THOMASVILLE- The Thomasville City Schools Board of Education met on Tuesday night, where they recognized Karen Kelso for her dedication to the board before wishing her well on her retirement.

Kelso was first elected to the City School Board At-Large post in Nov. 2019. Since being elected, Kelso has enjoyed serving on a volunteer basis and being a part of the “Adopt-A-School” program in 2022.

Despite not having spent much time with Kelso, TCS Superintendent Dr. Fred Rayfield was thankful for the opportunity to work alongside her these past few months.

“I’m very thankful to have served a very short, but meaningful time together on the board with Mrs. Kelso,” said Rayfield. “I can tell you unequivocally that her heart is in the right place and she loves kids and loves doing what’s right for kids.”

Rayfield told Kelso she has a servant’s heart and the board appreciated her service over the past four years.

Rayfield then turned the floor over to Board Chair Kejar Butler.

“It has been a pleasure to work with you,” she said. “You add so much to this board. At night, I can still hear you say, ‘If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen,’” she joked. “Your knowledge of education and your passion for students will be missed.”

Butler said the time went by fast, but she is incredibly thankful that Kelso will only be a phone call away.

“You were not just a board member, you were a staple to this community and it has really been my pleasure friend,” Butler said, before hugging Kelso.

Butler reminded those in attendance that the TCS BOE is a strictly volunteer board, one of the eight school boards left in Georgia that is still volunteer.

“The hard work that these board members and Mrs. Kelso have put in is strictly for the love and the passion for the students,” she said. “It cannot be praised enough.”

Kelso thanked the Board for their kind words.

“My dad always told me, ‘If you want a job done well and right, get a volunteer,’” Kelso said. “I think that’s very true. I think the fact all of my fellow board members serve on a strictly volunteer basis speaks volumes to their commitment.”

Kelso explained she, along with the other board members don’t work on the TCS BOE for accolades or praise, but serve because they care.

“At the end of the day, that’s really what education is all about- making a difference and caring,” she said. “Like Christa McAuliffe the astronaut once said, ‘I touched the future; I teach.’ I like to think the Board shapes the future because we shape the policy.”

Kelso thanked her fellow Board members, who she said made the challenge of being on the Board of Education a lot easier.

Kelso will be replaced by Ryan Bradburn, who won the Municipal/General election last month. He, along with other Board members who were re-elected or ran unopposed will be sworn in during their January meeting.