take each day and enjoy it. They go by so fast so take the time to enjoy the work and enjoy the people.”
And perhaps most importantly, don’t let the snippy callers get you down.
“People will call and they’re frustrated but just give them a moment to speak, listen and give them the direction they need,” said Newton. “Just stay focused. Every people has issues in their life and you’re there to be the middleman and help them along the way.”
She’s looking forward to spending time with her family and enjoying retirement with her husband.
“I’m looking forward to enjoying the next phase of my life,” said Newton.
