MONTVALE—Superintendent of Schools Darren A. Petersen reports that beloved Fieldstone Middle School secretary Helen DeGraw is set to retire on Dec. 31 “after an extraordinary 50 years of dedicated service to the Montvale schools.”
The borough’s governing body made sure to honor the momentous occasional with a proclamation.
Petersen tells Pascack Press that DeGraw’s journey began in 1974 when she first stepped into the new middle school as a teaching assistant. “At the time, Montvale’s population was rapidly growing and Fieldstone Middle School was built just a few years prior to meet the growing needs of the community.
Shortly after working as a teaching assistant, Mrs. DeGraw became general secretary in the main office, then transitioned to the principal’s secretary in 1980, a role she’s served until the present,” Petersen says.
As the principal’s secretary, DeGraw quickly became the face of Fieldstone Middle School as she interacted with nearly every person who stepped foot inside.
Behind the scenes, says Petersen, DeGraw’s role extended far beyond secretarial work. “She became a pillar of support for students navigating the challenges of adolescence and a confidante for teachers and staff seeking guidance. Known for her unwavering kindness and gentle demeanor, Mrs. DeGraw created an environment where everyone felt valued and heard.”
Petersen relayed the sentiments of Montvale Board of Education President Ernie DiFiore: “My deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. DeGraw for her remarkable dedication and unwavering commitment to Fieldstone Middle School for the past 50 years.”
DiFiore said, “As a former student of Fieldstone, as a parent of two who attended Fieldstone, and as the president of the Board of Education, I can attest to the invaluable role Mrs. DeGraw has played in the lives of so many students, staff and families in Montvale.”
DeGraw said, “I am profoundly honored and grateful for having had the opportunity to be a part of the Montvale Schools for the past 50 years. Leaving Fieldstone Middle School is a bittersweet experience because I considered it my second home, coupled with the memories of the warm and friendly people that I was privileged to work with on a daily basis.”
She said, “The backbone of any organization, of course, is rooted in its personnel, and I was surrounded by competent administrators, talented teachers, amiable colleagues, parents, and constant flow of exuberant students throughout the day.”
She said, “My children are products of the Montvale School system who have achieved professional success owing to the strong foundation provided for them in their youth. Thank you to all those who have touched my life in so many ways; I will miss you, and wish you continued good health, and prosperity as you carry on with the important work of educating the next generation.”
Petersen said DeGraw has witnessed many changes during her bright career at Fieldstone, “where typewriters gave way to computers, handwritten notes to emails, switchboards to iPhones, chalkboards to Smartboards, encyclopedias to Wikipedia, science labs to STEAM labs, and human intelligence to artificial intelligences.”
He added, “As Montvale Middle School bids farewell to their beloved secretary, they do so with immense gratitude.”