ROCK HALL — Virginia “Ginnie” Walls retired this month after 51 years of service with Kent County Public Schools.
She was a teenager when she was hired, which was when Richard Nixon was president of the United States.
“I started when I was 17,” Walls said.
She was an administrative assistant in the school system’s Office of Finance, tasked with, among other responsibilities, helping with bookkeeping and payroll for KCPS’ nearly 500 employees.
For her decades of service, Walls received accolades and proclamations from her co-workers and county and state leaders.
KCPS Director of Finance Alleesa Stewart said Walls has been a pleasure to work with.
“Her knowledge and expertise will surely be missed,” Stewart said. “We are proud to have met and worked with an outstanding person who stood proud to work for Kent County Public Schools for 51 years.”
Stewart described Walls’ tenure as “an amazing accomplishment that is deserving of honor and appreciation.”
Walls’ co-workers surprised her with a retirement dinner at the Chestertown firehouse in late November.
“I’m very, very touched,” Walls said that night. “I’m going to miss every one of you, but you all know my number.”
The school system’s finance team organized the dinner celebration that included current and former KCPS staff members and Walls’ family, some of whom flew in from Wisconsin.
“This is going down as one of the best days of my life,” Walls said. “Thank you all for coming. I just love everybody and I’m really touched by this.”
Ed Silver, who wore many hats during his long tenure with KCPS including teacher, principal and ultimately retiring as supervisor of human resources, said it had been an honor to know Walls for so many years.
He spoke about the changes Walls experienced in her work since she started in 1973, when “probably everything was paper and pen” with carbon copies.
Silver described the incredible breadth of Walls’ knowledge about KCPS and those who worked for the system stretching back decades.
“You think about how things have progressed over 50 years and the thing is, Ginnie has been on the cutting edge of that in terms of technology and keeping things up to date,” Silver said, adding that Walls’ co-workers could always turn to her for assistance in using new systems.
Silver presented Walls with a citation from Gov. Wes Moore in honor of her dedicated and outstanding service and the professionalism, expertise and commitment she demonstrated throughout her distinguished career.
Superintendent Mary McComas, whose tenure as schools chief here began in July 2024, thanked Walls for welcoming her to KCPS.
“Please know that I will be forever grateful for the warm welcome,” she told Walls.
McComas presented Walls with a proclamation from Maryland Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright.
The proclamation states: “Your tenure is an extraordinary achievement, and it is with great admiration that we recognize your contributions to Kent County and the field of public education.”
On Dec. 17, Walls was recognized by the Kent County Commissioners.
“Fifty-one years, that’s a long time to work at a place, isn’t it,” said Ron Fithian, president of the Kent County Commissioners.
A proclamation from the commissioners, read by Commissioner Albert Nickerson, states: “Such commitment and loyalty are admired and well respected by all those who have had the honor of working with her. We, the County Commissioners of Kent County, Maryland, thank you for your continued devotion, dedication and public service to Kent County and the community.”
